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.

131 teams · dashed lines mark the league medianr = -0.11(r² = 0.01)

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	0.88	own 28.3	35.5%	35.3%	3.35	29.5%	3.6%	12.2%	17.3%
2	Illinois	Big Ten	1.05	own 29.0	36.4%	38.3%	3.00	36.2%	4.3%	10.6%	23.4%
3	Michigan	Big Ten	1.16	own 24.7	35.2%	33.6%	3.88	36.2%	7.2%	13.8%	22.4%
4	Marshall	Sun Belt	1.18	own 28.3	37.6%	36.2%	3.67	37.6%	8.5%	15.6%	22.7%
5	James Madison	Sun Belt	1.37	own 29.4	34.1%	35.1%	4.28	44.0%	8.2%	17.9%	17.9%
6	Minnesota	Big Ten	1.38	own 25.6	39.9%	44.1%	3.13	39.0%	8.5%	14.4%	21.2%
7	Troy	Sun Belt	1.39	own 28.7	40.9%	42.3%	3.52	28.9%	4.2%	18.3%	21.8%
8	Georgia	SEC	1.40	own 26.3	38.1%	39.5%	3.58	31.6%	11.8%	15.1%	25.0%
9	Penn State	Big Ten	1.41	own 27.2	39.0%	38.6%	3.80	37.3%	7.2%	17.0%	22.9%
10	Alabama	SEC	1.41	own 26.5	39.5%	38.3%	4.20	31.2%	9.2%	18.4%	17.0%
11	Air Force	Mountain West	1.42	own 28.3	37.2%	38.2%	3.71	33.6%	8.2%	16.4%	20.9%
12	Louisville	ACC	1.48	own 29.7	41.0%	46.1%	3.41	33.1%	7.8%	19.5%	25.3%
13	Clemson	ACC	1.52	own 28.9	40.0%	41.9%	3.79	36.1%	8.4%	20.0%	20.6%
14	Pittsburgh	ACC	1.56	own 29.2	40.7%	43.6%	4.15	34.9%	12.1%	22.1%	16.8%
15	NC State	ACC	1.58	own 27.2	41.3%	43.0%	3.79	33.8%	7.8%	19.7%	19.0%
16	Oregon State	Pac-12	1.58	own 28.5	45.9%	50.8%	3.44	30.9%	8.7%	19.8%	21.4%
17	Boise State	Mountain West	1.58	own 28.8	39.9%	41.8%	4.02	41.8%	10.3%	19.9%	17.1%
18	Ohio State	Big Ten	1.63	own 25.5	36.9%	36.6%	4.70	39.9%	11.8%	20.9%	19.6%
19	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	1.63	own 28.1	45.1%	46.2%	4.11	25.9%	10.8%	22.8%	21.5%
20	Fresno State	Mountain West	1.65	own 27.7	44.7%	45.0%	4.03	24.3%	8.6%	20.7%	21.4%
21	South Alabama	Sun Belt	1.68	own 27.8	44.0%	46.7%	3.97	30.4%	11.1%	20.7%	17.0%
22	Kentucky	SEC	1.72	own 30.3	44.8%	45.8%	3.75	30.0%	7.5%	20.0%	22.5%
23	San Diego State	Mountain West	1.77	own 30.5	43.8%	46.0%	4.09	32.1%	10.9%	24.1%	16.8%
24	Iowa State	Big 12	1.78	own 29.7	38.2%	38.2%	4.66	39.8%	4.9%	21.9%	15.4%
25	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	1.80	own 25.6	42.4%	43.1%	4.43	36.1%	9.0%	25.0%	16.7%
26	Wisconsin	Big Ten	1.80	own 29.1	41.5%	40.2%	4.62	34.3%	6.6%	23.4%	17.5%
27	Cincinnati	American Athletic	1.80	own 26.4	46.5%	44.5%	4.16	25.6%	8.8%	23.4%	19.0%
28	Texas	Big 12	1.83	own 30.6	54.8%	51.7%	3.63	28.0%	8.4%	23.1%	18.2%
29	Virginia	ACC	1.85	own 30.0	45.2%	44.8%	4.13	27.6%	8.6%	19.1%	14.3%
30	Tennessee	SEC	1.85	own 26.9	48.0%	51.8%	3.67	25.2%	6.5%	23.7%	21.6%
31	Kansas State	Big 12	1.85	own 27.1	45.4%	44.1%	4.43	28.9%	13.8%	23.7%	23.7%
32	Southern Miss	Sun Belt	1.85	own 28.6	46.3%	46.6%	4.31	21.9%	14.4%	24.0%	21.2%
33	San José State	Mountain West	1.86	own 28.6	42.4%	43.7%	4.29	33.6%	8.4%	23.5%	21.9%
