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.

112 teams · dashed lines mark the league medianr = -0.33(r² = 0.11)

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	Iowa	Big Ten	1.08	own 27.0	35.1%	32.3%	3.78	35.4%	2.0%	17.2%	21.2%
2	San Diego State	Mountain West	1.18	own 29.6	33.7%	35.0%	3.77	45.0%	7.0%	16.0%	12.0%
3	Cincinnati	American Athletic	1.19	own 32.1	58.5%	39.8%	3.14	30.6%	8.3%	13.9%	27.8%
4	Northwestern	Big Ten	1.27	own 29.5	40.0%	45.0%	2.84	33.0%	8.3%	11.9%	26.6%
5	Marshall	Conference USA	1.38	own 26.6	40.0%	38.5%	3.57	32.3%	8.3%	15.6%	17.7%
6	Wisconsin	Big Ten	1.38	own 26.8	39.0%	41.5%	3.32	39.0%	9.8%	17.1%	24.4%
7	BYU	FBS Independents	1.41	own 26.9	39.5%	37.9%	3.89	33.6%	6.9%	18.1%	21.6%
8	Tulsa	American Athletic	1.42	own 31.3	40.3%	43.8%	3.43	33.0%	7.1%	17.0%	19.6%
9	Army	FBS Independents	1.47	own 28.6	41.4%	40.9%	3.83	38.6%	6.8%	20.4%	21.6%
10	Clemson	ACC	1.50	own 27.2	37.7%	39.4%	3.96	38.0%	10.6%	19.0%	23.2%
11	UAB	Conference USA	1.50	own 28.5	40.5%	39.1%	4.03	31.5%	10.9%	17.4%	18.5%
12	Florida Atlantic	Conference USA	1.50	own 27.9	40.2%	46.8%	3.21	31.9%	7.4%	16.0%	19.1%
13	TCU	Big 12	1.51	own 27.3	37.8%	39.1%	4.40	36.8%	14.3%	21.1%	12.0%
14	App State	Sun Belt	1.51	own 25.6	41.9%	42.1%	3.94	29.8%	8.3%	19.8%	22.3%
15	Alabama	SEC	1.56	own 26.4	44.1%	43.8%	4.00	27.1%	9.7%	20.8%	18.8%
16	Iowa State	Big 12	1.56	own 28.7	41.7%	42.8%	3.64	32.1%	10.7%	18.3%	20.6%
17	Utah	Pac-12	1.57	own 30.4	43.2%	49.2%	3.84	36.9%	10.8%	23.1%	26.2%
18	Georgia	SEC	1.58	own 30.6	47.4%	42.3%	4.06	34.2%	9.9%	20.7%	14.4%
19	Indiana	Big Ten	1.58	own 27.1	43.9%	44.3%	3.60	33.0%	11.3%	20.6%	28.9%
20	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	1.60	own 36.0	55.9%	47.8%	3.78	30.6%	7.5%	21.6%	25.4%
21	San José State	Mountain West	1.60	own 41.4	82.3%	52.2%	3.06	30.0%	5.6%	20.0%	18.9%
22	Wyoming	Mountain West	1.61	own 30.0	39.1%	40.0%	4.04	35.7%	5.7%	20.0%	21.4%
23	West Virginia	Big 12	1.65	own 29.0	39.8%	42.2%	4.07	30.4%	7.8%	21.6%	14.7%
24	Oklahoma State	Big 12	1.66	own 26.0	40.8%	37.2%	4.50	33.8%	14.5%	22.1%	13.1%
25	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	1.68	own 25.6	41.5%	42.0%	4.25	29.8%	13.0%	20.6%	19.1%
26	Louisiana	Sun Belt	1.80	own 28.2	47.4%	42.7%	4.47	27.4%	9.7%	24.2%	26.6%
27	Coastal Carolina	Sun Belt	1.81	own 26.7	44.9%	46.6%	4.02	27.6%	8.6%	21.6%	29.3%
