SEC teams ranked by defensive points per possession

Don’t let the bowl performance against TCU fool you: we witnessed a darned good Ole Miss defense in 2014.

The Rebels finished 13th in the SEC in offensive points per possession, but second in the country in points per possession allowed at 0.94.

Points per possession are calculated with a maximum of six, as the stat excludes the point-after-touchdown attempt. In other words, Ole Miss gave up less than a touchdown per six possessions this season.

Overall, the SEC claimed four of the top 10 spots nationally in points per possession.

There was very little difference between Alabama (1.19 points per possession allowed) and Arkansas (1.25) on defense, illustrating how the Razorbacks were able to make a steady ascent out of the power-conference basement into the middle class.

RELATED: SEC teams ranked by offensive points per possession

Auburn and Texas A&M, ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the SEC in points per possession, ranked way behind the SEC’s best defenses. Each team made a change at defensive coordinator, cultivating the two highest-paid assistant coaches in college football (John Chavis with the Aggies and Will Muschamp with the Tigers).

If those two programs can match prolific offenses with similarly-strong defenses, look out SEC.

Vanderbilt, meanwhile, finished last in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

Check out the full list.