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.

134 teams · dashed lines mark the league medianr = -0.43(r² = 0.18)

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	0.97	own 25.9	37.7%	38.4%	3.00	34.6%	4.4%	13.8%	19.5%
2	Texas	SEC	1.13	own 28.6	35.8%	35.7%	3.43	34.5%	2.9%	13.5%	26.9%
3	Ole Miss	SEC	1.21	own 25.0	39.7%	38.2%	3.44	31.6%	6.6%	14.7%	25.7%
4	Tennessee	SEC	1.29	own 26.6	37.1%	38.3%	3.48	35.5%	9.9%	17.0%	24.1%
5	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	1.31	own 26.1	40.7%	41.7%	3.36	26.8%	5.9%	18.4%	26.2%
6	James Madison	Sun Belt	1.32	own 28.2	38.9%	35.9%	4.37	33.1%	12.7%	19.7%	24.6%
7	Penn State	Big Ten	1.40	own 28.0	41.6%	41.2%	3.81	26.1%	6.1%	17.0%	19.4%
8	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	1.44	own 25.2	37.5%	37.6%	3.84	35.0%	4.3%	16.2%	18.8%
9	Alabama	SEC	1.46	own 29.1	41.3%	45.3%	3.26	31.4%	7.3%	16.1%	24.1%
10	Iowa	Big Ten	1.49	own 24.6	40.2%	39.2%	4.12	30.0%	6.2%	18.5%	17.7%
11	Indiana	Big Ten	1.52	own 28.4	37.3%	37.3%	4.13	38.1%	4.0%	18.3%	30.2%
12	Utah	Big 12	1.55	own 28.5	41.4%	41.8%	4.09	33.6%	9.7%	21.6%	18.7%
13	Sam Houston	Conference USA	1.57	own 29.6	40.0%	40.1%	4.19	34.7%	6.1%	21.1%	25.2%
14	South Carolina	SEC	1.58	own 27.4	41.8%	45.5%	3.63	28.8%	7.6%	19.7%	26.5%
15	Oklahoma	SEC	1.58	own 29.7	40.6%	43.8%	4.00	29.2%	7.3%	19.7%	17.5%
16	SMU	ACC	1.60	own 30.4	42.3%	46.2%	3.82	27.6%	8.3%	23.1%	23.1%
17	UConn	FBS Independents	1.63	own 29.1	40.2%	42.8%	3.82	41.4%	6.9%	20.0%	13.1%
18	Colorado	Big 12	1.64	own 29.8	42.0%	44.5%	4.02	30.7%	8.0%	21.9%	23.4%
19	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	1.66	own 31.1	41.2%	44.5%	3.74	34.4%	9.4%	18.8%	20.3%
20	Toledo	Mid-American	1.68	own 30.2	42.2%	46.2%	3.94	24.1%	4.1%	20.7%	16.6%
21	Tulane	American Athletic	1.70	own 27.4	44.3%	46.1%	4.34	31.9%	14.2%	23.4%	21.3%
22	Bowling Green	Mid-American	1.71	own 29.7	43.8%	51.2%	3.44	30.9%	9.8%	20.3%	18.7%
23	Minnesota	Big Ten	1.74	own 30.0	41.3%	44.7%	3.89	32.5%	8.9%	20.3%	20.3%
24	Missouri	SEC	1.74	own 28.1	43.8%	47.1%	3.95	30.6%	13.2%	23.1%	19.0%
25	Michigan	Big Ten	1.75	own 29.8	44.5%	49.3%	3.68	27.5%	8.0%	21.0%	15.2%
26	UNLV	Mountain West	1.75	own 25.0	41.7%	39.7%	4.75	29.8%	8.6%	23.8%	21.2%
27	Ohio	Mid-American	1.75	own 29.4	42.1%	39.4%	4.62	33.3%	6.1%	22.7%	19.7%
28	Texas A&M	SEC	1.75	own 32.5	52.3%	46.6%	3.89	28.8%	11.0%	22.0%	20.3%
29	Oregon	Big Ten	1.76	own 27.2	43.8%	45.9%	3.94	31.9%	6.7%	21.5%	18.5%
30	Nebraska	Big Ten	1.76	own 29.8	45.1%	48.4%	3.92	29.5%	13.1%	24.6%	20.5%
31	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	1.77	own 27.8	40.9%	40.0%	4.50	37.8%	8.2%	22.2%	17.0%
32	BYU	Big 12	1.82	own 29.1	43.1%	48.0%	4.15	29.6%	9.6%	24.0%	30.4%
33	Duke	ACC	1.83	own 29.1	45.4%	45.8%	4.13	26.8%	9.2%	22.2%	19.6%