28	Oklahoma	Big 12	1.82	own 29.4	43.3%	46.0%	4.09	33.3%	11.9%	23.8%	17.5%
29	Toledo	Mid-American	1.87	own 28.1	43.7%	44.0%	4.46	37.3%	14.7%	24.0%	20.0%
30	Texas A&M	SEC	1.89	own 26.1	43.4%	47.2%	4.14	30.2%	8.5%	24.5%	16.0%
31	Ball State	Mid-American	1.90	own 29.7	49.9%	54.4%	3.78	25.0%	13.0%	27.2%	26.1%
32	Liberty	FBS Independents	1.93	own 28.6	44.9%	47.4%	4.37	28.9%	14.4%	27.8%	19.6%
33	Texas	Big 12	1.94	own 33.6	53.5%	54.4%	3.59	31.2%	12.3%	24.6%	17.4%
34	Buffalo	Mid-American	1.99	own 28.2	46.0%	49.4%	4.03	37.0%	9.9%	25.9%	14.8%
35	Pittsburgh	ACC	1.99	own 29.5	43.2%	43.8%	4.68	35.2%	13.3%	26.6%	18.8%
36	Mississippi State	SEC	1.99	own 32.3	49.7%	53.5%	3.85	21.7%	12.4%	26.4%	17.1%
37	Nevada	Mountain West	2.00	own 27.7	46.6%	48.5%	4.13	29.3%	12.1%	24.2%	21.2%
38	Ohio State	Big Ten	2.01	own 23.9	44.1%	45.8%	4.71	34.4%	17.7%	28.1%	17.7%
39	Penn State	Big Ten	2.03	own 32.5	44.2%	45.4%	4.61	32.4%	13.0%	25.9%	13.9%
40	Boise State	Mountain West	2.08	own 28.5	44.9%	47.1%	4.95	36.5%	9.4%	28.2%	9.4%
41	Colorado	Pac-12	2.10	own 28.8	46.9%	53.1%	4.12	30.9%	18.5%	25.9%	18.5%
42	Kentucky	SEC	2.10	own 28.8	52.9%	52.1%	4.26	22.2%	16.2%	30.8%	22.2%
43	NC State	ACC	2.14	own 28.4	49.5%	52.4%	4.29	24.1%	9.0%	26.2%	17.2%
44	USC	Pac-12	2.14	own 26.0	46.2%	45.7%	4.69	31.4%	8.6%	25.7%	28.6%
45	Troy	Sun Belt	2.16	own 27.2	50.7%	54.5%	4.26	22.3%	13.4%	28.6%	18.8%
46	Tulane	American Athletic	2.17	own 28.6	47.3%	48.0%	4.51	28.0%	13.3%	29.3%	18.7%
47	UTSA	Conference USA	2.17	own 27.2	49.8%	49.6%	4.41	31.8%	13.2%	28.7%	18.6%
48	Georgia State	Sun Belt	2.21	own 30.1	49.7%	52.0%	4.35	29.9%	17.3%	30.7%	22.8%
49	Central Michigan	Mid-American	2.21	own 28.3	46.4%	45.5%	4.91	37.7%	11.7%	28.6%	23.4%
50	Baylor	Big 12	2.24	own 30.8	47.0%	47.7%	5.00	30.3%	14.7%	29.4%	15.6%
51	Miami	ACC	2.24	own 28.4	48.6%	48.1%	4.66	26.3%	12.8%	27.8%	18.8%
52	Hawai'i	Mountain West	2.29	own 36.0	62.6%	53.4%	4.29	19.4%	12.6%	28.2%	20.4%
53	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	2.30	own 28.4	48.4%	48.3%	5.00	21.2%	9.3%	30.5%	13.6%
54	UCLA	Pac-12	2.30	own 31.8	53.0%	56.0%	4.25	16.7%	13.1%	30.9%	17.9%
55	Houston	American Athletic	2.31	own 28.5	47.5%	48.9%	4.87	28.7%	11.7%	30.9%	11.7%
56	Auburn	SEC	2.31	own 27.8	53.8%	54.8%	4.33	20.0%	7.8%	32.2%	16.5%
