Drive Efficiency

Every team gets about a dozen possessions a game. This is what they do with them, and what they give up.

LeagueAll FBSACCAmerican AthleticBig 12Big TenConference USAFBS IndependentsMid-AmericanMountain WestPac-12SECSun Belt

Season2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014

Points per drive, both directions

Scoring across, points allowed up. Fast and slow teams compare fairly here, because it is per possession. Top right is best.

128 teams · dashed lines mark the league medianr = -0.24(r² = 0.06)

Sorted by Points per drive (defense). Every possession is an opportunity; this is what one is worth. Tap any column to re-sort.

#	Team	Conf	PPD	Start	Avail	Opp	PPO	3&out	Expl	TD	TO
1	Alabama	SEC	0.59	own 29.4	31.2%	33.5%	2.92	36.8%	6.6%	12.1%	19.2%
2	Michigan	Big Ten	0.79	own 27.1	32.5%	34.2%	2.96	40.6%	6.5%	12.3%	19.4%
3	Ohio State	Big Ten	0.89	own 27.5	35.2%	32.7%	3.42	37.0%	3.7%	12.3%	23.5%
4	Florida	SEC	1.11	own 28.3	37.3%	40.4%	3.13	33.8%	8.6%	15.9%	21.9%
5	LSU	SEC	1.24	own 27.8	37.1%	39.8%	3.29	40.6%	6.3%	11.7%	18.8%
6	Wisconsin	Big Ten	1.28	own 26.9	36.9%	34.6%	3.87	34.0%	7.5%	15.1%	22.0%
7	Washington	Pac-12	1.29	own 29.9	39.2%	39.6%	3.70	35.2%	5.7%	18.2%	27.0%
8	App State	Sun Belt	1.34	own 28.4	40.5%	38.6%	3.59	37.1%	10.0%	16.4%	24.3%
9	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	1.34	own 28.5	38.7%	38.0%	4.00	32.9%	7.6%	17.1%	19.6%
10	Clemson	ACC	1.34	own 32.8	37.9%	36.0%	3.94	39.8%	11.3%	17.7%	22.0%
11	San Diego State	Mountain West	1.36	own 26.8	39.1%	35.9%	4.43	32.7%	10.3%	21.1%	23.7%
12	Iowa	Big Ten	1.37	own 26.4	39.5%	37.1%	4.00	36.4%	7.1%	17.9%	17.1%
13	UCF	American Athletic	1.43	own 35.7	41.4%	44.0%	3.67	32.1%	7.5%	20.8%	20.8%
14	Louisville	ACC	1.54	own 32.5	38.3%	36.7%	4.41	38.9%	8.9%	20.0%	21.1%
15	Colorado	Pac-12	1.55	own 32.5	42.1%	46.4%	3.54	27.5%	8.5%	18.9%	18.9%
16	Miami	ACC	1.57	own 30.1	45.2%	42.0%	3.85	27.3%	7.0%	18.9%	18.9%
17	Minnesota	Big Ten	1.57	own 29.1	41.4%	40.1%	3.95	32.9%	7.9%	19.1%	21.1%
18	Troy	Sun Belt	1.59	own 26.4	42.1%	40.3%	4.07	35.1%	10.4%	20.9%	26.9%
19	BYU	FBS Independents	1.61	own 28.8	51.9%	46.0%	3.86	31.8%	7.1%	23.0%	24.6%
20	Stanford	Pac-12	1.65	own 26.5	47.1%	47.2%	3.88	27.8%	6.9%	22.9%	18.1%
21	Auburn	SEC	1.65	own 27.7	45.9%	51.5%	3.21	25.0%	9.8%	17.4%	18.9%
22	Houston	American Athletic	1.66	own 34.3	45.2%	39.9%	4.51	31.6%	11.4%	22.8%	14.6%