34	Liberty	FBS Independents	1.88	own 30.4	43.2%	43.5%	4.35	33.1%	11.0%	23.4%	21.4%
35	Duke	ACC	1.89	own 25.9	47.4%	46.6%	4.28	22.1%	9.2%	25.2%	24.4%
36	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	1.89	own 27.4	48.4%	53.3%	3.98	24.7%	16.9%	26.6%	25.3%
37	Toledo	Mid-American	1.89	own 31.9	41.1%	41.3%	4.78	35.9%	12.6%	25.1%	15.0%
38	Texas A&M	SEC	1.90	own 28.4	48.7%	52.5%	3.63	27.1%	9.8%	23.8%	17.2%
39	Washington State	Pac-12	1.93	own 27.6	51.3%	51.1%	3.98	26.3%	17.3%	26.3%	18.8%
40	Louisiana	Sun Belt	1.94	own 28.3	45.6%	45.4%	4.39	28.4%	9.9%	24.8%	22.0%
41	Wyoming	Mountain West	1.96	own 29.9	48.6%	48.9%	4.33	24.8%	11.7%	25.6%	8.0%
42	Mississippi State	SEC	1.97	own 30.4	45.0%	48.9%	4.23	32.9%	11.9%	25.2%	18.9%
43	Florida State	ACC	1.98	own 27.8	42.8%	44.2%	4.47	32.6%	7.0%	23.3%	16.3%
44	Maryland	Big Ten	1.98	own 29.0	46.9%	51.3%	3.86	28.7%	8.0%	22.0%	18.7%
45	Colorado State	Mountain West	1.98	own 29.5	45.9%	44.7%	4.82	27.6%	9.8%	27.6%	13.8%
46	Buffalo	Mid-American	1.99	own 32.0	48.2%	46.1%	4.43	27.0%	12.1%	26.2%	23.4%
47	LSU	SEC	2.01	own 29.3	47.3%	51.1%	3.94	30.2%	10.1%	25.2%	22.3%
48	Missouri	SEC	2.02	own 29.7	44.3%	47.1%	4.50	27.9%	10.3%	26.5%	14.7%
49	Virginia Tech	ACC	2.02	own 26.7	46.2%	47.1%	4.40	36.4%	10.7%	24.0%	10.7%
50	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	2.02	own 27.7	50.1%	50.8%	4.12	23.1%	10.8%	24.6%	16.2%
51	Western Michigan	Mid-American	2.02	own 33.0	48.4%	53.1%	3.94	23.8%	11.5%	24.6%	17.7%
52	Utah	Pac-12	2.04	own 27.1	47.5%	48.9%	4.27	33.6%	16.8%	27.7%	20.4%
53	Syracuse	ACC	2.04	own 33.1	49.1%	54.2%	3.76	26.7%	8.4%	25.9%	21.4%
54	Texas State	Sun Belt	2.05	own 33.9	48.0%	48.9%	4.30	33.3%	7.4%	26.7%	18.5%
55	Tulane	American Athletic	2.07	own 28.0	48.4%	49.7%	4.29	24.1%	10.3%	26.9%	23.4%
56	TCU	Big 12	2.07	own 28.3	48.5%	50.6%	4.57	21.3%	14.9%	29.3%	20.7%
57	UTSA	Conference USA	2.11	own 27.6	48.6%	50.7%	4.18	23.9%	10.6%	26.8%	24.6%
58	Oklahoma State	Big 12	2.11	own 29.1	46.3%	46.5%	4.59	32.0%	17.4%	26.7%	19.2%
59	UAB	Conference USA	2.14	own 29.6	47.4%	49.6%	4.42	27.9%	13.2%	28.7%	20.9%
60	UCF	American Athletic	2.15	own 27.7	51.5%	52.8%	4.23	26.8%	11.3%	26.8%	19.7%
61	Ohio	Mid-American	2.18	own 28.0	51.2%	53.1%	4.22	20.0%	11.0%	27.6%	27.6%
62	Memphis	American Athletic	2.20	own 30.0	48.2%	48.2%	4.76	29.1%	10.6%	29.8%	19.9%
63	Rutgers	Big Ten	2.21	own 30.2	48.8%	50.4%	4.72	26.0%	9.4%	29.9%	12.6%
64	Navy	American Athletic	2.23	own 29.2	48.6%	48.3%	4.75	28.1%	14.9%	26.3%	17.5%
65	Georgia State	Sun Belt	2.23	own 29.3	49.6%	50.7%	4.60	28.2%	15.5%	31.0%	21.1%
66	Purdue	Big Ten	2.24	own 30.0	52.9%	46.3%	5.04	27.5%	17.4%	30.2%	12.8%
67	New Mexico	Mountain West	2.24	own 29.4	48.3%	54.5%	4.22	32.5%	12.2%	27.6%	15.4%