57	LSU	SEC	2.32	own 26.7	53.2%	55.0%	4.51	28.7%	24.0%	32.6%	17.8%
58	South Alabama	Sun Belt	2.34	own 30.0	55.2%	59.0%	3.96	24.6%	14.8%	30.3%	22.9%
59	Kansas State	Big 12	2.35	own 33.7	61.5%	58.8%	4.39	21.9%	16.0%	33.6%	12.6%
60	Michigan State	Big Ten	2.36	own 35.4	52.0%	51.6%	4.62	26.4%	9.9%	30.8%	13.2%
61	Rutgers	Big Ten	2.38	own 29.7	51.4%	56.1%	4.34	22.8%	13.2%	30.7%	21.9%
62	Louisville	ACC	2.38	own 33.4	52.6%	55.0%	4.33	25.0%	10.8%	28.3%	19.2%
63	Fresno State	Mountain West	2.40	own 29.9	50.9%	57.5%	4.17	35.6%	13.7%	30.1%	19.2%
64	Syracuse	ACC	2.41	own 29.6	53.2%	58.4%	4.33	24.1%	14.6%	31.4%	15.3%
65	Tennessee	SEC	2.43	own 28.2	53.1%	57.0%	4.49	18.7%	13.1%	29.0%	9.3%
66	East Carolina	American Athletic	2.44	own 32.5	50.9%	53.8%	4.76	27.4%	12.0%	33.3%	20.5%
67	UCF	American Athletic	2.47	own 28.3	54.0%	52.7%	4.71	24.4%	14.5%	32.8%	23.7%
68	Virginia	ACC	2.47	own 30.2	53.6%	60.8%	4.06	23.4%	15.9%	29.0%	17.8%
69	Florida	SEC	2.47	own 25.7	50.1%	49.3%	5.12	28.4%	12.7%	32.8%	15.7%
70	Arkansas	SEC	2.47	own 31.1	55.3%	59.7%	4.34	19.3%	9.2%	32.8%	17.6%
71	Maryland	Big Ten	2.54	own 26.1	46.4%	49.2%	5.16	30.8%	12.3%	32.3%	10.8%
72	North Carolina	ACC	2.54	own 27.5	51.2%	50.4%	5.04	29.0%	14.5%	32.1%	13.7%
73	SMU	American Athletic	2.56	own 29.6	51.0%	49.6%	5.28	29.6%	12.2%	34.8%	14.8%
74	Wake Forest	ACC	2.56	own 31.2	52.9%	53.4%	5.05	25.2%	13.6%	34.0%	14.6%
75	Memphis	American Athletic	2.56	own 28.2	54.0%	53.0%	4.84	22.6%	9.6%	32.2%	23.5%
76	Virginia Tech	ACC	2.57	own 27.7	52.0%	52.7%	4.87	31.0%	12.4%	33.3%	18.6%
77	Boston College	ACC	2.60	own 29.0	54.9%	58.7%	4.44	22.3%	15.7%	33.1%	18.2%
78	Nebraska	Big Ten	2.60	own 31.3	54.3%	58.1%	4.48	18.6%	11.6%	30.2%	15.1%
79	Texas Tech	Big 12	2.67	own 33.6	50.3%	52.9%	5.05	26.9%	11.8%	32.8%	13.5%
80	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.69	own 32.3	55.4%	59.2%	4.54	20.0%	14.4%	34.4%	22.4%
81	Oregon	Pac-12	2.69	own 36.0	195.0%	60.8%	4.42	21.6%	12.2%	33.8%	17.6%
82	Duke	ACC	2.70	own 30.6	52.1%	53.1%	5.20	28.0%	15.4%	37.1%	16.1%
83	Purdue	Big Ten	2.71	own 29.1	55.1%	58.5%	4.68	24.6%	3.1%	33.9%	20.0%
84	New Mexico	Mountain West	2.74	own 36.7	82.0%	60.0%	4.56	26.3%	16.3%	33.8%	21.3%
85	Minnesota	Big Ten	2.75	own 29.6	55.8%	60.3%	4.57	15.1%	16.4%	37.0%	11.0%
86	Missouri	SEC	2.75	own 28.3	54.1%	52.7%	5.34	23.6%	13.6%	36.4%	14.5%