34	Navy	American Athletic	1.84	own 28.2	47.3%	48.8%	4.03	25.6%	10.1%	25.6%	26.4%
35	Pittsburgh	ACC	1.86	own 30.4	45.9%	48.3%	4.49	26.2%	12.4%	26.2%	16.6%
36	Houston	Big 12	1.89	own 30.7	43.6%	46.9%	4.27	31.3%	13.3%	24.2%	14.8%
37	Georgia	SEC	1.90	own 28.0	43.0%	48.0%	4.06	23.0%	6.8%	20.3%	19.6%
38	Clemson	ACC	1.91	own 27.5	44.2%	44.3%	4.40	31.0%	11.4%	24.1%	19.6%
39	Virginia Tech	ACC	1.91	own 29.6	45.2%	47.7%	4.10	32.0%	11.1%	24.8%	22.2%
40	Arizona State	Big 12	1.92	own 28.8	47.5%	50.3%	4.22	24.5%	7.7%	25.9%	21.0%
41	Boise State	Mountain West	1.93	own 26.7	46.9%	47.5%	4.16	28.4%	14.9%	26.2%	21.3%
42	Army	American Athletic	1.95	own 29.7	52.1%	52.9%	3.69	22.1%	9.6%	26.0%	30.8%
43	Texas State	Sun Belt	2.00	own 27.9	49.4%	51.1%	4.12	27.5%	16.8%	25.9%	18.3%
44	Kansas State	Big 12	2.01	own 31.2	50.5%	50.8%	4.20	20.0%	12.3%	26.9%	24.6%
45	Florida International	Conference USA	2.01	own 32.4	46.3%	48.0%	4.29	30.7%	9.4%	24.4%	15.0%
46	California	ACC	2.02	own 28.9	43.9%	43.6%	4.98	27.8%	7.5%	27.8%	17.3%
47	Auburn	SEC	2.04	own 31.4	43.8%	49.1%	4.14	27.2%	7.9%	24.6%	14.9%
48	Kentucky	SEC	2.04	own 29.5	50.5%	51.4%	4.34	26.2%	14.0%	27.1%	14.0%
49	San José State	Mountain West	2.05	own 31.6	48.1%	51.8%	4.18	25.9%	10.8%	27.3%	22.3%
50	Liberty	Conference USA	2.05	own 31.4	50.7%	55.1%	3.86	24.6%	8.5%	24.6%	19.5%
51	USC	Big Ten	2.05	own 28.3	58.7%	50.4%	4.18	20.9%	12.4%	24.8%	20.2%
52	Boston College	ACC	2.07	own 28.4	48.5%	50.8%	4.11	26.6%	9.4%	25.0%	24.2%
53	Wisconsin	Big Ten	2.07	own 29.1	47.3%	45.2%	4.62	27.8%	7.8%	26.1%	12.2%
54	Buffalo	Mid-American	2.08	own 28.9	48.4%	50.3%	4.35	26.2%	14.8%	27.5%	18.1%
55	Marshall	Sun Belt	2.08	own 26.9	46.8%	48.1%	4.55	27.1%	9.0%	27.1%	21.1%
56	Iowa State	Big 12	2.10	own 28.6	47.9%	50.4%	4.29	27.4%	12.6%	27.4%	17.0%
57	Florida	SEC	2.10	own 29.4	48.2%	50.0%	4.30	23.5%	15.2%	26.5%	25.8%
58	Fresno State	Mountain West	2.10	own 27.8	49.7%	48.8%	4.30	21.9%	8.9%	25.2%	23.6%
59	South Alabama	Sun Belt	2.12	own 28.1	52.2%	50.4%	4.49	26.7%	17.6%	26.7%	19.1%
60	Jacksonville State	Conference USA	2.15	own 29.3	48.4%	54.7%	4.03	26.4%	10.1%	26.4%	22.6%
61	Cincinnati	Big 12	2.16	own 33.6	95.6%	56.9%	3.79	26.5%	12.8%	24.5%	18.6%
62	Rice	American Athletic	2.16	own 28.3	45.3%	45.5%	4.75	31.4%	11.6%	27.3%	14.1%
63	Colorado State	Mountain West	2.16	own 29.7	50.5%	53.0%	4.17	23.5%	12.9%	28.0%	21.2%
64	UTSA	American Athletic	2.18	own 33.8	48.7%	52.4%	4.23	32.3%	17.1%	28.1%	23.2%
65	TCU	Big 12	2.19	own 27.8	47.9%	51.2%	4.39	20.2%	10.1%	27.1%	17.1%
66	Louisville	ACC	2.20	own 27.4	48.3%	48.1%	4.80	30.1%	13.5%	30.1%	16.5%
67	Northwestern	Big Ten	2.21	own 35.4	58.5%	59.5%	4.03	29.8%	10.7%	28.9%	16.5%
68	South Florida	American Athletic	2.21	own 29.5	51.0%	53.5%	4.29	25.8%	18.9%	29.6%	21.4%
