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.

130 teams · dashed lines mark the league medianr = -0.47(r² = 0.22)

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	Ohio State	Big Ten	1.02	own 26.4	32.5%	29.5%	3.48	40.3%	8.5%	13.1%	21.0%
2	Clemson	ACC	1.03	own 25.6	30.8%	27.5%	4.02	43.3%	9.0%	12.9%	21.3%
3	Georgia	SEC	1.03	own 26.4	33.8%	34.5%	3.00	37.8%	3.4%	12.2%	18.9%
4	Iowa	Big Ten	1.13	own 29.9	45.7%	35.4%	3.33	35.4%	7.6%	13.9%	20.1%
5	San Diego State	Mountain West	1.22	own 24.1	37.3%	35.9%	3.54	37.5%	9.4%	14.8%	25.0%
6	Utah	Pac-12	1.22	own 27.9	38.5%	38.2%	3.73	33.8%	11.0%	18.4%	17.6%
7	Penn State	Big Ten	1.32	own 24.4	40.2%	37.9%	3.75	30.7%	5.7%	15.7%	21.4%
8	Wisconsin	Big Ten	1.35	own 28.0	38.3%	37.3%	4.02	34.8%	10.8%	19.0%	20.9%
9	Oregon	Pac-12	1.36	own 27.3	38.8%	39.9%	3.63	31.0%	8.2%	15.8%	24.1%
10	Alabama	SEC	1.40	own 27.5	40.9%	41.0%	3.80	31.3%	9.0%	17.9%	22.4%
11	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	1.42	own 26.3	36.3%	38.9%	3.88	34.4%	8.3%	17.2%	20.4%
12	Washington	Pac-12	1.45	own 27.7	43.7%	43.1%	3.63	33.9%	4.6%	19.2%	20.0%
13	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	1.48	own 30.3	45.0%	46.9%	3.56	28.6%	7.5%	21.1%	21.8%
14	Baylor	Big 12	1.49	own 29.3	41.8%	42.8%	3.69	28.9%	7.5%	18.2%	22.0%
15	Wyoming	Mountain West	1.49	own 28.4	43.8%	44.2%	3.49	26.1%	9.4%	18.1%	21.7%
16	UCF	American Athletic	1.50	own 28.7	39.7%	41.5%	3.96	35.4%	5.5%	19.5%	18.3%
17	Cincinnati	American Athletic	1.52	own 26.5	42.4%	44.9%	3.67	28.1%	9.6%	19.2%	21.0%
18	Auburn	SEC	1.53	own 28.7	40.4%	40.9%	3.86	38.3%	9.7%	20.1%	18.8%
19	Missouri	SEC	1.53	own 27.5	41.0%	42.0%	3.91	35.1%	6.9%	20.6%	15.3%
20	Florida	SEC	1.56	own 28.6	39.3%	42.7%	3.64	34.7%	9.7%	18.6%	16.9%
21	App State	Sun Belt	1.56	own 26.8	38.0%	39.9%	4.46	38.0%	12.0%	22.1%	16.5%
22	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	1.56	own 26.6	42.3%	43.8%	3.70	32.0%	6.3%	18.8%	22.7%
23	UAB	Conference USA	1.64	own 29.6	40.2%	42.3%	3.90	32.9%	9.4%	20.8%	21.5%
24	LSU	SEC	1.68	own 26.6	40.5%	39.1%	4.42	33.1%	10.1%	21.9%	20.1%
25	Pittsburgh	ACC	1.68	own 29.7	42.9%	41.2%	4.31	28.4%	10.1%	19.6%	13.5%
26	Michigan	Big Ten	1.71	own 28.1	39.1%	34.6%	4.92	37.9%	9.2%	23.5%	17.6%
27	Kansas State	Big 12	1.74	own 28.7	45.6%	48.1%	3.95	30.8%	12.8%	21.1%	16.5%
28	Buffalo	Mid-American	1.77	own 33.3	41.5%	46.7%	4.03	34.3%	13.1%	24.1%	23.4%
29	Michigan State	Big Ten	1.77	own 29.5	39.9%	40.9%	4.46	36.4%	9.1%	22.7%	20.1%
30	Miami	ACC	1.78	own 29.7	41.1%	45.3%	3.94	35.0%	10.9%	20.4%	16.1%
31	Florida Atlantic	Conference USA	1.80	own 27.3	42.7%	43.6%	4.23	38.4%	15.1%	23.8%	23.3%
32	Tennessee	SEC	1.83	own 29.0	46.3%	50.0%	3.88	26.2%	6.9%	23.1%	21.5%
