The moniker of “SEC defense” is as much a title than a quantifiable reality, like being named Prom King.

But, like being named the most popular guy at school, being dubbed the SEC’s best defense is valued, important and intimidating. While offensive numbers skyrocket throughout the SEC, coaches, players and fans alike begrudgingly hold onto the we-play-better-defense-than-you mantra.

Those associated with the SEC turn down their noses at leagues such as the Big 12 and Pac-12, with their up-tempo offenses and teams scoring 84 points in a game. Never mind that this year’s Iron Bowl was the highest scoring in the history of the rivalry — it took 55 points to win the game.

There is still some semblance of defense in the SEC. In recent years, the title has been given to Nick Saban’s Alabama teams without much thought. The play on the field has backed it up, but also the Xs and Os on the sidelines as well.

But even this season, the Crimson Tide were abysmally bad in the secondary, getting torched over the top by Nick Marshall and Bo Wallace this season. The definition of “SEC defense” is a little muddier now — do we go by scoring defense or total defense, an ability to stop the pass or stuff the run? — but teams with mediocre, at best, defenses have spent time atop the polls during the past two seasons.

Nick Saban and Kirby Smart are heralded defensive minds, and when you attract the best coaches and best players, it’s not that hard to field the best defense. Which is why it’s ironic that just three years into his tenure in Oxford, Hugh Freeze — an offensive coach that inherited a team surrendering 36.5 points per game — now has the league’s best defense.

When asked earlier this season about his sometimes conservative propensity on offense, Freeze credited his defense.

“I think it has helped Bo [Wallace] manage the game more, but when the defense is playing like it’s playing, you just want to make sure you’re managing the game from an offensive perspective and it gives you the best chance to win,” Freeze told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger in October.

Freeze can afford to be conservative because his defense is one of the most dominant in program history. The Rebels rank in the top-30 in just about every major defensive category: No. 13 in total defense, first in scoring defense, No. 29 in rushing defense, No. 13 in passing efficiency defense, No. 13 in takeaways and ninth in red zone defense.

The performance that vaulted the Landshark defense into the national spotlight was when Ole Miss defensive coordinator Dave Wommack out-Saban’d and out-Smart’d Saban and Smart.

The Rebels held Alabama to just a single offensive touchdown in a 23-17 win on Oct. 4.

For a league in which defenses are increasingly incapable of reeling off such a streak of dominance, the fact that Ole Miss is the team that has accomplished it is surprising. It would seem fully logical with this level of dominance coming from Tuscaloosa, but the Crimson Tide’s defense was shockingly normal in 2014.

The Rebels are experienced, but they’re also deep. Cody Prewitt quarterbacks the defense, Mike Hilton led the team in tackles, Senquez Golson topped the SEC in interceptions, true freshman Marquis Haynes burst onto the scene and led Ole Miss with 7.5 sacks.

It’s possible Alabama’s defense returns to the level we once associated with a Saban, Smart unit. But for this season, Ole Miss has dethroned the popular guy in school.

For one season, at least, “SEC Defense” has returned and the title belongs to Ole Miss.