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 = -0.36(r² = 0.13)

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	Georgia	SEC	0.64	own 25.1	34.2%	33.8%	2.61	40.4%	3.3%	8.6%	23.2%
2	Clemson	ACC	1.10	own 25.8	34.4%	33.3%	3.46	34.8%	4.3%	13.0%	22.5%
3	Wisconsin	Big Ten	1.13	own 28.5	34.3%	35.7%	3.44	39.3%	7.1%	13.6%	25.7%
4	Texas A&M	SEC	1.23	own 27.1	39.6%	38.6%	3.31	25.8%	6.8%	15.2%	17.4%
5	Penn State	Big Ten	1.27	own 27.1	41.6%	43.2%	3.18	28.1%	6.5%	15.1%	17.3%
6	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	1.32	own 29.2	40.6%	43.1%	3.30	35.6%	12.5%	16.3%	16.9%
7	Oklahoma State	Big 12	1.33	own 25.8	34.7%	34.6%	3.85	40.9%	10.7%	17.0%	18.9%
8	San Diego State	Mountain West	1.38	own 26.0	39.5%	36.3%	4.05	31.3%	9.4%	17.5%	18.8%
9	Boise State	Mountain West	1.39	own 27.2	42.7%	43.3%	3.56	29.8%	11.3%	18.4%	19.9%
10	Iowa	Big Ten	1.41	own 25.9	38.0%	35.4%	4.48	33.1%	6.3%	18.3%	20.6%
11	Michigan	Big Ten	1.46	own 26.0	39.1%	39.2%	3.85	36.6%	6.5%	17.6%	19.6%
12	Cincinnati	American Athletic	1.47	own 28.0	40.3%	43.2%	3.41	35.1%	5.4%	18.2%	27.0%
13	Houston	American Athletic	1.50	own 27.4	41.2%	39.9%	4.03	31.4%	11.8%	20.3%	20.9%
14	NC State	ACC	1.57	own 24.7	40.4%	36.8%	4.58	37.5%	10.3%	20.6%	16.2%
15	Minnesota	Big Ten	1.57	own 24.5	38.5%	37.4%	4.39	36.6%	5.3%	19.9%	19.9%
16	Alabama	SEC	1.67	own 27.2	37.1%	39.8%	4.42	37.9%	9.3%	21.1%	21.1%
17	Baylor	Big 12	1.70	own 26.1	45.8%	47.5%	3.67	26.2%	11.3%	19.9%	21.3%
18	Iowa State	Big 12	1.72	own 28.8	41.8%	41.5%	4.26	31.5%	8.5%	22.3%	16.9%
19	Fresno State	Mountain West	1.72	own 28.8	44.5%	44.5%	4.03	28.8%	12.3%	21.2%	22.6%
20	Louisiana	Sun Belt	1.74	own 28.0	42.4%	44.4%	3.91	29.2%	11.8%	21.5%	23.6%
21	Pittsburgh	ACC	1.74	own 27.7	42.8%	44.4%	4.21	33.3%	14.8%	24.1%	19.1%
22	App State	Sun Belt	1.75	own 27.7	43.9%	42.8%	4.31	33.6%	9.9%	23.0%	19.7%
23	Ohio State	Big Ten	1.78	own 24.7	45.5%	44.4%	4.48	23.6%	11.8%	27.1%	15.3%
24	Arizona State	Pac-12	1.79	own 26.6	45.2%	50.4%	3.80	26.8%	7.9%	22.1%	19.7%
25	Liberty	FBS Independents	1.80	own 29.9	43.8%	45.3%	4.24	31.4%	8.0%	23.4%	17.5%
26	California	Pac-12	1.82	own 28.2	47.8%	47.3%	4.12	22.7%	11.8%	22.7%	19.1%
27	Toledo	Mid-American	1.83	own 30.0	43.6%	48.6%	3.86	27.4%	9.6%	19.2%	16.4%
28	Kentucky	SEC	1.84	own 27.5	45.1%	45.5%	4.41	26.0%	8.1%	25.2%	17.9%
29	UTEP	Conference USA	1.87	own 30.9	44.4%	47.8%	4.08	30.1%	10.3%	22.8%	18.4%
30	Utah	Pac-12	1.87	own 27.1	46.9%	53.3%	3.83	24.4%	9.6%	24.4%	17.8%
31	Coastal Carolina	Sun Belt	1.89	own 27.0	46.8%	44.0%	4.75	24.0%	10.4%	26.4%	17.6%
32	Air Force	Mountain West	1.89	own 27.8	41.5%	42.2%	4.51	38.8%	12.1%	25.0%	19.0%
33	Nebraska	Big Ten	1.91	own 29.1	47.3%	51.3%	3.72	23.5%	6.7%	21.0%	16.8%
