Phil Steele ranks Top 25 Defensive Line units ahead of 2025 college football season

Veteran college football writer Phil Steele ranked the top 25 defensive line units in the country ahead of the 2025 college football season. Safe to say, there are some elite groups getting ready to dominate opposing offenses.

Sometimes the defensive line can make or break a defense, especially in the passing game. If there’s pressure up front, opposing offenses have little room for error.

Without further ado, let’s dive into Steele’s top 25 defensive line units in college football. We begin with this year’s best.

1. Oklahoma

R Mason Thomas returns as the top pass rusher on this defensive line. The Sooners boast the top unit in the country per Steele.

Thomas had nine sacks last season and he’ll be helped out by teammates such as Jayden Jackson and David Stone. This is arguably the best position group for Brent Venables this year.

2. Clemson

Peter Woods (Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports)

Steele actually has the Tigers’ unit in the No. 2 spot despite some absolute stars across the line. Peter Woods and TJ Parker highlight the unit and both have serious All-American potential.

Dabo Swinney actually hit the transfer portal to beef up the unit as well. Defensive end Will Heldt had five sacks last year so he should be an instant impact type of player.

3. Penn State

The Nittany Lions have some elite talent on the defensive line going into 2025. Dani Dennis-Sutton highlights the group at defensive end, coming into the year with 8.5 sacks last season.

In the middle is Zane Durant. He should be a disruptive defensive tackle for Penn State after registering 11 tackles for loss last year. Zuriah Fisher should step up on the defensive line this year as well.

4. Notre Dame

Notre Dame had a deep rotation last season en route to the national championship game. However, despite this defensive line being in the top five per Steele, they have to replace three starters.

Be sure to watch out for Joshua Burnham, Bryce Young and Boubacar Traore to step up this fall. Jared Dawson comes in this year with plenty of experience after playing for Louisville.

5. Michigan

Michigan Wolverines football EDGE Derrick Moore is a starter on a vaunted defensive line. (Photo by Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images) — (Photo by Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)

It’s very tough for a defensive line unit to replace Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. But, Steele is still high on the Wolverines this year.

Derrick Moore and TJ Guy will be responsible for the edge this year. Former Clemson DT Tre Williams transferred in and will provide some additional stability.

6. Alabama

Tim Keenan III is at nose tackle and should be a game wrecker for Alabama’s defensive line this season. Steele is also high on new guys on the block.

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LT Overton is a breakout candidate per Steele. Not only that, Alabama added Florida transfer Kelby Collins and he can play multiple positions across the line.

7. Texas Tech

The Red Raiders rebuilt their defensive line this offseason through the transfer portal. David Bailey is the elite one of the bunch, coming over from Stanford and one who logged seven sacks last season.

Additional transfers include Lee Hunter (UCF) and Skyler Gill-Howard (NIU). They should all make an instant impact.

8. Iowa

David Pollack has Aaron Graves penciled in as the player to keep an eye on for Iowa in the 2025 college football season. — Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Iowa consistently has one of the better defensive line units in the country year to year. Steele has them in the top 10 for 2025.

The anchors of the unit include Aaron Graves, who had six sacks at DT last year, and Ethan Hurkett, who had 11 tackles for loss. Be on the lookout for Max Llewellyn this season as well.

9. Texas

Texas had to rebuild the defensive line unit ahead of this season, but Steele likes what they’ve done. If you want to talk about a new lethal tandem, as Steele describes it, Texas has it.

Colin Simmons logged nine sacks last year and Trey Moore had 9.5 tackles for loss. The Longhorns also added Travis Shaw and Cole Brevard through the transfer portal.

10. Florida

Tyreak Sapp returns to the defensive line in Gainesville that ranks top 10 per Steele. He and George Gumbs led the unit in sacks.

As far as what else the unit provides, it’s Caleb Banks, who had 4.5 sacks. He has first-round NFL potential.