87	Navy	American Athletic	2.77	own 34.8	55.0%	62.0%	4.49	20.4%	17.6%	31.5%	13.0%
88	Michigan	Big Ten	2.80	own 28.7	55.0%	54.9%	5.28	18.3%	11.3%	36.6%	5.6%
89	Charlotte	Conference USA	2.83	own 30.8	59.5%	59.1%	4.79	24.2%	15.2%	37.9%	22.7%
90	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	2.83	own 33.1	57.5%	60.6%	4.72	24.2%	21.2%	36.4%	18.2%
91	Illinois	Big Ten	2.86	own 27.2	59.4%	58.0%	5.08	18.2%	13.6%	38.6%	19.3%
92	Western Michigan	Mid-American	2.91	own 31.0	55.0%	57.4%	5.26	25.0%	14.7%	36.8%	7.3%
93	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	2.95	own 32.9	58.1%	60.5%	4.88	19.4%	20.2%	38.7%	16.1%
94	Texas State	Sun Belt	2.99	own 30.3	60.2%	63.4%	4.80	18.3%	14.1%	38.7%	13.4%
95	Oregon State	Pac-12	3.00	own 32.0	60.5%	60.8%	4.93	23.0%	14.9%	37.8%	9.5%
96	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	3.00	own 35.9	54.3%	62.4%	4.92	19.8%	14.8%	40.6%	16.8%
97	South Florida	American Athletic	3.05	own 34.8	59.4%	61.1%	5.24	18.9%	13.7%	42.1%	12.6%
98	Florida State	ACC	3.06	own 31.6	60.5%	65.2%	4.85	19.6%	17.4%	42.4%	15.2%
99	Temple	American Athletic	3.08	own 32.7	55.0%	62.4%	4.94	29.4%	15.3%	40.0%	14.1%
100	UTEP	Conference USA	3.13	own 33.8	56.1%	57.8%	5.42	26.8%	15.5%	42.3%	9.9%
101	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	3.15	own 30.8	56.9%	61.2%	5.14	20.4%	15.5%	40.8%	12.6%
102	Southern Miss	Conference USA	3.17	own 33.9	60.2%	64.6%	4.90	20.8%	17.7%	41.7%	16.7%
103	Kansas	Big 12	3.18	own 37.1	58.3%	67.9%	4.68	24.1%	18.8%	39.3%	9.8%
104	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	3.19	own 33.9	66.2%	63.2%	5.05	16.2%	14.7%	41.2%	17.6%
105	Ole Miss	SEC	3.20	own 24.8	62.3%	62.0%	5.17	16.8%	18.6%	41.6%	15.0%
106	South Carolina	SEC	3.25	own 31.7	62.7%	63.8%	5.09	19.1%	20.0%	41.9%	15.2%
107	Utah State	Mountain West	3.32	own 25.4	60.2%	63.1%	5.32	21.5%	20.0%	44.6%	9.2%
108	North Texas	Conference USA	3.41	own 31.6	60.4%	58.9%	5.79	17.0%	23.2%	46.4%	13.4%
109	UNLV	Mountain West	3.42	own 33.2	61.7%	63.6%	5.38	22.7%	21.2%	42.4%	9.1%
110	Vanderbilt	SEC	3.48	own 31.0	63.8%	67.4%	5.17	20.0%	22.1%	45.3%	12.6%
111	Akron	Mid-American	3.52	own 35.9	66.5%	71.4%	5.09	12.7%	22.2%	49.2%	11.1%
112	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	3.54	own 33.4	64.7%	71.2%	5.00	17.3%	24.0%	47.1%	13.5%

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.