34	Nevada	Mountain West	1.93	own 27.8	47.3%	45.3%	4.66	27.3%	10.0%	26.0%	22.0%
35	UCF	American Athletic	1.94	own 29.3	46.8%	50.7%	3.85	31.7%	7.8%	23.9%	22.5%
36	Utah State	Mountain West	1.95	own 28.4	49.2%	50.3%	3.92	25.5%	14.1%	22.1%	20.1%
37	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	1.95	own 29.1	45.1%	49.0%	4.28	28.6%	11.6%	26.5%	21.8%
38	Florida	SEC	1.96	own 29.4	46.7%	48.2%	4.08	29.2%	11.7%	23.4%	16.8%
39	Purdue	Big Ten	1.97	own 29.7	45.2%	48.6%	4.14	31.8%	14.9%	25.0%	17.6%
40	Michigan State	Big Ten	1.97	own 26.4	51.7%	54.7%	3.88	20.9%	11.5%	25.2%	20.1%
41	Marshall	Conference USA	1.98	own 28.7	45.8%	47.5%	4.17	23.7%	9.3%	25.2%	19.4%
42	Tulsa	American Athletic	1.99	own 29.2	45.6%	47.8%	4.26	30.1%	13.2%	25.0%	19.9%
43	Arkansas	SEC	1.99	own 28.6	47.1%	48.9%	4.06	25.2%	11.5%	23.7%	16.6%
44	UAB	Conference USA	1.99	own 29.3	46.3%	46.7%	4.38	33.6%	9.5%	28.5%	20.4%
45	Washington State	Pac-12	1.99	own 29.8	48.4%	50.4%	4.06	27.4%	9.6%	24.4%	25.9%
46	Colorado State	Mountain West	1.99	own 28.4	43.1%	43.2%	4.73	29.5%	13.7%	25.2%	13.7%
47	Kansas State	Big 12	2.00	own 27.6	47.0%	51.3%	4.05	26.6%	7.1%	22.1%	21.2%
48	Wyoming	Mountain West	2.02	own 30.7	49.8%	53.3%	4.07	21.9%	8.8%	26.3%	17.5%
49	Illinois	Big Ten	2.02	own 27.3	44.3%	51.1%	3.94	28.1%	8.2%	21.5%	15.6%
50	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	2.02	own 28.6	47.0%	49.3%	4.21	25.7%	13.2%	26.5%	17.6%
51	Southern Miss	Conference USA	2.04	own 29.6	51.1%	54.8%	4.06	27.4%	15.3%	26.6%	20.2%
52	East Carolina	American Athletic	2.05	own 29.0	48.9%	47.6%	4.42	26.6%	16.1%	26.6%	18.6%
53	Auburn	SEC	2.05	own 26.9	48.0%	51.5%	4.21	23.5%	10.3%	25.0%	18.4%
54	Florida Atlantic	Conference USA	2.07	own 27.1	49.5%	48.4%	4.41	22.9%	12.3%	26.2%	18.0%
55	Central Michigan	Mid-American	2.09	own 27.6	46.7%	48.3%	4.63	24.8%	14.5%	26.9%	18.6%
56	Rutgers	Big Ten	2.10	own 26.2	46.2%	49.3%	4.39	35.2%	12.7%	28.2%	16.9%
57	South Carolina	SEC	2.11	own 29.9	46.9%	48.1%	4.38	28.2%	11.5%	26.7%	16.0%
58	Washington	Pac-12	2.11	own 30.4	46.6%	49.6%	4.29	27.4%	8.6%	23.1%	12.8%
59	Ole Miss	SEC	2.11	own 26.7	51.5%	51.5%	4.24	20.4%	12.1%	27.3%	20.4%
60	Troy	Sun Belt	2.13	own 30.5	46.5%	47.2%	4.75	31.2%	12.8%	27.2%	17.6%
61	Boston College	ACC	2.13	own 28.9	48.5%	51.8%	4.12	31.3%	14.3%	25.9%	19.6%
62	UTSA	Conference USA	2.13	own 28.6	48.6%	48.0%	4.75	30.4%	14.2%	29.0%	16.2%
63	Florida State	ACC	2.16	own 31.5	48.0%	50.8%	4.39	28.0%	13.6%	28.0%	18.2%
64	San José State	Mountain West	2.17	own 30.4	47.6%	48.1%	4.61	26.3%	9.8%	23.3%	12.8%
65	West Virginia	Big 12	2.18	own 32.6	52.1%	54.0%	4.04	27.0%	13.5%	25.4%	20.6%
66	South Alabama	Sun Belt	2.19	own 29.2	50.5%	53.8%	4.06	23.5%	13.5%	26.9%	21.9%
