The biggest difference between a defense recognized as great and a defense lamented as being soft? Forcing turnovers. Last year, in the high octane Big 12, Texas's D gave up a 13.6 points per game. Big 12 offenses averaged 32.7 ppg as teams routinely piled up points in the 40s and 50s. This season, the Texas defense is once again giving up just 13.8 points per game through 8 games. However, ESPN, CNNSI, and FOXsports are all clamoring to call the UT D one of the best in the country, whereas last year's group was criticized for subpar play.

The difference? The 2008 team forced 10 turnovers ALL season, one of the worse rates for Texas football's history. In 2009, Texas's D leads the country with 26 through 8 games. 3 of those turnovers have resulted in TDs for the D on INT's returned for touchdowns. I argued last year that Texas was an underrated defense, but the Longhorns inability to make the big plays on the defensive end made the point fall on deaf ears. Not so this year.

A note - the '08 squad had 10 turnovers all year? Against the Horns two biggest opponents thus far in 2009, Texas has...you guessed it - 10 turnovers (5 each for OU and Oklahoma State)

If they continue to dominate this side of the ball and force mistakes by offenses, there isn't a team out there (Alabama and Florida included, especially with those two offenses) who can beat the Horns.