re: Indiana or 2019 LSU?

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You gave up 37 or more points 4 times that year; suffice it to say, if your offense had been even slightly less prolific (but still amazing), that team loses at least 3 games.

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Ehh this is a little misguided.

UT, absolutely gave up 38. Incredible game to attend. They hit a couple sideline shots and had big plays - not something LSU gave up many of that year.

Vandy is the one that bothers me. They scored 10 points against our starters. Their defense had two touchdowns, and the other two scores came against reserves. "LSU's defense gave up 38 to Vanderbilt" is always one of those things you see people say in arguing that that team wasn't good, but it's just not true.

Bama, the offense gave up 34, with one of those touchdowns being a trick play. Not to take anything away from that offense, who I consider (at that time, with Tua) to be the 2nd best offense in college football history.

Ole Miss was just one of those games. Had a handfull of guys playing through injuries/out for that game, and we just couldn't stop Plumlee in that horizontal veer offense. I mean people discount that team, but they put up 31 on Bama. In that 2nd half (where 28 of OM points came from) LSU had one drive longer than 4 plays. Defense was just gassed on the field all game.

Regardless, the defense needs more credit. They beat the folllowing quarterbacks that year:

Sam Ehlinger
Jordan Love
Kyle Trask
Bo Nix
Tua
Fromm
Jalen Hurts
Trevor Lawrence

Even then, only Ehlinger and Trask (could argue Tua) had good games (by their standards).

Both are worlds better than 2020 Bama

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They weren't "bad", but their overall performance wasn't elite - even with star players on it. They were 31st nationally in scoring defense and 31st in total defense.

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That is a fair enough non-trolling take. I will say they were much more stout down the stretch & Ole Miss was the low point.

IU was 21st in offensive YPG, which I think is comparable to LSU’s defensive ranking — but they did do really well on turnovers & were top 3 in PPG.

There’s not really an objective way to evaluate “best team” across different seasons or eras.

If I’m forced to compare 26 IU to 19 LSU, I’m mainly looking at the fact that IU trailed very late to Iowa & Penn State.

I can’t discredit them for close games with good teams like OSU or Oregon — but squeaking out wins against Penn/Iowa combined with a lack of NFL talent would have me inclined to put them behind the all-time cornhuskers, canes, and tigers.

All in all I have my doubts how they would stack up well against some of these other all-time teams… but they are still the only team to go undefeated in the 12-team playoff era & that has to count for something.