67	Virginia Tech	ACC	2.21	own 26.7	50.5%	50.0%	4.66	24.6%	12.3%	30.0%	15.4%
68	Miami	ACC	2.22	own 28.5	47.1%	47.4%	4.83	26.7%	13.3%	26.7%	12.6%
69	Old Dominion	Conference USA	2.24	own 31.5	50.8%	55.3%	4.28	18.4%	15.6%	28.4%	19.9%
70	UCLA	Pac-12	2.24	own 30.2	49.6%	53.8%	4.37	20.4%	12.1%	28.0%	23.5%
71	North Texas	Conference USA	2.26	own 29.8	47.1%	49.3%	4.79	24.6%	14.5%	29.7%	11.6%
72	Georgia State	Sun Belt	2.26	own 29.8	51.7%	55.4%	4.17	19.6%	8.8%	28.4%	20.9%
73	Syracuse	ACC	2.28	own 32.2	49.2%	51.7%	4.53	25.0%	9.2%	26.7%	11.7%
74	Memphis	American Athletic	2.29	own 31.6	52.9%	57.5%	4.18	22.1%	8.7%	29.9%	17.3%
75	Hawai'i	Mountain West	2.29	own 31.8	51.1%	54.3%	4.23	22.9%	12.4%	29.4%	18.3%
76	Wake Forest	ACC	2.30	own 29.8	50.4%	52.5%	4.39	30.4%	15.2%	29.8%	23.4%
77	Army	FBS Independents	2.33	own 29.2	64.8%	50.9%	4.61	22.7%	11.8%	30.0%	28.2%
78	Mississippi State	SEC	2.33	own 28.6	47.6%	48.4%	4.85	26.2%	12.7%	27.8%	16.7%
79	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	2.35	own 29.4	53.2%	54.2%	4.50	23.2%	11.6%	31.0%	28.4%
80	New Mexico	Mountain West	2.35	own 32.3	49.0%	54.4%	4.43	24.8%	12.8%	27.2%	11.2%
81	LSU	SEC	2.39	own 29.7	50.5%	50.8%	4.92	26.9%	13.1%	33.1%	13.9%
82	Tennessee	SEC	2.39	own 26.9	50.3%	52.4%	4.83	27.6%	11.7%	31.7%	16.6%
83	SMU	American Athletic	2.41	own 29.7	48.9%	48.9%	4.94	29.8%	14.5%	30.5%	20.6%
84	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	2.44	own 27.8	51.0%	52.3%	4.87	25.0%	19.5%	32.0%	14.1%
85	Ball State	Mid-American	2.44	own 26.3	53.6%	52.7%	4.63	21.7%	10.8%	27.9%	19.4%
86	Colorado	Pac-12	2.46	own 29.8	55.2%	59.2%	4.35	20.8%	19.2%	32.5%	14.2%
87	Western Michigan	Mid-American	2.48	own 31.5	49.0%	50.0%	4.95	32.3%	17.7%	30.8%	12.3%
88	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	2.48	own 32.2	53.3%	58.9%	4.30	24.0%	17.8%	32.6%	21.7%
89	BYU	FBS Independents	2.52	own 25.8	54.4%	54.6%	4.62	22.7%	11.8%	30.3%	21.0%
90	Texas	Big 12	2.52	own 29.9	52.8%	52.9%	4.89	26.1%	10.9%	30.4%	15.2%
91	Arizona	Pac-12	2.52	own 27.3	50.1%	50.0%	5.36	23.7%	20.3%	33.9%	5.1%
92	Oregon	Pac-12	2.53	own 29.9	54.4%	55.0%	4.74	24.4%	9.9%	33.6%	20.6%
93	Oklahoma	Big 12	2.54	own 28.5	54.5%	55.4%	4.63	20.7%	14.9%	33.1%	22.3%
94	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	2.58	own 28.8	55.8%	57.3%	4.69	14.5%	13.0%	33.6%	15.3%
95	Navy	American Athletic	2.60	own 36.4	58.6%	58.8%	4.53	29.4%	16.0%	34.4%	14.3%
96	Louisville	ACC	2.62	own 27.9	51.9%	53.0%	4.94	28.0%	14.4%	32.6%	14.4%
97	Oregon State	Pac-12	2.66	own 29.7	58.1%	60.7%	4.47	21.3%	14.8%	32.8%	19.7%
98	Northwestern	Big Ten	2.66	own 31.6	55.9%	56.3%	4.74	18.0%	13.3%	32.0%	14.8%