33	Northwestern	Big Ten	1.85	own 32.2	44.0%	46.4%	4.05	32.1%	2.9%	22.9%	12.9%
34	Boise State	Mountain West	1.85	own 28.3	43.0%	42.3%	4.71	30.9%	9.4%	26.2%	20.8%
35	Illinois	Big Ten	1.88	own 28.2	47.7%	48.5%	4.32	30.7%	13.5%	25.1%	17.8%
36	Virginia Tech	ACC	1.89	own 30.2	43.0%	46.0%	4.20	35.3%	13.7%	25.9%	17.3%
37	Louisiana	Sun Belt	1.89	own 26.5	48.3%	50.7%	3.75	26.4%	11.4%	22.9%	22.1%
38	Minnesota	Big Ten	1.89	own 29.7	42.9%	46.4%	4.19	33.6%	8.8%	24.8%	17.6%
39	Kentucky	SEC	1.90	own 27.3	45.6%	41.2%	4.61	28.6%	11.8%	23.5%	20.2%
40	Arizona State	Pac-12	1.92	own 24.9	47.1%	46.1%	4.37	27.0%	12.1%	27.0%	23.4%
41	Navy	American Athletic	1.93	own 30.4	44.9%	48.1%	4.13	32.6%	10.1%	24.0%	20.9%
42	Texas A&M	SEC	1.93	own 27.9	44.0%	47.8%	4.05	27.6%	11.9%	23.9%	14.2%
43	North Carolina	ACC	1.94	own 30.5	47.4%	51.4%	3.88	29.2%	11.8%	24.3%	15.3%
44	Nebraska	Big Ten	1.95	own 29.9	46.6%	44.2%	4.85	27.2%	12.9%	26.5%	17.7%
45	Temple	American Athletic	1.96	own 30.9	46.8%	49.3%	4.16	32.7%	10.7%	27.3%	21.3%
46	South Carolina	SEC	1.99	own 27.0	47.4%	48.5%	4.21	26.2%	10.8%	23.8%	16.2%
47	Marshall	Conference USA	2.02	own 29.3	49.0%	48.9%	4.27	20.0%	11.8%	27.4%	15.6%
48	Air Force	Mountain West	2.03	own 29.8	49.7%	50.9%	4.11	27.3%	9.1%	28.2%	20.0%
49	TCU	Big 12	2.04	own 31.3	44.4%	46.4%	4.62	35.7%	14.3%	26.4%	15.7%
50	Iowa State	Big 12	2.06	own 26.6	42.9%	44.3%	4.77	37.9%	8.6%	25.0%	14.3%
51	Memphis	American Athletic	2.07	own 28.3	45.7%	50.3%	4.22	27.0%	10.7%	25.8%	20.1%
52	California	Pac-12	2.08	own 29.4	51.2%	55.0%	3.77	22.5%	9.3%	24.0%	17.8%
53	Wake Forest	ACC	2.08	own 28.9	46.8%	47.8%	4.36	33.3%	15.1%	25.2%	20.8%
54	Indiana	Big Ten	2.12	own 28.3	49.5%	51.1%	4.34	26.6%	20.9%	27.3%	18.0%
55	Southern Miss	Conference USA	2.12	own 30.4	46.1%	47.5%	4.56	33.6%	16.1%	28.0%	11.2%
56	Western Michigan	Mid-American	2.13	own 29.0	50.4%	51.4%	4.14	28.2%	14.1%	26.1%	21.8%
57	BYU	FBS Independents	2.14	own 28.2	48.3%	51.8%	4.13	32.1%	9.5%	25.6%	19.7%
58	Florida State	ACC	2.15	own 29.8	50.4%	55.6%	3.86	27.8%	11.3%	23.8%	16.6%
59	Ole Miss	SEC	2.15	own 27.9	52.3%	54.4%	3.96	22.4%	13.6%	25.6%	14.4%
60	Central Michigan	Mid-American	2.16	own 31.9	47.0%	47.5%	4.58	25.6%	13.1%	26.3%	22.5%
61	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	2.21	own 29.4	48.4%	50.3%	4.60	28.4%	14.8%	31.0%	16.8%
62	Duke	ACC	2.22	own 31.3	46.5%	48.6%	4.68	34.3%	12.1%	27.9%	15.7%
63	Texas	Big 12	2.22	own 27.7	52.6%	54.3%	4.10	23.5%	11.8%	26.1%	22.9%
64	Oklahoma State	Big 12	2.23	own 28.2	48.8%	50.7%	4.49	30.6%	16.7%	27.8%	16.0%
65	Liberty	FBS Independents	2.24	own 31.8	50.7%	54.3%	4.12	31.5%	11.0%	27.6%	18.1%
66	Ohio	Mid-American	2.27	own 27.7	48.2%	53.2%	4.26	37.4%	11.5%	28.1%	13.0%
67	Oklahoma	Big 12	2.28	own 28.5	48.3%	47.3%	5.03	28.8%	14.4%	30.1%	13.7%