69	Arkansas	SEC	2.22	own 31.8	51.2%	54.1%	4.13	23.3%	15.8%	27.1%	21.8%
70	North Carolina	ACC	2.22	own 30.4	51.3%	52.2%	4.45	27.2%	15.4%	28.7%	14.0%
71	Illinois	Big Ten	2.23	own 28.8	54.6%	58.1%	3.94	21.4%	11.1%	26.5%	23.9%
72	Wyoming	Mountain West	2.25	own 27.8	50.7%	53.3%	4.34	25.4%	18.9%	27.1%	13.1%
73	LSU	SEC	2.27	own 30.4	51.1%	55.9%	4.17	22.0%	12.7%	27.1%	20.3%
74	Memphis	American Athletic	2.31	own 26.7	48.8%	47.8%	4.83	29.8%	12.7%	29.1%	23.1%
75	Baylor	Big 12	2.33	own 27.6	53.4%	55.8%	4.18	26.4%	14.7%	28.7%	20.2%
76	Old Dominion	Sun Belt	2.33	own 30.6	50.2%	52.5%	4.45	27.7%	14.2%	29.1%	16.3%
77	Miami	ACC	2.34	own 28.0	47.2%	46.8%	5.00	29.0%	15.3%	31.4%	17.7%
78	East Carolina	American Athletic	2.35	own 28.3	52.8%	53.2%	4.52	24.8%	14.9%	31.9%	23.4%
79	UTEP	Conference USA	2.37	own 35.6	51.2%	55.6%	4.53	24.6%	13.4%	32.4%	16.2%
80	Louisiana	Sun Belt	2.40	own 29.5	56.0%	47.3%	5.07	25.2%	9.9%	29.0%	18.3%
81	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	2.40	own 28.5	53.2%	55.0%	4.39	24.3%	15.7%	31.4%	20.7%
82	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	2.40	own 30.6	50.5%	54.8%	4.39	23.8%	15.1%	30.9%	19.8%
83	Washington	Big Ten	2.42	own 31.9	50.3%	54.6%	4.43	27.7%	10.1%	30.3%	17.6%
84	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.44	own 28.7	50.8%	55.7%	4.51	21.3%	14.8%	32.8%	14.8%
85	Temple	American Athletic	2.45	own 32.1	50.3%	51.0%	4.89	26.9%	16.8%	32.9%	15.4%
86	UCF	Big 12	2.45	own 28.2	50.0%	49.6%	5.07	27.4%	9.7%	31.0%	10.6%
87	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	2.47	own 35.8	65.3%	59.0%	4.21	22.4%	13.4%	31.3%	22.4%
88	Texas Tech	Big 12	2.48	own 31.4	52.9%	54.7%	4.82	25.7%	13.5%	32.4%	16.9%
89	NC State	ACC	2.48	own 32.1	53.5%	60.5%	4.28	24.8%	17.1%	31.8%	17.8%
90	Maryland	Big Ten	2.51	own 30.5	50.1%	53.9%	4.65	27.3%	15.6%	30.5%	16.4%
91	Central Michigan	Mid-American	2.51	own 33.6	52.1%	60.7%	4.24	23.1%	16.2%	29.9%	9.4%
92	Air Force	Mountain West	2.53	own 30.0	53.7%	55.9%	4.53	24.5%	16.7%	32.4%	19.6%
93	Vanderbilt	SEC	2.53	own 26.3	54.3%	54.3%	4.78	24.1%	15.5%	31.9%	15.5%
94	Coastal Carolina	Sun Belt	2.56	own 33.2	65.8%	61.7%	4.51	24.1%	13.5%	32.3%	19.6%
95	Syracuse	ACC	2.57	own 27.9	53.8%	56.6%	4.65	25.4%	16.4%	32.0%	14.8%
96	Virginia	ACC	2.58	own 30.6	53.7%	58.9%	4.48	26.6%	12.9%	31.4%	16.1%
97	Akron	Mid-American	2.58	own 30.4	54.4%	56.7%	4.75	23.6%	19.7%	35.4%	11.8%
98	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	2.59	own 30.9	54.4%	55.1%	4.85	20.3%	11.0%	33.9%	16.1%
99	Washington State	Pac-12	2.62	own 29.1	56.5%	57.1%	4.76	20.3%	17.3%	33.1%	21.1%
100	Kansas	Big 12	2.62	own 28.5	56.7%	59.3%	4.42	19.4%	17.6%	31.5%	20.4%
101	UCLA	Big Ten	2.62	own 29.3	56.2%	55.0%	4.88	21.1%	11.9%	33.0%	15.6%
102	Rutgers	Big Ten	2.63	own 26.5	54.4%	54.5%	4.88	24.0%	16.5%	35.5%	17.4%