99	Maryland	Big Ten	2.68	own 32.1	54.4%	61.9%	4.42	23.7%	18.7%	33.8%	16.6%
100	Bowling Green	Mid-American	2.73	own 31.4	56.4%	55.5%	4.94	22.7%	12.5%	35.2%	18.8%
101	North Carolina	ACC	2.73	own 29.7	54.7%	56.8%	4.81	24.5%	16.6%	34.5%	15.8%
102	Texas State	Sun Belt	2.76	own 32.2	57.7%	66.7%	4.22	17.5%	12.5%	34.2%	11.7%
103	Texas Tech	Big 12	2.76	own 28.8	55.7%	54.9%	5.13	24.6%	13.9%	36.9%	13.9%
104	Indiana	Big Ten	2.77	own 31.5	53.1%	54.0%	5.13	27.4%	13.7%	35.5%	9.7%
105	Ohio	Mid-American	2.78	own 29.2	58.7%	59.0%	4.74	15.4%	12.8%	33.3%	15.4%
106	Stanford	Pac-12	2.82	own 27.0	58.6%	57.3%	5.03	17.7%	14.5%	36.3%	15.3%
107	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	2.85	own 29.4	56.5%	59.5%	4.82	24.4%	19.9%	38.2%	19.9%
108	Tulane	American Athletic	2.92	own 32.0	56.5%	62.3%	4.72	23.1%	13.9%	37.7%	15.4%
109	USC	Pac-12	2.94	own 28.1	55.9%	54.8%	5.35	20.2%	18.6%	39.5%	16.9%
110	Rice	Conference USA	2.95	own 32.1	57.5%	57.9%	5.10	16.7%	24.6%	38.1%	17.5%
111	Virginia	ACC	2.95	own 28.4	60.2%	63.3%	4.69	21.9%	21.1%	36.7%	16.4%
112	UNLV	Mountain West	2.98	own 33.9	59.3%	65.5%	4.55	16.8%	14.2%	35.4%	18.6%
113	Buffalo	Mid-American	2.98	own 33.1	60.4%	60.7%	4.92	17.2%	17.2%	38.5%	9.8%
114	Georgia Tech	ACC	3.04	own 29.3	59.4%	61.3%	5.05	21.0%	21.9%	37.8%	12.6%
115	Vanderbilt	SEC	3.07	own 32.9	60.8%	63.7%	4.82	20.2%	21.0%	38.7%	18.6%
116	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	3.11	own 31.3	60.9%	65.0%	4.95	17.1%	18.6%	40.7%	15.7%
117	Missouri	SEC	3.13	own 29.0	58.1%	59.4%	5.28	27.1%	21.1%	40.6%	12.8%
118	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	3.16	own 28.6	57.4%	56.1%	5.63	25.4%	20.8%	41.5%	10.0%
119	New Mexico State	FBS Independents	3.18	own 30.6	60.5%	64.6%	5.00	20.8%	29.2%	41.5%	15.4%
120	South Florida	American Athletic	3.20	own 31.8	72.5%	64.2%	5.08	17.5%	18.3%	43.3%	14.2%
121	UConn	FBS Independents	3.27	own 33.9	61.0%	63.1%	5.27	22.9%	14.8%	42.6%	9.8%
122	Duke	ACC	3.31	own 29.1	60.4%	61.8%	5.38	21.3%	27.2%	41.2%	10.3%
123	Kent State	Mid-American	3.36	own 32.9	64.2%	68.7%	4.89	19.1%	18.4%	42.2%	21.1%
124	Florida International	Conference USA	3.38	own 29.5	61.9%	60.9%	5.64	17.2%	20.3%	43.8%	7.0%
125	TCU	Big 12	3.40	own 28.6	64.7%	65.0%	5.35	18.3%	28.3%	45.0%	14.2%
126	Charlotte	Conference USA	3.45	own 30.4	65.3%	69.6%	5.06	12.5%	26.8%	48.2%	12.5%
127	Temple	American Athletic	3.51	own 34.7	61.8%	64.5%	5.53	23.4%	14.5%	46.8%	13.7%
128	Akron	Mid-American	3.73	own 31.5	67.3%	66.4%	5.71	8.2%	23.6%	49.1%	9.1%
129	Kansas	Big 12	3.96	own 32.6	69.0%	72.9%	5.59	15.3%	21.2%	54.2%	13.6%
130	Massachusetts	FBS Independents	3.97	own 31.4	68.2%	71.2%	5.58	15.4%	26.9%	53.8%	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.