23	Texas A&M	SEC	1.66	own 30.2	51.1%	52.9%	3.48	23.5%	9.8%	21.6%	22.2%
24	Western Michigan	Mid-American	1.66	own 27.2	74.4%	42.5%	4.19	26.1%	13.4%	23.1%	20.2%
25	Temple	American Athletic	1.67	own 30.8	39.4%	37.2%	4.52	38.6%	11.0%	21.4%	18.6%
26	Wake Forest	ACC	1.71	own 30.9	44.5%	44.3%	4.06	31.5%	8.7%	22.8%	20.8%
27	Georgia	SEC	1.71	own 29.7	41.6%	38.2%	4.76	38.9%	11.1%	23.6%	23.6%
28	Ohio	Mid-American	1.72	own 29.4	42.5%	41.8%	4.14	30.4%	8.9%	20.9%	19.0%
29	Boise State	Mountain West	1.74	own 28.2	45.2%	43.9%	4.06	23.6%	6.8%	20.9%	17.6%
30	Indiana	Big Ten	1.75	own 31.0	45.2%	45.7%	4.08	35.3%	10.4%	21.4%	16.2%
31	Virginia Tech	ACC	1.76	own 28.0	38.3%	38.9%	4.66	40.0%	12.6%	23.4%	18.9%
32	USC	Pac-12	1.76	own 28.9	46.6%	44.5%	4.29	29.7%	10.3%	25.2%	19.4%
33	West Virginia	Big 12	1.79	own 31.1	49.3%	50.0%	3.67	23.3%	9.3%	21.3%	24.0%
34	Utah	Pac-12	1.79	own 28.9	47.4%	43.3%	4.52	32.7%	14.0%	24.0%	19.3%
35	Kansas State	Big 12	1.81	own 27.8	47.4%	48.2%	4.16	26.6%	8.6%	25.9%	23.7%
36	Northwestern	Big Ten	1.81	own 31.4	47.5%	51.7%	3.53	32.9%	10.1%	21.5%	21.5%
37	UCLA	Pac-12	1.83	own 33.2	51.2%	45.5%	4.22	33.3%	6.4%	21.1%	17.9%
38	Boston College	ACC	1.85	own 32.4	40.5%	40.3%	4.83	35.9%	12.6%	26.4%	19.5%
39	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	1.86	own 30.1	76.2%	42.9%	4.68	29.2%	13.7%	25.5%	18.0%
40	Louisiana	Sun Belt	1.87	own 32.4	46.0%	47.2%	4.16	28.2%	9.2%	23.9%	14.8%
41	Florida State	ACC	1.91	own 32.5	43.6%	45.6%	4.18	37.4%	10.9%	23.8%	19.1%
42	NC State	ACC	1.91	own 33.2	50.2%	50.0%	4.01	24.6%	9.9%	23.2%	18.3%
43	Washington State	Pac-12	1.92	own 28.0	44.4%	46.8%	4.23	25.5%	11.3%	25.5%	22.7%
44	Nebraska	Big Ten	1.93	own 32.0	51.2%	46.6%	4.33	31.1%	9.5%	25.7%	18.9%
45	Penn State	Big Ten	1.93	own 29.1	43.9%	47.5%	4.14	29.9%	8.5%	23.7%	17.5%
46	TCU	Big 12	1.97	own 29.0	47.4%	47.8%	4.21	26.8%	10.8%	23.6%	14.0%
47	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	1.99	own 31.8	51.8%	50.4%	4.07	27.4%	10.4%	25.2%	19.3%
48	Air Force	Mountain West	2.00	own 29.5	47.7%	46.0%	4.60	29.0%	13.7%	27.4%	21.8%
49	Tulane	American Athletic	2.01	own 33.9	46.9%	42.9%	4.68	35.0%	12.9%	25.0%	19.3%
50	Vanderbilt	SEC	2.04	own 36.8	57.3%	57.1%	3.56	25.0%	7.9%	23.6%	18.6%
51	Tulsa	American Athletic	2.08	own 33.8	52.8%	51.5%	4.11	30.4%	11.2%	26.1%	16.8%
