By a couple of different measures, State ended up with the #1 defense after the regular season.

Number 1 in scoring defense at 12.0 per game - https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/28
Number 3 in yds/game, but Number 1 in yds/play at 4.14 - https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/22

For my money, best scoring defense and lowest yards per play is the number 1 overall defense.

That is a pretty big accomplishment. Says a lot both for these guys that have been through like 5 coordinators in respective years yet still went out on top and also for Shoop to quickly install a sound scheme that suits the talent.