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.

133 teams · dashed lines mark the league medianr = -0.32(r² = 0.10)

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	Michigan	Big Ten	0.95	own 24.6	32.1%	33.8%	3.11	40.8%	5.1%	12.1%	22.9%
2	Ohio State	Big Ten	0.98	own 26.8	35.5%	33.3%	3.26	31.0%	3.9%	11.6%	17.1%
3	Iowa	Big Ten	1.02	own 27.7	33.1%	30.4%	3.71	30.9%	3.0%	10.7%	13.1%
4	Texas A&M	SEC	1.16	own 27.1	33.4%	43.6%	3.10	38.2%	9.1%	15.4%	14.5%
5	Penn State	Big Ten	1.18	own 27.7	33.3%	32.3%	4.02	40.6%	3.8%	15.0%	21.1%
6	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	1.18	own 26.6	35.9%	27.2%	4.56	37.6%	7.2%	13.6%	20.0%
7	SMU	American Athletic	1.37	own 28.8	38.1%	37.4%	4.16	37.4%	7.7%	20.6%	18.1%
8	Clemson	ACC	1.38	own 28.1	36.8%	35.1%	4.45	37.8%	10.6%	19.2%	19.9%
9	Troy	Sun Belt	1.38	own 29.6	42.0%	45.0%	3.29	31.4%	5.0%	17.1%	24.3%
10	Jacksonville State	Conference USA	1.43	own 28.0	39.6%	38.6%	3.93	28.8%	9.8%	18.3%	21.6%
11	UCLA	Pac-12	1.43	own 28.5	39.7%	40.2%	3.69	32.9%	6.6%	14.6%	22.6%
12	Ohio	Mid-American	1.43	own 29.9	40.1%	46.6%	3.33	27.1%	11.9%	18.6%	25.4%
13	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	1.44	own 31.2	38.3%	41.5%	3.75	30.4%	5.9%	17.8%	23.7%
14	Texas	Big 12	1.47	own 27.1	40.0%	38.4%	4.28	35.9%	10.1%	18.9%	22.6%
15	Florida State	ACC	1.47	own 25.6	39.1%	42.6%	3.56	33.1%	10.8%	18.2%	18.9%
16	James Madison	Sun Belt	1.48	own 27.2	41.6%	37.8%	4.24	26.6%	10.5%	20.3%	22.4%
17	Tennessee	SEC	1.53	own 27.0	43.7%	47.4%	3.67	33.1%	8.3%	21.1%	18.8%
18	Georgia	SEC	1.53	own 27.0	40.0%	38.1%	4.20	30.6%	5.2%	18.7%	19.4%
19	Nebraska	Big Ten	1.60	own 31.7	38.7%	43.0%	3.72	31.9%	3.0%	17.8%	18.5%
20	Oregon	Pac-12	1.63	own 25.9	45.3%	47.3%	3.55	27.5%	10.7%	19.1%	27.5%
21	Utah	Pac-12	1.70	own 28.9	41.1%	42.8%	4.11	32.8%	11.5%	22.1%	19.1%
22	Wisconsin	Big Ten	1.71	own 28.1	43.3%	45.6%	3.73	32.9%	8.1%	22.1%	18.8%
23	South Alabama	Sun Belt	1.71	own 32.7	43.8%	44.8%	3.82	32.1%	10.4%	20.9%	22.4%
24	Alabama	SEC	1.73	own 26.9	42.8%	42.4%	4.34	33.8%	12.2%	22.3%	20.1%
25	Duke	ACC	1.73	own 26.5	45.9%	53.1%	3.37	23.4%	5.5%	19.5%	21.1%
26	NC State	ACC	1.74	own 28.5	42.5%	40.3%	4.43	31.3%	11.1%	22.2%	20.1%
27	Air Force	Mountain West	1.76	own 26.4	40.5%	41.2%	4.55	35.3%	8.4%	23.5%	16.0%
28	Oklahoma	Big 12	1.77	own 27.8	46.1%	47.5%	3.92	24.1%	7.0%	21.5%	24.1%
29	Navy	American Athletic	1.78	own 29.8	49.2%	45.8%	4.02	32.5%	12.5%	25.0%	21.7%
30	Toledo	Mid-American	1.80	own 30.1	46.4%	51.8%	3.60	25.9%	8.2%	22.2%	20.0%
31	Missouri	SEC	1.82	own 26.4	44.4%	46.9%	4.12	32.3%	10.0%	22.3%	15.4%
32	Kansas State	Big 12	1.83	own 28.2	45.4%	48.2%	4.00	28.1%	15.1%	22.3%	25.2%
33	East Carolina	American Athletic	1.84	own 31.3	43.3%	48.4%	4.02	31.3%	13.3%	23.4%	14.1%
