Penn State coach James Franklin could see it coming from a mile away. Chase Young, arguably the most talented player in college football last season, had missed Ohio State's two previous game due to suspension and was set to return for one of the Buckeyes' most important contests of the year.

“Just in time for good old Penn State,” Franklin joked about Young’s return, pointing to the defensive end's 13.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in eight games up to that point.

Not that he needed a Heisman statement game, but Young delivered against the Nittany Lions and almost single-handedly gave Penn State its first loss, finishing with three sacks, four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Equally important as play-making quarterbacks, top-end pass rushers can take over games in college football and when teams have a collection of elite-level players on that side of the football, it can lead to championships. Peeking ahead at college football's title contenders in 2020, it comes as no surprise many of the country's top projected teams should be strong defensively.

Per ESPN national analyst Bill Connelly's Preseason SP+ ratings, here's a look at which teams his data projects will be the nation's best on defense next fall. We've paneled many of our team-site experts with boots on the ground for their take within respective programs included, here: