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.

136 teams · dashed lines mark the league medianr = -0.31(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	Indiana	Big Ten	0.94	own 25.6	35.8%	37.4%	3.12	31.6%	7.1%	12.3%	25.2%
2	Texas Tech	Big 12	0.95	own 27.8	31.4%	27.8%	3.55	36.1%	5.3%	12.4%	30.2%
3	San Diego State	Mountain West	1.14	own 27.1	38.0%	38.4%	3.49	34.8%	8.7%	17.4%	21.7%
4	Ohio State	Big Ten	1.15	own 26.3	36.6%	32.8%	3.50	31.9%	4.3%	11.2%	22.4%
5	Toledo	Mid-American	1.17	own 27.5	36.8%	36.4%	3.57	37.9%	5.0%	16.4%	22.9%
6	Oklahoma	SEC	1.22	own 26.0	36.3%	40.4%	3.33	39.7%	4.3%	13.5%	14.9%
7	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	1.28	own 26.3	40.2%	42.8%	3.66	27.5%	6.1%	16.8%	25.9%
8	Miami	ACC	1.31	own 24.8	38.5%	35.9%	3.91	30.8%	4.5%	16.0%	19.9%
9	Iowa	Big Ten	1.35	own 26.0	41.0%	38.0%	4.15	35.5%	5.8%	16.5%	19.8%
10	James Madison	Sun Belt	1.42	own 28.4	35.0%	32.9%	4.60	37.7%	10.3%	17.8%	15.1%
11	Oregon	Big Ten	1.44	own 28.5	37.8%	38.4%	4.41	34.3%	6.2%	21.2%	18.5%
12	Fresno State	Mountain West	1.49	own 28.9	37.7%	39.9%	3.87	35.3%	6.0%	18.8%	24.8%
13	Old Dominion	Sun Belt	1.52	own 29.9	41.4%	39.5%	3.86	26.5%	8.8%	19.7%	25.9%
14	Missouri	SEC	1.57	own 29.6	39.6%	39.8%	4.39	31.3%	4.7%	20.3%	10.2%
15	Western Michigan	Mid-American	1.60	own 27.4	40.3%	37.6%	4.51	30.5%	7.8%	20.6%	18.4%
16	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	1.61	own 27.3	45.4%	45.5%	4.09	28.7%	9.8%	23.1%	17.5%
17	Utah	Big 12	1.62	own 26.1	45.3%	45.3%	3.97	29.7%	10.9%	22.7%	21.9%
18	South Carolina	SEC	1.63	own 29.5	46.0%	47.9%	3.91	23.9%	10.3%	20.5%	18.8%
19	SMU	ACC	1.64	own 31.1	47.7%	49.6%	3.30	23.7%	8.2%	20.0%	27.4%
20	East Carolina	American Athletic	1.64	own 30.0	45.4%	46.4%	3.65	23.6%	9.3%	19.3%	28.6%
21	Wyoming	Mountain West	1.65	own 29.9	46.4%	50.8%	3.47	24.6%	11.5%	22.1%	13.1%
22	Virginia	ACC	1.65	own 28.7	41.1%	43.1%	3.98	36.1%	9.7%	21.5%	19.4%
23	Texas A&M	SEC	1.67	own 26.9	38.4%	37.1%	4.77	30.0%	11.4%	20.7%	12.9%
24	Louisville	ACC	1.71	own 27.6	40.5%	43.1%	4.08	30.7%	8.8%	20.4%	21.9%
25	Texas	SEC	1.74	own 27.1	42.9%	45.6%	4.01	31.3%	7.5%	21.8%	23.1%
26	LSU	SEC	1.74	own 27.6	44.6%	46.5%	3.88	24.8%	9.3%	22.5%	24.8%
27	Arizona	Big 12	1.75	own 28.6	40.5%	44.2%	4.07	34.1%	8.7%	21.0%	29.0%
28	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	1.79	own 29.7	50.1%	52.5%	3.50	19.1%	12.1%	18.4%	17.7%
29	Troy	Sun Belt	1.83	own 30.1	48.4%	49.3%	4.18	25.3%	10.0%	24.0%	17.3%
30	Georgia	SEC	1.83	own 26.4	45.7%	42.4%	4.32	30.3%	6.8%	22.0%	17.4%
31	Clemson	ACC	1.84	own 27.5	45.7%	50.8%	3.74	25.0%	10.9%	21.1%	18.0%
32	Wake Forest	ACC	1.84	own 31.4	44.6%	49.3%	3.84	26.1%	7.0%	20.4%	19.0%
33	BYU	Big 12	1.85	own 31.4	49.7%	57.4%	3.51	23.5%	6.6%	22.8%	25.7%
34	Washington State	Pac-12	1.86	own 30.4	44.0%	48.4%	3.88	28.6%	11.9%	23.8%	19.1%
35	South Florida	American Athletic	1.88	own 29.8	47.0%	51.0%	3.92	29.7%	11.0%	24.1%	22.1%
36	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	1.91	own 29.0	64.7%	48.5%	4.08	26.1%	10.4%	23.1%	19.4%
37	Washington	Big Ten	1.93	own 31.5	46.9%	53.8%	3.70	27.4%	6.0%	22.2%	27.4%
38	Buffalo	Mid-American	1.93	own 28.8	42.2%	48.1%	4.05	34.1%	10.4%	23.7%	17.0%
39	Auburn	SEC	1.94	own 30.0	47.1%	48.7%	4.11	29.6%	10.4%	22.6%	18.3%
40	Alabama	SEC	1.94	own 29.3	45.3%	44.1%	4.67	27.9%	10.3%	25.0%	15.4%
41	Pittsburgh	ACC	1.96	own 32.1	43.8%	47.0%	4.47	28.9%	6.7%	27.5%	22.8%
42	Ohio	Mid-American	1.96	own 29.3	48.9%	49.6%	3.95	27.6%	12.6%	25.2%	18.9%
43	Michigan	Big Ten	1.97	own 27.8	44.1%	44.9%	4.39	32.4%	6.6%	22.8%	20.6%
44	Boise State	Mountain West	1.98	own 29.7	43.6%	43.6%	4.86	34.9%	15.4%	26.9%	18.8%
45	UTSA	American Athletic	1.99	own 26.6	45.5%	43.7%	4.93	25.9%	14.1%	26.7%	17.8%
46	New Mexico	Mountain West	2.02	own 29.7	47.8%	55.4%	3.79	22.3%	7.1%	25.0%	22.3%
47	Kennesaw State	Conference USA	2.02	own 27.8	48.5%	51.3%	4.17	23.6%	11.5%	27.7%	16.9%
48	Hawai'i	Mountain West	2.06	own 28.8	48.8%	53.1%	4.22	26.6%	15.6%	27.3%	17.2%
49	Ole Miss	SEC	2.07	own 27.4	48.8%	51.0%	4.08	24.2%	12.8%	24.8%	20.8%
50	Houston	Big 12	2.08	own 30.7	46.7%	51.1%	4.16	28.2%	10.7%	25.2%	16.8%
51	Iowa State	Big 12	2.08	own 27.7	47.4%	51.3%	4.05	26.1%	10.4%	25.2%	23.5%
52	Wisconsin	Big Ten	2.09	own 29.7	47.2%	50.0%	4.17	25.9%	10.3%	25.0%	12.9%
53	Kansas State	Big 12	2.09	own 29.5	49.4%	57.4%	3.84	22.1%	12.3%	26.2%	28.7%
54	UCF	Big 12	2.10	own 31.4	47.9%	54.6%	4.06	25.2%	7.6%	25.2%	16.0%
55	TCU	Big 12	2.13	own 29.5	50.2%	52.3%	4.16	25.8%	11.7%	25.8%	21.9%
56	Central Michigan	Mid-American	2.13	own 30.4	50.7%	54.8%	3.98	21.8%	8.9%	28.2%	25.0%
57	USC	Big Ten	2.14	own 28.0	50.6%	49.6%	4.43	25.6%	10.4%	28.8%	19.2%
58	Northwestern	Big Ten	2.19	own 29.9	50.9%	52.6%	4.17	23.7%	11.4%	27.2%	21.9%
59	Memphis	American Athletic	2.19	own 26.8	48.5%	48.1%	4.57	31.0%	14.0%	28.7%	19.4%
60	Jacksonville State	Conference USA	2.19	own 28.4	51.0%	53.2%	4.22	25.9%	13.7%	28.8%	21.6%
61	Southern Miss	Sun Belt	2.19	own 28.4	49.3%	51.1%	4.42	28.8%	6.5%	30.2%	20.9%
62	Tulane	American Athletic	2.20	own 27.3	49.1%	53.7%	4.19	28.2%	11.4%	27.5%	22.1%
63	Bowling Green	Mid-American	2.20	own 30.3	47.9%	52.9%	4.16	29.4%	15.1%	26.1%	19.3%
64	New Mexico State	Conference USA	2.21	own 31.4	49.7%	55.0%	4.11	26.4%	12.4%	30.2%	17.8%
65	Arizona State	Big 12	2.22	own 32.1	49.0%	52.2%	4.25	27.9%	10.3%	27.9%	19.9%
66	Penn State	Big Ten	2.25	own 29.9	53.0%	57.1%	3.94	19.6%	11.6%	27.7%	20.5%
67	Maryland	Big Ten	2.30	own 28.7	54.4%	54.2%	4.49	16.7%	10.8%	30.8%	22.5%
68	Stanford	ACC	2.33	own 31.8	55.4%	60.6%	4.20	20.4%	11.4%	29.5%	12.9%
69	UNLV	Mountain West	2.35	own 28.4	52.2%	58.1%	4.39	22.8%	18.4%	32.4%	19.9%
70	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	2.35	own 28.0	48.6%	52.1%	4.61	27.5%	16.9%	31.0%	13.4%
71	North Texas	American Athletic	2.36	own 29.6	52.4%	52.5%	4.50	27.0%	12.1%	29.8%	26.2%
72	UTEP	Conference USA	2.36	own 31.3	48.9%	54.3%	4.36	23.3%	12.4%	27.1%	15.5%
73	Minnesota	Big Ten	2.38	own 27.8	52.3%	55.0%	4.43	22.0%	11.0%	29.4%	11.0%
74	Tennessee	SEC	2.38	own 27.4	55.0%	58.3%	4.53	15.9%	10.6%	32.6%	19.7%
75	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.39	own 27.7	55.8%	54.6%	4.37	21.0%	15.1%	30.3%	11.8%
76	Vanderbilt	SEC	2.40	own 29.2	53.1%	58.3%	4.21	24.2%	11.7%	28.3%	16.7%
77	Army	American Athletic	2.41	own 30.9	59.4%	61.2%	3.93	14.3%	9.2%	30.6%	27.6%
78	Akron	Mid-American	2.41	own 32.8	51.0%	54.0%	4.47	26.2%	17.5%	29.4%	18.3%
79	Florida State	ACC	2.42	own 31.7	48.4%	50.5%	4.79	29.5%	5.7%	30.5%	19.1%
80	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	2.42	own 30.6	52.8%	57.9%	4.18	25.2%	10.3%	29.0%	16.8%
81	Kentucky	SEC	2.42	own 29.1	52.9%	52.6%	4.61	21.6%	12.9%	30.2%	21.6%
82	North Carolina	ACC	2.43	own 28.7	52.0%	51.4%	4.73	26.6%	8.3%	31.2%	14.7%
83	Utah State	Mountain West	2.43	own 30.1	54.0%	56.2%	4.42	19.2%	17.1%	30.1%	21.9%
84	Florida International	Conference USA	2.43	own 32.3	51.6%	51.0%	4.86	31.5%	15.4%	32.2%	23.8%
85	California	ACC	2.48	own 30.4	51.8%	52.3%	4.75	24.2%	11.7%	30.5%	14.8%
86	Nevada	Mountain West	2.49	own 28.7	50.1%	52.2%	4.88	31.3%	11.3%	30.4%	15.7%
87	Florida	SEC	2.50	own 29.6	54.8%	58.3%	4.29	24.1%	15.7%	30.6%	14.8%
88	Nebraska	Big Ten	2.50	own 27.9	51.4%	51.2%	5.03	26.5%	13.2%	32.2%	14.1%
89	Coastal Carolina	Sun Belt	2.54	own 32.7	52.2%	59.5%	4.43	20.9%	13.1%	32.0%	22.9%
90	Mississippi State	SEC	2.54	own 28.8	54.3%	53.7%	4.74	22.8%	15.4%	31.6%	15.4%
91	Colorado	Big 12	2.55	own 29.9	53.1%	57.7%	4.44	22.6%	13.1%	30.7%	18.3%
92	Missouri State	Conference USA	2.55	own 29.8	50.9%	51.1%	4.99	24.4%	15.3%	32.8%	16.0%
93	UConn	FBS Independents	2.55	own 26.2	52.8%	53.0%	4.81	22.7%	12.1%	32.6%	23.5%
94	Louisiana	Sun Belt	2.56	own 32.5	55.8%	63.5%	4.11	20.6%	15.1%	32.5%	17.5%
95	Illinois	Big Ten	2.56	own 29.3	54.1%	53.1%	4.93	22.5%	9.0%	32.4%	18.0%
96	Marshall	Sun Belt	2.59	own 28.8	53.5%	56.1%	4.81	25.0%	16.7%	33.3%	15.9%
97	Liberty	Conference USA	2.59	own 31.2	51.9%	52.2%	4.97	26.1%	10.4%	32.2%	13.0%
98	NC State	ACC	2.59	own 29.3	57.6%	63.4%	4.18	21.9%	13.0%	30.9%	15.4%
99	Kansas	Big 12	2.60	own 26.4	54.5%	54.9%	4.84	23.4%	14.4%	33.3%	14.4%
100	Ball State	Mid-American	2.60	own 31.6	54.3%	56.3%	4.64	24.4%	16.8%	34.4%	21.0%
101	San José State	Mountain West	2.60	own 32.4	54.4%	55.3%	4.81	24.4%	13.8%	31.7%	13.8%
102	Oregon State	Pac-12	2.61	own 33.6	53.3%	56.9%	4.62	25.0%	16.4%	32.8%	14.7%
103	Tulsa	American Athletic	2.62	own 36.2	60.1%	61.5%	4.25	22.1%	14.8%	32.8%	18.9%
104	Delaware	Conference USA	2.63	own 31.6	55.3%	61.1%	4.47	20.6%	17.6%	32.8%	14.5%
105	Michigan State	Big Ten	2.64	own 32.4	55.3%	55.6%	4.79	22.2%	13.7%	35.0%	16.2%
106	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	2.66	own 28.6	53.1%	55.3%	4.81	27.6%	19.5%	34.2%	16.3%
107	App State	Sun Belt	2.68	own 29.8	60.3%	60.8%	4.49	17.7%	13.9%	33.1%	15.4%
108	West Virginia	Big 12	2.68	own 31.8	56.1%	58.3%	4.72	19.7%	15.8%	33.9%	17.3%
109	Texas State	Sun Belt	2.73	own 32.3	53.4%	53.6%	5.31	21.7%	8.7%	37.0%	15.2%
110	Navy	American Athletic	2.74	own 27.8	54.2%	55.3%	5.06	23.7%	11.4%	35.1%	18.4%
111	Cincinnati	Big 12	2.77	own 27.9	61.2%	60.0%	4.61	15.7%	9.6%	33.9%	15.7%
112	Baylor	Big 12	2.85	own 30.6	57.9%	58.6%	5.06	22.4%	11.2%	37.9%	11.2%
113	Duke	ACC	2.85	own 27.3	60.7%	62.5%	4.63	22.1%	15.4%	36.0%	24.3%
114	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	2.86	own 30.5	57.6%	59.5%	4.80	26.1%	14.4%	36.9%	11.7%
115	South Alabama	Sun Belt	2.86	own 30.5	55.7%	59.3%	4.82	25.7%	14.2%	36.3%	12.4%
116	Kent State	Mid-American	2.87	own 32.9	58.1%	60.0%	4.88	17.5%	14.2%	37.5%	15.0%
117	Syracuse	ACC	2.89	own 29.7	57.1%	56.8%	5.22	20.3%	18.6%	37.3%	10.2%
118	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	2.91	own 34.7	59.3%	64.8%	4.58	18.9%	13.9%	36.1%	13.1%
119	Colorado State	Mountain West	2.91	own 28.9	58.5%	60.3%	5.03	18.1%	14.7%	39.7%	15.5%
120	Oklahoma State	Big 12	2.92	own 31.5	57.4%	60.5%	4.92	16.0%	19.3%	37.8%	10.1%
121	Sam Houston	Conference USA	2.93	own 31.8	59.7%	66.4%	4.64	16.8%	22.6%	38.7%	16.1%
122	Charlotte	American Athletic	2.98	own 32.0	58.5%	64.5%	4.61	17.7%	15.3%	38.7%	18.6%
123	Florida Atlantic	American Athletic	3.05	own 32.7	57.1%	61.3%	5.07	18.6%	17.7%	40.3%	15.3%
124	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	3.06	own 27.7	62.9%	64.1%	4.77	21.1%	15.6%	38.3%	17.2%
125	Purdue	Big Ten	3.07	own 29.0	61.5%	67.3%	4.57	24.6%	19.1%	37.3%	13.6%
126	Rice	American Athletic	3.09	own 31.1	57.3%	60.3%	5.12	20.7%	19.0%	38.8%	14.9%
127	Temple	American Athletic	3.17	own 26.3	57.0%	58.7%	5.41	26.9%	18.3%	40.4%	15.4%
128	Boston College	ACC	3.19	own 32.2	61.8%	63.5%	5.03	20.0%	20.0%	40.0%	14.8%
129	Virginia Tech	ACC	3.19	own 30.8	59.4%	62.0%	5.21	17.6%	13.0%	39.8%	10.2%
130	UCLA	Big Ten	3.43	own 30.8	64.8%	67.9%	5.06	17.9%	15.1%	46.2%	16.0%
131	Arkansas	SEC	3.48	own 28.7	62.7%	66.0%	5.37	17.0%	19.8%	43.4%	9.4%
132	Georgia State	Sun Belt	3.54	own 31.4	64.7%	68.4%	5.20	19.7%	23.1%	45.3%	9.4%
133	Air Force	Mountain West	3.57	own 28.8	66.1%	68.4%	5.25	18.4%	22.4%	43.9%	12.2%
134	Rutgers	Big Ten	3.60	own 26.8	66.2%	68.0%	5.29	19.0%	35.0%	48.0%	11.0%
135	UAB	American Athletic	3.61	own 35.5	65.0%	70.1%	5.15	14.9%	16.8%	46.7%	16.8%
136	Massachusetts	Mid-American	3.71	own 35.6	66.5%	68.8%	5.40	14.3%	15.2%	50.0%	10.7%

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.