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.

128 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	Ole Miss	SEC	0.96	own 29.7	36.8%	55.1%	2.09	38.8%	5.4%	12.9%	22.4%
2	TCU	Big 12	1.05	own 25.3	30.9%	34.9%	3.69	48.0%	11.4%	15.4%	24.6%
3	Clemson	ACC	1.07	own 30.7	33.0%	42.5%	2.87	38.8%	8.1%	15.0%	18.8%
4	Temple	American Athletic	1.19	own 30.8	39.0%	44.3%	2.95	29.3%	7.9%	16.4%	21.4%
5	Florida	SEC	1.21	own 30.0	38.3%	51.4%	2.63	35.6%	6.9%	16.4%	24.7%
6	Penn State	Big Ten	1.23	own 33.5	36.9%	52.7%	2.49	38.9%	4.2%	14.4%	19.2%
7	Virginia Tech	ACC	1.24	own 32.9	47.8%	53.9%	2.64	33.9%	10.3%	17.0%	17.0%
8	Louisville	ACC	1.25	own 34.6	37.5%	46.6%	2.84	38.5%	10.6%	13.7%	22.4%
9	Alabama	SEC	1.31	own 29.2	42.9%	50.6%	2.71	35.9%	7.0%	14.1%	21.1%
10	Memphis	American Athletic	1.31	own 27.1	36.8%	42.9%	3.39	39.9%	7.1%	18.4%	16.1%
11	LSU	SEC	1.34	own 29.6	38.2%	46.2%	3.21	39.3%	10.3%	17.9%	15.9%
12	UCF	American Athletic	1.35	own 33.1	42.4%	42.9%	3.18	39.6%	3.9%	16.2%	27.3%
13	Stanford	Pac-12	1.40	own 29.4	40.6%	58.1%	2.51	27.2%	8.1%	17.6%	22.1%
14	Texas	Big 12	1.45	own 31.4	42.8%	55.9%	2.69	33.5%	6.8%	18.6%	18.6%
15	Ohio State	Big Ten	1.45	own 26.2	38.2%	46.1%	3.64	35.2%	8.3%	21.8%	19.2%
16	Arizona State	Pac-12	1.47	own 26.7	42.0%	47.9%	3.59	31.7%	9.2%	21.8%	22.5%
17	Washington	Pac-12	1.48	own 32.7	46.9%	57.0%	3.09	33.8%	8.0%	21.9%	23.8%
18	Utah State	Mountain West	1.49	own 29.6	37.4%	41.2%	3.81	30.6%	8.2%	19.4%	22.4%
19	Boise State	Mountain West	1.49	own 30.1	82.7%	46.2%	3.74	39.1%	8.7%	21.2%	21.2%
20	Utah	Pac-12	1.55	own 27.2	41.7%	46.8%	3.79	26.3%	12.2%	21.8%	18.6%
21	Oklahoma	Big 12	1.56	own 29.2	40.0%	53.2%	3.17	35.1%	9.4%	21.6%	14.6%
22	Arkansas	SEC	1.57	own 27.8	40.3%	53.9%	3.12	37.5%	9.4%	22.7%	25.0%
23	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	1.58	own 31.6	42.0%	48.5%	3.53	36.8%	9.2%	20.3%	22.7%
24	Michigan State	Big Ten	1.58	own 29.7	38.4%	52.6%	3.27	37.0%	13.0%	22.1%	22.1%
25	Duke	ACC	1.62	own 27.6	47.0%	52.0%	3.50	25.3%	5.5%	21.9%	26.0%
26	Virginia	ACC	1.62	own 31.2	44.8%	58.7%	2.94	31.6%	8.3%	21.8%	18.8%
27	Missouri	SEC	1.65	own 31.4	42.0%	54.5%	3.27	23.1%	9.6%	22.4%	17.9%
28	Marshall	Conference USA	1.68	own 32.2	48.0%	44.7%	3.94	26.7%	6.8%	21.7%	20.5%
29	Wisconsin	Big Ten	1.68	own 31.2	74.1%	49.1%	3.42	38.9%	9.6%	20.4%	15.6%
30	Syracuse	ACC	1.68	own 31.9	40.5%	49.6%	3.75	33.3%	8.5%	20.9%	14.0%
31	Mississippi State	SEC	1.68	own 30.3	47.9%	48.4%	3.56	32.3%	12.4%	21.7%	21.1%
32	Florida International	Conference USA	1.71	own 33.7	46.0%	56.0%	3.37	25.0%	15.5%	25.0%	22.4%
33	Iowa	Big Ten	1.71	own 31.6	45.6%	51.0%	3.76	34.5%	7.6%	24.1%	13.8%
34	Michigan	Big Ten	1.73	own 31.4	40.9%	58.3%	3.17	28.8%	3.0%	21.2%	15.9%
35	Houston	American Athletic	1.74	own 31.0	44.5%	55.6%	3.30	30.6%	6.9%	22.9%	21.5%
36	USC	Pac-12	1.74	own 31.0	49.5%	54.8%	3.40	28.6%	4.8%	23.8%	20.2%