103	Kennesaw State	Conference USA	2.64	own 29.2	53.6%	53.6%	4.96	28.0%	16.0%	35.2%	14.4%
104	Troy	Sun Belt	2.65	own 32.6	55.5%	58.4%	4.74	26.6%	14.2%	32.7%	11.5%
105	Florida State	ACC	2.66	own 30.6	55.9%	60.7%	4.41	24.1%	14.3%	32.1%	7.1%
106	Florida Atlantic	American Athletic	2.69	own 30.0	53.5%	60.2%	4.57	21.9%	15.6%	33.6%	17.2%
107	Michigan State	Big Ten	2.74	own 32.1	54.9%	55.4%	4.98	27.7%	11.6%	34.8%	14.3%
108	North Texas	American Athletic	2.76	own 31.3	57.7%	59.6%	4.71	20.5%	14.4%	34.3%	16.4%
109	Wake Forest	ACC	2.76	own 28.6	54.6%	55.6%	5.17	26.2%	11.9%	34.9%	14.3%
110	Hawai'i	Mountain West	2.82	own 31.1	57.7%	58.8%	4.80	19.6%	17.6%	35.3%	10.8%
111	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	2.85	own 27.7	58.2%	57.6%	5.13	22.0%	15.9%	38.6%	19.7%
112	San Diego State	Mountain West	2.85	own 26.3	59.3%	59.7%	4.88	14.9%	13.2%	38.6%	13.2%
113	Charlotte	American Athletic	2.86	own 33.1	61.6%	65.5%	4.54	17.6%	20.2%	37.8%	14.3%
114	Western Michigan	Mid-American	2.88	own 28.6	59.0%	58.2%	4.99	23.8%	19.7%	36.9%	17.2%
115	New Mexico State	Conference USA	2.90	own 31.5	53.6%	55.4%	5.33	27.7%	19.2%	36.9%	10.8%
116	Nevada	Mountain West	2.96	own 29.3	59.1%	63.7%	4.75	21.2%	15.9%	37.2%	11.5%
117	Oklahoma State	Big 12	2.97	own 31.2	61.2%	65.3%	4.54	19.7%	20.5%	40.2%	16.5%
118	UAB	American Athletic	2.99	own 34.7	59.7%	61.3%	4.97	21.0%	14.5%	39.5%	11.3%
119	Utah State	Mountain West	3.00	own 30.5	57.9%	60.5%	5.05	26.6%	15.3%	37.1%	12.1%
120	Tulsa	American Athletic	3.02	own 31.0	56.5%	58.5%	5.28	22.5%	24.6%	42.3%	15.5%
121	Georgia State	Sun Belt	3.07	own 32.0	58.6%	60.5%	5.07	21.0%	10.9%	39.5%	15.1%
122	Stanford	ACC	3.07	own 33.2	61.2%	61.7%	5.26	20.0%	15.0%	41.7%	14.2%
123	Oregon State	Pac-12	3.08	own 31.7	63.1%	65.3%	4.82	20.8%	19.8%	38.6%	12.9%
124	Arizona	Big 12	3.08	own 31.6	61.5%	67.9%	4.54	23.2%	18.8%	41.1%	21.4%
125	App State	Sun Belt	3.14	own 30.9	59.6%	59.4%	5.40	22.6%	21.7%	40.6%	17.0%
126	West Virginia	Big 12	3.19	own 27.8	59.9%	60.2%	5.40	18.6%	20.3%	44.3%	8.8%
127	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	3.36	own 30.2	65.0%	62.2%	5.51	18.0%	20.7%	45.1%	11.7%
128	Southern Miss	Sun Belt	3.44	own 34.2	62.8%	63.6%	5.49	15.7%	24.0%	44.6%	9.1%
129	Mississippi State	SEC	3.50	own 29.8	64.7%	72.0%	4.87	21.5%	15.9%	42.1%	11.2%
130	New Mexico	Mountain West	3.54	own 29.7	66.7%	68.3%	5.28	11.5%	21.1%	46.2%	7.7%
131	Massachusetts	FBS Independents	3.63	own 32.8	63.7%	63.9%	5.68	20.6%	18.6%	47.4%	11.3%
132	Ball State	Mid-American	3.63	own 31.5	64.8%	69.4%	5.23	18.9%	27.0%	47.8%	15.3%
133	Kent State	Mid-American	3.75	own 33.6	68.5%	72.9%	5.15	14.0%	21.7%	47.3%	10.8%
134	Purdue	Big Ten	3.88	own 32.2	68.0%	71.3%	5.44	10.4%	21.7%	51.3%	7.0%

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.