34	App State	Sun Belt	1.84	own 29.0	46.2%	49.7%	4.49	26.9%	13.1%	28.3%	15.9%
35	Louisville	ACC	1.87	own 29.5	42.0%	44.8%	4.30	28.0%	16.1%	24.5%	21.0%
36	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	1.88	own 30.8	45.3%	47.3%	4.19	31.3%	6.9%	24.4%	13.0%
37	Rutgers	Big Ten	1.89	own 29.0	47.5%	44.3%	4.65	27.1%	8.2%	26.2%	21.3%
38	UTSA	American Athletic	1.90	own 28.8	45.4%	45.8%	4.27	28.8%	9.2%	22.9%	16.3%
39	Tulane	American Athletic	1.90	own 27.8	45.9%	44.5%	4.38	24.1%	10.9%	21.9%	28.5%
40	Fresno State	Mountain West	1.93	own 26.3	45.4%	46.5%	4.15	31.5%	11.0%	22.8%	23.6%
41	Virginia Tech	ACC	1.97	own 28.1	43.1%	39.3%	5.07	36.5%	8.3%	25.5%	14.5%
42	Ole Miss	SEC	1.97	own 27.4	46.1%	50.4%	4.02	28.3%	13.4%	25.2%	23.6%
43	Auburn	SEC	1.98	own 29.2	45.3%	48.1%	4.33	29.8%	13.7%	25.2%	17.6%
44	Arkansas	SEC	1.99	own 32.0	48.5%	52.3%	4.21	26.2%	10.0%	26.9%	10.0%
45	Arizona	Pac-12	1.99	own 29.3	48.2%	48.9%	4.19	28.2%	10.7%	26.7%	21.4%
46	Liberty	Conference USA	2.01	own 27.4	47.1%	46.8%	4.50	30.5%	14.3%	27.3%	27.3%
47	Miami	ACC	2.02	own 30.3	46.4%	58.8%	3.52	31.3%	10.7%	23.7%	16.0%
48	Northwestern	Big Ten	2.02	own 31.3	48.0%	51.5%	3.91	25.0%	8.3%	24.2%	20.4%
49	Florida Atlantic	American Athletic	2.02	own 28.9	49.2%	55.3%	3.85	29.3%	11.4%	26.0%	22.8%
50	Iowa State	Big 12	2.02	own 28.8	83.2%	47.7%	4.24	24.6%	12.3%	24.6%	21.5%
51	Maryland	Big Ten	2.03	own 29.5	47.6%	48.0%	4.34	24.4%	7.1%	24.4%	22.8%
52	Marshall	Sun Belt	2.04	own 34.6	48.0%	53.2%	3.94	28.2%	11.5%	26.3%	17.9%
53	Sam Houston	Conference USA	2.07	own 30.6	64.9%	46.2%	4.71	27.3%	13.6%	26.5%	17.4%
54	Washington State	Pac-12	2.07	own 28.7	48.5%	47.2%	4.73	26.0%	11.0%	29.1%	13.4%
55	Pittsburgh	ACC	2.09	own 30.2	51.4%	55.6%	3.96	20.2%	13.7%	27.4%	19.4%
56	Washington	Pac-12	2.09	own 25.3	50.4%	48.2%	4.56	24.7%	16.3%	28.9%	22.3%
57	Old Dominion	Sun Belt	2.11	own 31.6	50.5%	53.1%	4.18	25.2%	9.1%	28.0%	18.9%
58	Wyoming	Mountain West	2.12	own 28.9	50.5%	52.4%	4.05	25.0%	10.5%	23.4%	19.4%
59	Texas Tech	Big 12	2.12	own 27.7	48.5%	51.1%	4.25	29.5%	12.2%	25.2%	18.7%
60	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	2.13	own 29.1	49.8%	53.7%	4.15	28.7%	6.6%	28.7%	22.1%
61	Bowling Green	Mid-American	2.13	own 31.1	47.1%	48.8%	4.60	26.8%	13.4%	28.3%	27.6%
62	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	2.17	own 28.1	48.4%	46.5%	4.85	23.3%	13.2%	27.9%	12.4%
63	Coastal Carolina	Sun Belt	2.17	own 30.2	52.1%	53.5%	4.16	22.8%	13.4%	26.8%	21.3%
64	Boise State	Mountain West	2.18	own 27.4	48.3%	49.3%	4.42	27.1%	16.7%	26.4%	18.1%
65	South Carolina	SEC	2.19	own 32.4	58.4%	52.9%	4.25	23.5%	8.4%	26.9%	18.5%
66	San Diego State	Mountain West	2.22	own 25.1	49.1%	53.0%	4.18	27.0%	17.4%	27.0%	13.9%
67	West Virginia	Big 12	2.22	own 27.1	51.7%	52.0%	4.38	19.7%	11.8%	29.1%	18.9%