37	San Diego State	Mountain West	1.74	own 29.3	44.9%	42.6%	4.21	33.8%	8.8%	22.8%	21.3%
38	Nebraska	Big Ten	1.75	own 31.1	45.1%	51.5%	3.65	35.0%	11.7%	24.5%	18.4%
39	Tennessee	SEC	1.76	own 28.6	40.3%	47.1%	3.92	38.2%	11.5%	24.2%	19.1%
40	Georgia	SEC	1.76	own 26.1	41.4%	51.4%	3.62	34.8%	7.2%	26.8%	18.8%
41	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	1.78	own 31.0	43.2%	51.0%	3.70	33.8%	11.5%	24.2%	16.6%
42	West Virginia	Big 12	1.79	own 32.4	45.2%	51.8%	3.71	28.0%	9.5%	22.6%	14.9%
43	East Carolina	American Athletic	1.80	own 28.8	43.7%	54.3%	3.49	36.6%	10.5%	22.9%	17.0%
44	Arizona	Pac-12	1.82	own 27.5	47.0%	47.4%	4.15	27.1%	10.9%	25.0%	19.3%
45	UTSA	Conference USA	1.84	own 30.6	45.0%	48.4%	3.84	32.7%	11.1%	20.9%	17.0%
46	Wake Forest	ACC	1.84	own 31.3	46.4%	56.0%	3.39	22.4%	9.0%	23.1%	17.9%
47	Northwestern	Big Ten	1.85	own 33.6	46.5%	58.3%	3.35	32.4%	12.2%	24.5%	21.6%
48	Minnesota	Big Ten	1.85	own 27.6	44.6%	46.1%	4.23	33.3%	14.9%	24.8%	21.3%
49	Kansas State	Big 12	1.88	own 29.1	48.1%	46.2%	4.41	29.5%	11.4%	26.5%	19.7%
50	Air Force	Mountain West	1.90	own 28.7	46.2%	51.4%	3.79	26.7%	13.7%	24.0%	21.2%
51	Akron	Mid-American	1.90	own 30.6	48.4%	50.3%	3.90	29.8%	12.1%	24.1%	22.0%
52	UCLA	Pac-12	1.91	own 28.3	46.1%	55.1%	3.72	29.9%	6.8%	25.2%	10.9%
53	Boston College	ACC	1.92	own 30.7	43.5%	51.8%	3.71	33.8%	10.1%	23.7%	13.7%
54	Miami	ACC	1.93	own 29.1	65.4%	59.1%	3.47	24.1%	8.8%	25.6%	20.4%
55	Baylor	Big 12	1.94	own 27.2	43.3%	55.5%	3.50	34.2%	16.5%	25.6%	23.2%
56	Florida State	ACC	1.95	own 32.5	48.3%	55.8%	3.64	21.5%	12.3%	25.1%	22.7%
57	BYU	FBS Independents	1.96	own 32.2	46.5%	54.4%	3.79	26.6%	8.3%	25.4%	17.2%
58	Oregon	Pac-12	1.98	own 30.8	51.9%	56.5%	3.57	25.3%	10.6%	25.3%	26.5%
59	UAB	Conference USA	1.99	own 30.1	50.0%	48.5%	4.42	29.5%	13.6%	28.0%	13.6%
60	Ohio	Mid-American	1.99	own 29.4	46.7%	55.4%	3.58	31.5%	10.0%	25.4%	17.7%
61	Western Michigan	Mid-American	1.99	own 31.8	48.5%	54.9%	3.75	25.6%	6.8%	25.6%	18.1%
62	Tulane	American Athletic	2.05	own 33.6	52.6%	58.8%	3.51	23.7%	13.0%	25.2%	22.9%
63	Auburn	SEC	2.05	own 30.9	53.1%	60.7%	3.69	24.1%	14.5%	29.7%	24.1%
64	South Florida	American Athletic	2.07	own 28.3	49.1%	54.2%	4.03	28.8%	11.9%	28.0%	15.3%
65	Colorado State	Mountain West	2.07	own 28.8	50.6%	51.1%	4.04	27.5%	11.5%	25.9%	16.8%
66	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	2.07	own 30.9	47.5%	50.3%	4.36	31.6%	11.7%	30.4%	20.5%
67	Kentucky	SEC	2.08	own 30.0	49.4%	58.7%	3.98	26.8%	12.3%	29.0%	13.8%
68	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	2.09	own 27.2	49.1%	47.7%	4.48	24.2%	10.5%	27.5%	17.6%
69	Texas State	Sun Belt	2.09	own 28.6	48.9%	53.9%	4.07	30.5%	9.2%	27.7%	18.4%
70	Oklahoma State	Big 12	2.09	own 30.9	48.9%	52.5%	4.16	30.6%	14.4%	27.5%	13.8%
71	Hawai'i	Mountain West	2.11	own 29.2	48.8%	48.4%	4.39	30.9%	19.8%	29.4%	17.5%
