Two days ago
I posted on how each NCAA FBS conference ranked over the 2011-2012 NCAA FBS season and yesterday
I posted on how each of conference ranked in terms of the offensive (or scoring) side of the ball. Today, I want to break it down in terms of the defensive (or stopping the opponent from scoring) side. So listed below is each of the NCAA FBS conferences (and the four independents listed as one "conference"). I have measured defensive conference rank just like I measured total rank and offensive rank but of course now I am taking the average of each conference team's defensive rank. Here they are (an to me a little surprising).
| Rank | Conference | Defense Rank |
| 1 | Big East | 26.875 |
| 2 | SEC | 31.417 |
| 3 | Big 12 | 46.600 |
| 4 | Big 10 | 48.167 |
| 5 | ACC | 49.250 |
| 6 | Ind | 56.750 |
| 7 | Sun Belt | 61.750 |
| 8 | CUSA | 62.636 |
| 9 | Mid American | 74.533 |
| 10 | WAC | 78.375 |
| 11 | Mountain West | 82.500 |
| 12 | Pac 12 | 82.833 |