68	BYU	Big 12	2.22	own 30.3	53.2%	54.8%	4.36	20.6%	11.9%	29.4%	20.6%
69	Army	FBS Independents	2.22	own 35.4	63.4%	62.2%	3.80	23.5%	16.3%	28.6%	22.4%
70	North Carolina	ACC	2.24	own 33.8	57.6%	56.1%	4.08	21.6%	13.7%	28.1%	21.6%
71	New Mexico State	Conference USA	2.24	own 28.2	55.4%	56.2%	4.08	17.5%	14.6%	27.7%	18.3%
72	Buffalo	Mid-American	2.24	own 34.0	46.6%	50.0%	4.48	30.5%	13.3%	27.3%	18.0%
73	Mississippi State	SEC	2.25	own 29.9	46.1%	48.3%	4.65	30.5%	9.3%	27.1%	16.1%
74	Kentucky	SEC	2.25	own 31.7	46.6%	49.6%	4.85	27.1%	12.0%	28.6%	12.8%
75	Syracuse	ACC	2.25	own 31.0	52.6%	57.4%	4.01	22.1%	14.7%	27.2%	22.8%
76	Colorado State	Mountain West	2.28	own 31.9	52.5%	56.3%	4.38	21.9%	12.5%	28.1%	12.5%
77	Kansas	Big 12	2.31	own 30.4	53.1%	56.1%	4.62	20.3%	12.2%	32.5%	14.6%
78	Oregon State	Pac-12	2.32	own 30.3	54.8%	56.7%	4.09	15.8%	11.7%	30.0%	22.5%
79	Oklahoma State	Big 12	2.32	own 26.1	48.7%	49.7%	4.76	26.8%	18.9%	30.7%	24.2%
80	Purdue	Big Ten	2.32	own 30.4	46.3%	45.7%	5.30	27.1%	12.9%	30.0%	13.6%
81	Rice	American Athletic	2.33	own 33.8	52.2%	57.6%	4.13	23.5%	16.7%	28.8%	21.2%
82	Illinois	Big Ten	2.33	own 32.2	51.8%	56.1%	4.33	20.9%	10.1%	29.5%	13.0%
83	Akron	Mid-American	2.33	own 34.5	47.9%	52.1%	4.48	26.5%	17.4%	29.8%	11.6%
84	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	2.35	own 33.8	65.5%	58.3%	4.03	22.8%	15.0%	29.1%	26.8%
85	UNLV	Mountain West	2.36	own 27.8	50.0%	50.3%	4.87	30.3%	20.0%	30.3%	17.4%
86	Texas State	Sun Belt	2.36	own 32.2	55.0%	61.4%	4.20	22.0%	15.9%	33.3%	21.2%
87	Wake Forest	ACC	2.37	own 29.0	48.6%	50.8%	4.67	30.6%	17.7%	29.0%	16.1%
88	Michigan State	Big Ten	2.40	own 28.7	52.8%	56.5%	4.34	28.2%	15.3%	29.8%	12.1%
89	Ball State	Mid-American	2.40	own 31.0	49.3%	54.6%	4.39	24.1%	15.7%	28.7%	13.0%
90	UCF	Big 12	2.42	own 30.3	56.5%	60.0%	4.03	16.0%	12.0%	28.8%	19.2%
91	Georgia State	Sun Belt	2.42	own 29.3	53.1%	55.2%	4.47	20.9%	16.4%	32.1%	20.9%
92	Memphis	American Athletic	2.42	own 30.9	68.0%	58.3%	4.33	22.3%	23.7%	33.1%	25.9%
93	Western Michigan	Mid-American	2.42	own 32.4	53.7%	55.0%	4.68	16.7%	12.5%	32.5%	17.5%
94	Minnesota	Big Ten	2.44	own 27.3	48.0%	47.1%	5.17	29.0%	14.5%	30.4%	15.2%
95	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	2.45	own 30.5	52.3%	51.7%	5.11	26.9%	15.9%	34.5%	17.9%
96	South Florida	American Athletic	2.46	own 30.7	50.0%	52.9%	4.74	27.7%	16.1%	34.8%	16.8%
97	San José State	Mountain West	2.48	own 26.1	50.5%	50.4%	5.04	27.4%	12.4%	34.5%	15.9%
98	Louisiana	Sun Belt	2.48	own 31.7	57.6%	57.1%	4.71	24.1%	9.8%	34.6%	18.1%
99	TCU	Big 12	2.49	own 28.0	54.6%	57.7%	4.41	20.3%	13.0%	30.1%	20.3%
100	UConn	FBS Independents	2.49	own 30.5	55.4%	57.5%	4.54	22.5%	16.7%	33.3%	15.8%
101	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	2.50	own 26.6	55.6%	54.4%	4.88	26.1%	15.2%	33.3%	10.9%