68	Miami	ACC	2.25	own 30.4	50.1%	48.8%	4.61	28.9%	15.7%	29.8%	18.2%
69	Florida Atlantic	Conference USA	2.26	own 26.8	52.9%	53.9%	4.39	21.1%	12.5%	30.5%	22.7%
70	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.26	own 33.1	53.2%	60.8%	3.82	19.2%	10.4%	28.0%	18.4%
71	South Carolina	SEC	2.27	own 27.3	52.3%	51.8%	4.77	24.1%	12.8%	32.6%	16.3%
72	Ball State	Mid-American	2.28	own 30.4	50.3%	56.0%	4.16	24.6%	6.7%	29.1%	14.2%
73	Texas Tech	Big 12	2.28	own 33.3	51.6%	58.3%	3.91	24.5%	15.2%	27.2%	25.2%
74	Central Michigan	Mid-American	2.29	own 32.6	50.8%	53.7%	4.36	22.4%	14.2%	30.6%	11.9%
75	Ole Miss	SEC	2.29	own 30.1	52.2%	54.0%	4.27	24.1%	9.5%	29.2%	21.9%
76	UConn	FBS Independents	2.31	own 30.8	53.8%	55.6%	4.25	18.5%	8.9%	29.6%	23.7%
77	Oklahoma	Big 12	2.31	own 27.3	50.4%	50.3%	4.60	27.2%	15.4%	29.0%	19.5%
78	Wake Forest	ACC	2.31	own 29.5	49.0%	54.5%	4.42	23.1%	16.1%	29.4%	16.1%
79	UNLV	Mountain West	2.32	own 33.6	55.5%	59.5%	4.27	19.8%	10.3%	30.2%	19.8%
80	UTEP	Conference USA	2.33	own 29.7	50.2%	54.5%	4.30	29.3%	14.6%	30.1%	13.0%
81	Old Dominion	Sun Belt	2.35	own 28.8	54.4%	58.8%	3.99	20.6%	11.0%	27.2%	18.4%
82	Bowling Green	Mid-American	2.36	own 33.1	55.3%	57.8%	4.37	19.3%	14.1%	32.6%	19.3%
83	Nebraska	Big Ten	2.36	own 29.1	51.1%	51.2%	4.71	21.7%	14.7%	29.5%	14.0%
84	Michigan State	Big Ten	2.36	own 28.7	52.9%	55.0%	4.39	21.7%	13.2%	30.2%	16.3%
85	Utah State	Mountain West	2.36	own 29.6	50.9%	53.6%	4.69	23.6%	17.9%	30.7%	11.4%
86	Army	FBS Independents	2.37	own 30.3	54.2%	55.0%	4.56	24.0%	13.0%	32.0%	19.0%
87	Temple	American Athletic	2.37	own 32.8	52.6%	55.1%	4.50	28.3%	17.3%	30.7%	15.0%
88	Indiana	Big Ten	2.37	own 30.8	53.3%	54.9%	4.59	20.4%	14.1%	32.4%	12.0%
89	California	Pac-12	2.39	own 28.1	53.5%	52.0%	4.82	24.0%	13.6%	32.0%	15.2%
90	Auburn	SEC	2.40	own 30.9	48.6%	48.9%	5.01	25.6%	12.0%	30.8%	15.0%
91	East Carolina	American Athletic	2.41	own 27.0	53.5%	51.9%	4.78	26.4%	14.7%	31.8%	19.4%
92	Nevada	Mountain West	2.42	own 30.6	51.3%	55.3%	4.38	26.3%	17.5%	28.9%	17.5%
93	New Mexico State	FBS Independents	2.46	own 30.3	53.1%	52.7%	4.69	27.3%	15.4%	29.1%	12.7%
94	Northwestern	Big Ten	2.46	own 30.4	51.6%	54.2%	4.54	28.3%	12.5%	30.8%	13.3%
95	Kent State	Mid-American	2.50	own 31.2	54.5%	57.5%	4.45	15.8%	9.4%	31.5%	16.5%
96	North Texas	Conference USA	2.52	own 28.9	55.7%	56.3%	4.57	20.8%	12.5%	31.9%	16.0%
97	Baylor	Big 12	2.53	own 29.2	53.0%	55.9%	4.65	23.6%	10.2%	33.1%	22.1%
98	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	2.54	own 29.8	50.5%	50.8%	5.00	30.0%	15.4%	32.3%	16.9%
99	Arkansas	SEC	2.54	own 28.6	53.4%	56.9%	4.49	22.2%	20.1%	32.6%	18.8%
100	Tulsa	American Athletic	2.54	own 30.5	52.9%	54.2%	4.69	22.1%	12.2%	29.8%	14.5%