68	SMU	American Athletic	2.29	own 28.2	49.0%	52.3%	4.44	27.9%	15.1%	28.5%	20.3%
69	Tulsa	American Athletic	2.30	own 30.6	46.8%	47.0%	4.90	30.2%	8.7%	28.9%	17.4%
70	Tulane	American Athletic	2.31	own 29.3	48.7%	51.4%	4.59	31.7%	11.3%	28.9%	16.2%
71	Florida International	Conference USA	2.32	own 31.6	50.2%	53.3%	4.48	23.4%	10.9%	29.2%	16.1%
72	Rice	Conference USA	2.34	own 25.8	47.9%	46.4%	5.03	28.0%	11.2%	29.6%	12.8%
73	USC	Pac-12	2.35	own 29.8	51.8%	54.4%	4.35	21.5%	13.4%	28.9%	17.4%
74	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	2.36	own 30.0	48.8%	53.5%	4.71	27.5%	10.6%	32.4%	15.5%
75	South Florida	American Athletic	2.38	own 32.0	50.5%	55.5%	4.28	28.9%	12.5%	31.3%	18.8%
76	Utah State	Mountain West	2.39	own 29.0	51.4%	55.0%	4.46	27.2%	11.3%	32.5%	21.2%
77	Purdue	Big Ten	2.39	own 32.5	51.9%	56.5%	4.32	20.7%	12.4%	31.0%	13.1%
78	West Virginia	Big 12	2.40	own 28.7	50.8%	49.6%	4.95	22.1%	11.8%	30.7%	13.4%
79	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	2.41	own 34.2	51.3%	57.6%	4.39	25.8%	15.2%	32.6%	12.1%
80	Virginia	ACC	2.42	own 27.0	48.8%	48.6%	5.08	30.1%	17.1%	31.5%	16.4%
81	Texas Tech	Big 12	2.46	own 26.6	52.9%	54.3%	4.53	28.6%	18.6%	31.4%	17.1%
82	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	2.46	own 29.0	53.5%	54.8%	4.70	27.4%	14.0%	32.5%	15.9%
83	North Texas	Conference USA	2.48	own 28.9	50.7%	50.0%	5.06	24.6%	14.6%	31.5%	15.4%
84	Syracuse	ACC	2.50	own 27.6	53.7%	51.7%	4.93	21.8%	18.4%	32.6%	19.7%
85	UNLV	Mountain West	2.51	own 33.5	56.4%	60.6%	4.14	21.2%	13.6%	30.3%	17.4%
86	Old Dominion	Conference USA	2.52	own 31.4	50.5%	53.6%	4.70	30.4%	13.6%	31.2%	14.4%
87	Colorado State	Mountain West	2.53	own 30.2	49.0%	49.6%	5.20	30.2%	13.2%	32.6%	10.8%
88	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	2.53	own 30.8	57.4%	60.8%	4.25	20.8%	12.0%	30.4%	17.6%
89	South Alabama	Sun Belt	2.55	own 32.8	54.3%	56.5%	4.51	24.2%	12.1%	29.8%	13.7%
90	Fresno State	Mountain West	2.55	own 30.8	55.6%	59.8%	4.29	26.0%	13.4%	33.1%	22.8%
91	Army	FBS Independents	2.57	own 31.7	52.6%	58.5%	4.39	22.6%	11.3%	33.0%	19.8%
92	Ball State	Mid-American	2.57	own 29.4	52.8%	54.9%	4.68	30.1%	12.8%	31.6%	21.8%
93	Nevada	Mountain West	2.59	own 30.7	52.4%	55.6%	4.75	27.5%	14.8%	33.8%	16.2%
94	NC State	ACC	2.61	own 31.9	53.5%	56.7%	4.70	26.1%	14.9%	33.6%	9.7%
95	Mississippi State	SEC	2.62	own 32.1	56.5%	55.0%	4.96	23.3%	16.3%	35.7%	18.6%
96	Hawai'i	Mountain West	2.64	own 31.4	57.0%	61.4%	4.54	20.3%	19.0%	36.1%	15.8%
97	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	2.70	own 29.4	55.1%	61.2%	4.42	23.1%	11.9%	35.1%	16.4%
98	Boston College	ACC	2.71	own 29.8	56.8%	59.6%	4.62	25.3%	12.3%	32.9%	13.7%