102	California	Pac-12	2.53	own 32.7	52.4%	54.7%	4.89	26.4%	13.5%	34.5%	19.6%
103	USC	Pac-12	2.57	own 31.6	58.2%	56.2%	5.06	25.5%	17.0%	37.3%	15.0%
104	Boston College	ACC	2.57	own 30.1	52.0%	52.4%	5.12	26.2%	15.1%	34.9%	12.7%
105	Utah State	Mountain West	2.59	own 31.7	52.6%	53.9%	4.88	28.3%	14.5%	34.9%	13.8%
106	Charlotte	American Athletic	2.59	own 32.7	54.2%	57.7%	4.69	26.8%	12.2%	31.7%	13.0%
107	Central Michigan	Mid-American	2.61	own 28.9	51.9%	56.3%	4.64	25.2%	15.1%	31.9%	12.6%
108	Florida International	Conference USA	2.63	own 32.7	55.5%	61.8%	4.26	16.9%	15.4%	32.4%	9.6%
109	Indiana	Big Ten	2.65	own 31.6	53.0%	56.5%	4.80	24.2%	15.3%	33.9%	12.9%
110	Virginia	ACC	2.67	own 29.0	53.4%	52.7%	5.17	25.9%	16.8%	34.4%	12.2%
111	LSU	SEC	2.68	own 27.2	54.1%	56.4%	4.86	23.1%	14.5%	35.9%	20.5%
112	Colorado	Pac-12	2.71	own 28.3	55.6%	58.3%	4.65	25.9%	15.1%	36.7%	16.6%
113	Florida	SEC	2.72	own 28.4	55.1%	56.0%	4.88	19.0%	21.6%	32.8%	11.2%
114	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.72	own 30.4	58.1%	61.1%	4.46	20.6%	18.3%	34.1%	22.2%
115	UTEP	Conference USA	2.73	own 30.2	53.0%	53.9%	5.18	23.5%	14.8%	36.5%	16.5%
116	Nevada	Mountain West	2.74	own 31.7	56.3%	58.7%	4.69	18.3%	20.6%	35.7%	11.1%
117	Cincinnati	Big 12	2.77	own 28.7	54.6%	63.5%	4.35	27.1%	18.7%	35.5%	11.2%
118	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	2.77	own 27.6	55.9%	52.5%	5.50	27.1%	17.2%	37.7%	9.8%
119	Houston	Big 12	2.78	own 28.8	56.8%	58.4%	4.88	23.2%	13.6%	37.6%	14.4%
120	Southern Miss	Sun Belt	2.88	own 33.4	56.4%	57.8%	5.08	18.8%	22.7%	38.3%	17.2%
121	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	2.88	own 31.2	59.3%	62.8%	4.68	20.2%	14.7%	36.4%	14.7%
122	Vanderbilt	SEC	2.93	own 32.8	65.7%	64.8%	4.78	19.2%	20.8%	39.2%	12.0%
123	Arizona State	Pac-12	2.95	own 34.4	57.6%	63.3%	4.66	15.0%	13.3%	35.0%	14.2%
124	Baylor	Big 12	2.97	own 32.3	58.9%	60.9%	4.88	19.1%	13.6%	39.1%	16.4%
125	Tulsa	American Athletic	3.02	own 29.9	59.8%	62.2%	4.89	21.0%	19.3%	39.5%	18.5%
126	North Texas	American Athletic	3.15	own 30.4	60.7%	60.8%	5.18	19.2%	16.9%	42.3%	16.2%
127	Hawai'i	Mountain West	3.19	own 34.4	62.3%	66.7%	4.87	23.6%	21.1%	41.5%	13.8%
128	Massachusetts	FBS Independents	3.24	own 33.4	64.5%	71.3%	4.63	19.1%	22.6%	44.4%	15.7%
129	Kent State	Mid-American	3.28	own 31.6	58.2%	64.1%	5.12	25.6%	17.9%	43.6%	9.4%
130	UAB	American Athletic	3.34	own 34.4	63.5%	69.3%	4.89	16.1%	14.5%	44.4%	21.0%
131	Stanford	Pac-12	3.35	own 30.2	60.3%	60.7%	5.53	24.6%	21.3%	47.5%	13.1%
132	Temple	American Athletic	3.40	own 31.8	62.3%	63.0%	5.40	20.2%	21.0%	42.9%	9.2%
133	New Mexico	Mountain West	3.45	own 33.1	63.6%	68.8%	5.01	17.9%	14.3%	42.0%	9.8%

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.