52	Georgia State	Sun Belt	2.08	own 34.9	58.8%	52.7%	4.06	20.9%	7.8%	25.6%	14.7%
53	South Carolina	SEC	2.09	own 30.9	51.5%	52.1%	4.00	25.7%	9.3%	26.4%	25.0%
54	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	2.10	own 29.4	49.3%	51.1%	4.10	30.1%	10.5%	27.1%	19.6%
55	Toledo	Mid-American	2.10	own 29.8	50.5%	48.5%	4.44	30.0%	11.5%	26.2%	10.8%
56	Oklahoma State	Big 12	2.10	own 26.4	50.5%	44.2%	4.76	32.5%	13.6%	27.3%	21.4%
57	Oklahoma	Big 12	2.12	own 28.9	49.1%	47.8%	4.61	33.1%	15.3%	28.0%	16.6%
58	Memphis	American Athletic	2.12	own 28.2	53.1%	49.7%	4.44	27.1%	11.6%	29.7%	20.0%
59	Cincinnati	American Athletic	2.14	own 31.9	57.5%	53.0%	4.03	28.0%	8.3%	25.0%	19.7%
60	Texas	Big 12	2.15	own 27.9	47.1%	45.8%	4.74	30.7%	15.1%	27.1%	16.9%
61	Southern Miss	Conference USA	2.17	own 34.3	44.7%	45.5%	4.86	40.4%	18.6%	29.5%	12.2%
62	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	2.18	own 31.9	101.3%	50.4%	4.33	21.1%	15.8%	29.3%	12.8%
63	Tennessee	SEC	2.18	own 29.9	73.8%	52.2%	4.18	28.0%	16.2%	29.8%	18.6%
64	North Carolina	ACC	2.20	own 32.0	54.3%	54.8%	4.01	26.2%	8.7%	27.0%	11.9%
65	Baylor	Big 12	2.21	own 29.9	52.0%	52.5%	4.39	29.1%	13.9%	29.1%	16.5%
66	Army	FBS Independents	2.25	own 33.1	47.5%	50.0%	4.51	27.5%	14.7%	28.4%	23.5%
67	UTSA	Conference USA	2.27	own 30.4	50.6%	52.4%	4.32	30.6%	9.7%	28.2%	17.7%
68	Missouri	SEC	2.28	own 27.1	54.4%	55.2%	4.39	24.8%	14.5%	31.0%	14.5%
69	South Florida	American Athletic	2.28	own 31.4	69.0%	53.8%	4.51	19.3%	12.4%	29.7%	17.9%
70	Ball State	Mid-American	2.31	own 30.2	53.9%	54.2%	4.35	22.9%	17.6%	29.8%	18.3%
71	Maryland	Big Ten	2.31	own 33.0	50.3%	53.0%	4.54	22.5%	16.6%	31.8%	18.5%
72	South Alabama	Sun Belt	2.33	own 29.6	56.0%	56.8%	4.10	26.4%	11.2%	29.6%	17.6%
73	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.34	own 29.2	52.9%	55.4%	4.33	20.7%	11.6%	30.6%	16.5%
74	Idaho	Sun Belt	2.36	own 27.7	63.6%	51.7%	4.93	21.7%	14.2%	32.5%	20.0%
75	Michigan State	Big Ten	2.36	own 29.7	49.3%	50.4%	4.92	30.6%	16.5%	32.2%	10.7%
76	Utah State	Mountain West	2.39	own 31.1	59.0%	52.0%	4.80	28.3%	13.4%	29.9%	12.6%
77	UConn	American Athletic	2.39	own 31.1	56.9%	54.4%	4.40	23.2%	12.0%	30.4%	14.4%
78	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	2.40	own 28.2	55.3%	49.6%	4.94	25.5%	13.5%	32.6%	14.9%
79	Kent State	Mid-American	2.41	own 31.2	52.4%	52.3%	4.61	29.9%	9.3%	30.8%	16.8%