99	Houston	American Athletic	2.72	own 28.7	55.9%	53.4%	5.39	20.6%	20.6%	38.2%	16.0%
100	Troy	Sun Belt	2.76	own 30.5	56.9%	59.1%	4.85	22.0%	19.7%	36.4%	16.7%
101	San José State	Mountain West	2.77	own 28.4	57.6%	58.2%	4.76	23.8%	15.6%	36.1%	24.6%
102	Akron	Mid-American	2.78	own 35.8	54.5%	60.3%	4.61	25.0%	11.8%	36.0%	11.0%
103	Charlotte	Conference USA	2.79	own 31.0	54.7%	56.4%	5.06	24.6%	14.3%	37.3%	11.1%
104	Stanford	Pac-12	2.80	own 28.9	57.4%	60.3%	4.74	20.6%	17.5%	35.7%	11.9%
105	Vanderbilt	SEC	2.81	own 30.5	58.7%	60.9%	4.78	18.8%	21.9%	38.3%	12.5%
106	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.83	own 33.8	57.5%	61.8%	4.61	21.1%	12.2%	35.8%	13.8%
107	Washington State	Pac-12	2.84	own 28.7	58.9%	60.5%	4.69	17.8%	15.5%	37.2%	16.3%
108	Colorado	Pac-12	2.84	own 27.3	56.2%	58.9%	4.91	22.5%	16.3%	38.0%	17.8%
109	Texas State	Sun Belt	2.85	own 33.6	56.2%	60.8%	4.68	25.8%	14.2%	37.5%	11.7%
110	Maryland	Big Ten	2.85	own 31.8	57.9%	60.1%	4.79	25.4%	15.9%	36.2%	15.2%
111	UCLA	Pac-12	2.86	own 29.6	56.7%	58.3%	4.99	22.3%	19.4%	38.1%	15.8%
112	Arizona	Pac-12	2.91	own 32.6	58.5%	63.4%	4.59	19.9%	17.6%	36.6%	16.0%
113	UTSA	Conference USA	2.91	own 32.5	57.5%	60.6%	4.99	22.8%	21.3%	37.8%	13.4%
114	Oregon State	Pac-12	2.92	own 30.6	59.0%	62.1%	4.79	19.4%	21.0%	38.7%	15.3%
115	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	2.93	own 29.6	57.1%	56.1%	5.31	25.9%	18.7%	38.9%	16.6%
116	Toledo	Mid-American	2.95	own 30.3	57.4%	61.1%	4.83	23.7%	20.6%	38.2%	14.5%
117	Coastal Carolina	Sun Belt	2.96	own 33.5	58.5%	60.9%	4.96	15.7%	13.9%	40.9%	16.5%
118	Georgia State	Sun Belt	2.99	own 30.6	57.9%	57.8%	5.27	23.4%	19.5%	39.8%	16.4%
119	Kent State	Mid-American	2.99	own 27.7	58.8%	59.5%	5.03	23.7%	13.7%	38.2%	13.7%
120	Louisville	ACC	3.00	own 31.2	56.1%	59.1%	5.08	22.8%	19.5%	40.3%	17.4%
121	Rutgers	Big Ten	3.00	own 30.6	58.4%	61.0%	4.92	21.3%	16.9%	39.7%	14.0%
122	East Carolina	American Athletic	3.06	own 29.7	61.0%	59.8%	5.21	18.0%	18.0%	41.0%	15.6%
123	New Mexico	Mountain West	3.06	own 32.1	69.7%	65.0%	4.71	21.1%	17.9%	41.5%	10.6%
124	Kansas	Big 12	3.17	own 30.2	60.7%	63.0%	5.04	18.9%	18.1%	40.9%	11.0%
125	Bowling Green	Mid-American	3.39	own 30.8	60.9%	59.7%	5.67	21.6%	27.6%	45.5%	14.2%
126	Arkansas	SEC	3.39	own 29.7	60.4%	64.6%	5.26	22.8%	24.4%	44.1%	11.0%
127	UConn	American Athletic	3.45	own 29.6	62.1%	61.3%	5.72	21.8%	23.4%	48.4%	17.7%
128	New Mexico State	FBS Independents	3.46	own 32.1	61.0%	68.2%	5.08	20.2%	17.1%	41.9%	9.3%
129	UTEP	Conference USA	3.56	own 32.2	64.4%	66.7%	5.34	16.2%	19.8%	45.1%	8.1%
130	Massachusetts	FBS Independents	3.88	own 33.2	68.7%	67.9%	5.87	20.4%	25.6%	54.7%	14.6%

What counts as a drive

211,555 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.