101	Oregon	Pac-12	2.57	own 31.2	60.4%	61.5%	4.27	24.6%	13.1%	31.1%	24.6%
102	Washington	Pac-12	2.58	own 26.7	54.5%	53.3%	4.89	20.0%	13.3%	33.3%	21.7%
103	Florida	SEC	2.59	own 33.5	64.2%	60.0%	4.63	20.0%	11.2%	35.2%	20.0%
104	App State	Sun Belt	2.60	own 29.4	51.2%	53.1%	4.92	30.6%	14.4%	34.2%	19.8%
105	UCLA	Pac-12	2.63	own 29.2	54.4%	56.3%	4.79	21.9%	9.4%	32.8%	16.4%
106	Boston College	ACC	2.63	own 34.2	50.4%	55.0%	4.79	27.5%	14.5%	32.1%	12.2%
107	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	2.65	own 28.2	53.5%	54.7%	5.10	25.0%	20.3%	37.5%	10.9%
108	USC	Pac-12	2.65	own 27.0	57.6%	55.2%	5.01	22.1%	22.1%	37.2%	22.8%
109	North Carolina	ACC	2.68	own 27.5	55.3%	57.2%	4.67	20.7%	13.8%	35.9%	15.9%
110	Houston	American Athletic	2.68	own 31.4	57.9%	64.8%	4.38	18.0%	17.3%	35.3%	18.0%
111	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	2.70	own 31.4	54.4%	54.7%	5.16	22.2%	12.8%	35.9%	15.4%
112	BYU	FBS Independents	2.73	own 28.3	57.4%	58.3%	4.90	20.8%	10.0%	36.7%	13.3%
113	Massachusetts	FBS Independents	2.75	own 34.7	54.9%	60.8%	4.62	26.4%	24.8%	36.0%	15.2%
114	Coastal Carolina	Sun Belt	2.78	own 33.6	55.4%	60.5%	4.69	24.6%	20.2%	35.1%	18.7%
115	Akron	Mid-American	2.80	own 33.2	57.0%	58.1%	4.82	20.2%	16.1%	36.3%	11.3%
116	West Virginia	Big 12	2.81	own 31.0	57.9%	62.6%	4.67	18.7%	20.3%	37.4%	13.0%
117	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	2.85	own 30.2	62.1%	66.2%	4.47	19.1%	19.1%	35.3%	13.2%
118	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	2.88	own 33.3	57.1%	63.0%	4.76	18.5%	18.5%	37.8%	16.0%
119	SMU	American Athletic	2.93	own 31.2	56.2%	60.0%	4.96	26.4%	15.7%	38.6%	16.4%
120	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	2.94	own 33.7	67.3%	60.6%	5.04	23.6%	19.7%	38.6%	16.5%
121	Rice	Conference USA	2.95	own 33.1	56.1%	60.3%	4.99	24.6%	19.8%	38.9%	15.1%
122	Vanderbilt	SEC	3.02	own 29.9	59.5%	62.3%	5.12	19.7%	18.0%	41.0%	14.8%
123	Stanford	Pac-12	3.07	own 30.6	60.5%	63.0%	4.87	18.5%	20.2%	39.5%	10.1%
124	Arizona State	Pac-12	3.09	own 28.8	61.9%	64.0%	4.92	14.9%	15.8%	38.6%	14.0%
125	Hawai'i	Mountain West	3.09	own 30.1	59.6%	62.5%	4.95	21.9%	20.3%	37.5%	14.8%
126	Florida International	Conference USA	3.10	own 30.7	57.5%	60.3%	5.17	23.8%	18.3%	40.5%	14.3%
127	Charlotte	Conference USA	3.36	own 29.9	65.7%	68.7%	4.97	20.9%	21.7%	44.4%	16.5%
128	Arizona	Pac-12	3.41	own 30.5	65.1%	68.4%	4.99	19.7%	17.9%	46.2%	16.2%
129	Kansas	Big 12	3.42	own 36.4	85.6%	70.0%	4.88	16.2%	22.3%	43.9%	19.2%
130	Colorado	Pac-12	3.88	own 34.5	69.9%	73.9%	5.32	15.4%	24.6%	53.8%	16.9%
131	South Florida	American Athletic	3.98	own 32.5	71.7%	73.0%	5.45	13.0%	22.6%	51.3%	15.7%

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.