80	Wyoming	Mountain West	2.42	own 31.8	51.9%	50.9%	5.04	28.0%	18.6%	33.5%	15.5%
81	Central Michigan	Mid-American	2.42	own 33.2	57.0%	56.8%	4.58	23.7%	15.8%	33.8%	15.1%
82	Colorado State	Mountain West	2.43	own 28.1	50.7%	47.3%	5.26	29.5%	13.2%	32.6%	16.3%
83	SMU	American Athletic	2.44	own 37.1	53.8%	53.6%	4.63	27.2%	14.6%	33.1%	19.2%
84	Mississippi State	SEC	2.44	own 27.4	56.4%	55.3%	4.50	27.7%	14.9%	32.6%	17.0%
85	Virginia	ACC	2.44	own 29.0	51.7%	51.8%	4.71	25.2%	17.0%	31.1%	17.0%
86	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	2.49	own 31.5	53.7%	59.2%	4.20	24.8%	18.4%	30.4%	16.0%
87	Duke	ACC	2.49	own 28.8	54.7%	52.5%	4.86	23.3%	19.2%	32.5%	14.2%
88	Kentucky	SEC	2.50	own 30.3	58.6%	54.9%	4.73	19.7%	12.7%	31.7%	12.0%
89	Old Dominion	Conference USA	2.52	own 30.5	78.6%	52.5%	4.83	27.9%	12.3%	34.4%	22.1%
90	New Mexico State	Sun Belt	2.53	own 30.5	53.2%	54.7%	4.75	26.6%	15.1%	33.1%	19.4%
91	Arkansas	SEC	2.54	own 30.4	55.4%	52.5%	5.12	23.7%	18.7%	36.0%	12.2%
92	Oregon State	Pac-12	2.58	own 31.7	55.1%	58.9%	4.41	24.0%	15.5%	31.8%	15.5%
93	Akron	Mid-American	2.60	own 33.6	60.2%	60.5%	4.67	24.8%	14.7%	35.7%	15.5%
94	North Texas	Conference USA	2.61	own 32.1	58.9%	61.1%	4.46	16.7%	16.7%	34.7%	20.8%
95	Florida International	Conference USA	2.62	own 34.3	59.7%	53.3%	5.01	24.1%	16.8%	35.0%	15.3%
96	Kansas	Big 12	2.65	own 37.5	56.0%	60.1%	4.48	24.8%	16.3%	34.0%	17.0%
97	Buffalo	Mid-American	2.65	own 34.7	58.5%	64.3%	4.12	14.0%	14.7%	32.6%	20.2%
98	Charlotte	Conference USA	2.66	own 32.0	53.0%	55.5%	4.99	27.3%	17.2%	35.2%	14.8%
99	Ole Miss	SEC	2.66	own 29.8	56.8%	55.1%	5.01	23.5%	18.4%	33.8%	11.8%
100	Pittsburgh	ACC	2.67	own 32.5	61.0%	56.7%	5.07	23.3%	16.0%	37.3%	12.0%
101	Iowa State	Big 12	2.69	own 27.2	54.6%	51.6%	5.35	18.3%	15.9%	35.7%	11.9%
102	Arizona State	Pac-12	2.69	own 30.7	56.4%	55.5%	5.12	28.4%	22.6%	36.1%	14.2%
103	Nevada	Mountain West	2.70	own 30.4	61.9%	61.5%	4.39	17.3%	15.4%	33.7%	18.3%
104	Illinois	Big Ten	2.71	own 36.4	57.6%	60.6%	4.50	22.0%	15.2%	34.8%	15.9%
105	Syracuse	ACC	2.76	own 30.4	64.1%	59.4%	4.75	23.1%	19.6%	37.1%	16.1%
106	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	2.78	own 38.0	109.6%	56.0%	5.13	27.4%	13.4%	38.9%	19.1%
107	Fresno State	Mountain West	2.82	own 31.9	57.3%	59.5%	4.73	23.8%	13.5%	36.5%	8.7%
108	Rutgers	Big Ten	2.82	own 37.1	58.4%	63.4%	4.53	24.6%	17.6%	38.0%	14.1%
