Even in the era of offensive dominance that seemingly stretches across all of college football, the SEC still takes pride in its defensive efforts.

Four of the league’s defenses allowed less than 20 points per game last season, and several others had a fighter’s chance of finishing below that number as well.

Will the SEC continue to remain a league in which success is built upon a solid defensive effort, or will the Auburns, Texas A&Ms and Mississippi States continue a push to make the league more offensive?

It will be one of the more intriguing league-wide story lines to watch in 2015.

Looking at the SEC across the board, here’s how we project team production in several major defensive categories. In no way is this indicative of our projected division finish or game-by-game predictions (revealed in August):

PASSING DEFENSE

LSU finished third in the nation at defending the pass in 2014, allowing just 164.2 yards per game. With Tre’Davious White, Jamal Adams and Jalen Mills, among others, returning from that group in 2015, it’s difficult to predict them to do anything other than stay put at the top spot.

Georgia is another unit that ranked in the national top five in passing yards allowed, and the Bulldogs also return several key contributors in the secondary.

Tennessee and Florida feature two of the league’s elite cornerbacks in Cameron Sutton and Vernon Hargreaves III on experienced secondaries. Both squads performed in the top half of the league against the pass last season and should be able to play their way into the Top 5.

SEC passing defense, 2015 projection

  1. LSU
  2. Georgia
  3. Ole Miss
  4. Tennessee
  5. Florida

RUSHING DEFENSE

While there may be some lingering questions from 2014 about the Alabama secondary, there is not much concern about the Crimson Tide’s ability to stop the run. Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and coach Nick Saban have won national championships due in large part to their teams’ abilities to smother opposing rushing attacks. Alabama ranked fourth in the country against the run last season (102.4 ypg), and returns loads experience on the defensive front. The Crimson Tide should again lead the league in rushing defense.

Ole Miss is stacked with disruptive, physical defenders in the front seven. The Rebels ranked fifth in the league in rushing defense last season, but could be in line for a move up this year. Arkansas also performed really well in this category last season (114.6 ypg).

SEC rushing defense, 2015 projection

  1. Alabama
  2. Ole Miss
  3. Arkansas
  4. LSU
  5. Florida

TOTAL DEFENSE

For the third consecutive year, LSU turned in a top 15 performance in the national rankings in 2014. With the talent the Tigers have returning, they seem like as good of a bet as any to again rank near the top of the league, as well as the country, in total defense. But there are some questions surrounding the departure of defensive guru John Chavis. Will new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele be able get the same type of consistent production out of the Tigers?

While Florida no longer has Will Muschamp, the idea that the Gators defense is suddenly going to stop being good seems like a stretch. The Gators have continually ranked near the top of the nation total defense, even going back to the Urban Meyer days. This seems like a good spot to mention that the Florida defense hasn’t ranked outside the FBS top 15 in total defense since 2007.

SEC total defense, 2015 projection

  1. LSU
  2. Alabama
  3. Ole Miss
  4. Florida
  5. Arkansas

SCORING DEFENSE

Alabama has ranked no worse than sixth in the FBS in this category since 2007. Anyone want to bet against them making it eight years in a row?

Ole Miss was the top scoring defense in the nation last season, allowing just 16 points per game. The Rebels should again be one of the nation’s elite this season.

Remember, the fault for points allowed is not always the sole burden of the defense. There are times when the ineffectiveness or mistakes of an offense can be just as responsible for opposing teams finding their way onto the scoreboard as the defense.

So when you look at at a team like Florida, who had trouble moving the ball at times last season and will be breaking in a new quarterback this season, the chances are good that the Gators scoring defense could underperform in this category relative to their performance in total defense.

Likewise, you can take a team like Georgia that generally takes care of the ball (league-best turnover margin of plus-16 in 2014), and find a candidate to outperform its total defense ranking with its scoring defense.

SEC scoring defense, 2015 projection

  1. Alabama
  2. Ole Miss
  3. LSU
  4. Georgia
  5. Arkansas