Really? Best in the nation? Look I know in the 4th qtr they changed things up to keep the lead, I get it. However Rutgers had some big plays and did in fact move the ball, they just couldn't score. I love iowas D but they're not the '85 Bears, best in nation? No. Very salty and formidable? Yep
Best in the nation, this year? Meh. Maybe debatable. Too early too tell.
When you look who's played who, its a mishmash. I see similarities of a Ferentz team that is going to win 9-10 by baseball scores and not a lot of help on the O side of the ball, other than ball control, and I think Rutgers won that stat tonight, not sure.
If you want to talk about best defenses? I'll take Miami, 1972 over Bears 85. Only one of those defenses never walked off the field a loser.
Iowa is #2 in PPG at 4.3 (GA is at 3.3)
Iowa 4th in YPG.
And, that's against 2 P5 teams to boot. (not sure who GA has played)
Do I expect them to finish top 10 in those categories? Absolutely. Others? I maybe expect turnovers, low red zone scoring, scoring by defense, etc.
The things Iowa's D has been noted for for a while now. Best in the nation? Subjective. Do they always come up in the discussion? Yup. Year in, year out.