109	Rice	Conference USA	2.83	own 32.1	69.3%	58.2%	4.95	20.9%	20.2%	37.3%	9.7%
110	New Mexico	Mountain West	2.84	own 30.1	52.6%	56.5%	5.22	29.0%	14.5%	38.2%	8.4%
111	Bowling Green	Mid-American	2.87	own 30.6	52.2%	50.0%	5.85	27.3%	12.1%	40.2%	11.4%
112	Massachusetts	FBS Independents	2.90	own 33.8	56.0%	58.4%	4.96	25.6%	14.6%	35.8%	14.6%
113	San José State	Mountain West	2.92	own 28.0	54.1%	53.2%	5.49	30.2%	20.6%	37.3%	11.9%
114	East Carolina	American Athletic	2.92	own 33.9	60.4%	58.7%	4.99	21.1%	20.3%	37.6%	12.0%
115	Hawai'i	Mountain West	2.95	own 32.0	59.5%	57.5%	5.24	21.2%	17.8%	38.4%	14.4%
116	UNLV	Mountain West	3.02	own 33.8	57.2%	62.1%	4.95	22.0%	18.2%	39.4%	12.1%
117	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	3.05	own 29.9	58.3%	59.0%	5.25	19.4%	15.3%	41.0%	14.6%
118	Navy	American Athletic	3.07	own 30.2	61.5%	60.9%	5.24	19.5%	14.1%	40.6%	14.8%
119	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	3.13	own 29.9	59.5%	60.6%	5.18	21.3%	21.3%	40.2%	15.8%
120	Marshall	Conference USA	3.14	own 30.8	60.5%	63.5%	4.95	20.9%	19.1%	40.0%	13.9%
121	Purdue	Big Ten	3.14	own 33.9	58.1%	59.4%	5.32	23.3%	19.6%	40.6%	9.8%
122	Texas State	Sun Belt	3.15	own 34.0	56.2%	58.0%	5.51	25.9%	14.7%	40.6%	7.7%
123	California	Pac-12	3.19	own 29.4	60.1%	59.2%	5.47	21.8%	22.4%	42.2%	10.9%
124	Florida Atlantic	Conference USA	3.21	own 30.1	60.7%	62.1%	5.26	25.0%	22.6%	43.5%	9.7%
125	UTEP	Conference USA	3.24	own 31.2	64.1%	65.7%	4.93	26.7%	21.9%	40.9%	12.4%
126	Arizona	Pac-12	3.28	own 32.5	60.5%	63.1%	5.20	18.9%	18.0%	44.1%	15.3%
127	Oregon	Pac-12	3.32	own 30.0	65.1%	62.8%	5.29	24.1%	18.3%	45.3%	16.1%
128	Texas Tech	Big 12	3.50	own 31.8	64.5%	67.9%	5.16	17.5%	26.3%	46.0%	11.7%

What counts as a drive

210,509 possessions counted. A drive that starts with 24 seconds left and ends in a kneel is a real row in the data and a fake possession; left in, it drags every team’s points per drive down in proportion to how often their games were already decided. Excluded here:

end of half / game / quarter possessions
possessions starting inside 40s of a half
kickoff and uncategorised rows
FBS vs FCS games

CFBD spells the same outcome four ways across seasons — FG / FG GOOD / MADE FG, DOWNS / TURNOVER ON DOWNS / POSS. ON DOWNS — so every result is normalized once at build time rather than string-matched anywhere downstream.