Ranking the Top 25 defensive coordinators in college football in 2022

The goal for defensive coordinators used to be 3-and-outs and forcing turnovers. Now it's simply getting a stop and not giving up another score.

Tony Gibson is ranked No. 25 in the list of the Top 25 defensive coordinators in college football in 2022. Gibson's team at NC State in 2021 finished with the No 14-ranked scoring defense in America and led the ACC with 15 interceptions.

Jesse Minter is ranked 24th for the Top 25 defensive coordinators in college football in 2022. Minters brother, John, worked with Minster at Michigan from 2017-20.

Doug Belk and Dana Holgorsen rebuilt Houston's defense. The Cougars went from 119th in the nation in scoring defense in 2018 to No. 19 last year.

Kurt Mattix's defenses have finished No. 11 and No., 16 in the nation in scoring defense in his two seasons at San Diego State.

Tim DeRuyter is the new defensive coordinator at Texas Tech. DeRuiter has led defenses at Ohio, Navy, Nevada, Air Force, Texas A&M, Cal, Oregon and now Texas. Texas has allowed 30+ points per game in each of the past 12 seasons.

Pete Kwiatkowski is ranked 20th in the Top 25 defensive coordinators in college football in 2022. Texas was 99th last year in scoring defense. Kwietkowski built elite defenses at Boise State and Washington.

Patrick Toney and Sean Spencer are the No. 19 defensive coordinator in college football in 2022.

Matt House was on the verge of turning the Kentucky defense into a legit SEC team. He left in 2019 for a job with the Kansas City Chiefs. House returned to the college game this offseason to lead Brian Kelly's defense at LSU.

Jon Heacock is ranked No. 17 in the list of college football's top defensive coordinators. He arrived in Ames in 2016 with Matt Campbell and has been a critical factor in Iowa State's growth.

Morgan Scalley is a former All-American safety at Utah. He was a Broyles Award finalist in 2019. Utah led the Pac-12 in scoring defense (15.0 points per game) the past two seasons.

The 2020 COVID season is uncertain. The 2019 and 2021 seasons have been fantastic for the Gophers under Joe Rossi.

DJ Durkin is ranked No. 14 in the list of the Top 25 defensive coordinators in college football in 2022. He has produced elite defenses at Florida and Michigan and turned around the Ole Miss defense in 2 years.

Brad White has taken the defense and thrived. Mark Stoops has reset the offense with two coordinator hires and rebuilding offensive personnel.

Barry Odom is considered one of the game's best defensive coordinators. Arkansas surrendered 22.9 points per game last season.

Ron Roberts is ranked 11th in the list of college football's top defensive coordinators.

Pete Golding's Alabama defense is not as dominant as it was in the early Nick Saban years.

Kevin Steele is ranked No. 9 in the list of the Top 25 defensive coordinators in college football in 2022.

Zach Arnett is a young defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. Rocky Long is one of the game's best defensive minds.

Alex Grinch has rebuilt the Oklahoma defense over the past 3 seasons with Lincoln Riley. He produced a top 16 scoring defense in his 3rd season at Washington State with Mike Leach.

Mike Tressel was demoted to safeties coach at Michigan State. He was promoted to defensive coordinator at Cincinnati a year later.

Jim Knowles is expected to be a success at Ohio State. He had a successful 4 seasons at Oklahoma State and is ranked 5th in the Top 25 defensive coordinators in college football in 2022.

Phil Parker's Iowa team finished 13th in scoring defense in 2021. They forced 30 turnovers and scored 4 defensive touchdowns.

Derek Mason is ranked No. 3 in the list of the Top 25 defensive coordinators in college football in 2022. Mason was the Auburn defensive coordinator last year.

Will Muschamp will have more control of the defense at Georgia this season with Glenn Schumann.

Jim Leonhard's defenses have finished 3rd, 34th, 10th and 9th in the nation in his 5 seasons at Wisconsin. They've forced 112 turnovers. LeonHard will be ranked in Top 25 defensive coordinators in college football in 2022.