72	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	2.12	own 27.9	49.5%	56.6%	3.85	28.7%	8.2%	29.5%	21.3%
73	Rice	Conference USA	2.15	own 30.4	47.3%	47.1%	4.65	28.0%	15.9%	28.7%	19.8%
74	South Alabama	Sun Belt	2.15	own 31.5	49.2%	49.7%	4.35	28.9%	13.4%	26.9%	16.1%
75	Nevada	Mountain West	2.15	own 29.3	54.8%	61.9%	3.72	21.6%	14.9%	29.1%	20.9%
76	Maryland	Big Ten	2.17	own 32.8	53.1%	59.2%	3.99	25.9%	10.9%	27.9%	17.7%
77	Ball State	Mid-American	2.18	own 29.2	54.3%	57.1%	4.01	20.2%	16.0%	30.3%	23.5%
78	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	2.18	own 29.3	51.6%	60.8%	3.67	29.4%	11.8%	28.8%	23.5%
79	UTEP	Conference USA	2.19	own 33.1	111.8%	49.3%	4.63	34.0%	18.0%	30.7%	18.7%
80	UConn	American Athletic	2.19	own 32.2	49.0%	63.0%	3.57	23.5%	5.9%	28.6%	13.5%
81	Louisiana	Sun Belt	2.21	own 27.2	50.9%	54.0%	4.22	21.9%	13.9%	28.5%	20.4%
82	Central Michigan	Mid-American	2.21	own 34.6	49.9%	56.6%	4.00	27.9%	13.2%	27.9%	19.1%
83	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.23	own 29.5	56.2%	62.9%	3.88	22.7%	13.6%	31.1%	24.2%
84	Cincinnati	American Athletic	2.23	own 31.2	53.2%	58.8%	3.95	23.6%	12.8%	27.7%	17.6%
85	App State	Sun Belt	2.24	own 37.7	61.3%	54.3%	4.24	26.7%	12.9%	29.3%	16.4%
86	Illinois	Big Ten	2.28	own 31.0	53.5%	60.5%	4.02	25.0%	13.8%	32.9%	17.8%
87	Kent State	Mid-American	2.29	own 28.9	55.3%	52.6%	4.34	23.3%	12.8%	27.8%	18.8%
88	Indiana	Big Ten	2.36	own 33.2	52.3%	55.9%	4.32	30.9%	8.1%	29.4%	14.0%
89	Texas A&M	SEC	2.39	own 27.3	53.7%	69.0%	3.46	24.1%	18.6%	29.7%	13.1%
90	NC State	ACC	2.39	own 30.1	50.3%	57.9%	4.13	33.1%	8.3%	30.1%	15.0%
91	Fresno State	Mountain West	2.45	own 30.4	52.0%	54.7%	4.58	28.2%	17.1%	31.8%	16.5%
92	Oregon State	Pac-12	2.46	own 31.4	51.6%	59.7%	4.22	27.6%	12.7%	30.6%	12.7%
93	Purdue	Big Ten	2.47	own 34.4	54.3%	64.0%	3.93	26.6%	11.5%	31.6%	18.7%
94	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	2.48	own 32.1	61.5%	55.6%	4.56	24.6%	15.1%	31.8%	15.1%
95	Bowling Green	Mid-American	2.48	own 32.3	54.0%	58.4%	4.32	28.1%	17.3%	33.0%	22.2%
96	Pittsburgh	ACC	2.50	own 27.5	50.4%	61.3%	4.07	24.4%	16.0%	32.8%	14.3%
97	Rutgers	Big Ten	2.50	own 33.0	54.8%	66.4%	3.77	19.6%	18.2%	32.2%	17.5%
98	Massachusetts	Mid-American	2.50	own 31.4	53.2%	58.3%	4.38	27.8%	11.3%	32.5%	17.2%
99	Navy	FBS Independents	2.50	own 31.1	59.3%	61.4%	4.08	18.9%	7.9%	30.7%	18.9%
100	North Texas	Conference USA	2.50	own 31.8	53.0%	53.8%	4.77	22.7%	13.5%	34.4%	15.1%
101	Kansas	Big 12	2.51	own 32.2	54.7%	59.3%	4.33	25.0%	13.6%	29.3%	15.7%
102	San José State	Mountain West	2.52	own 34.6	52.2%	58.7%	4.30	28.4%	11.0%	32.1%	12.8%
103	Vanderbilt	SEC	2.53	own 30.6	50.9%	58.5%	4.61	26.8%	13.0%	34.2%	10.6%
104	South Carolina	SEC	2.59	own 30.3	56.1%	69.7%	3.87	22.0%	10.6%	33.3%	11.4%
105	Toledo	Mid-American	2.66	own 30.6	49.7%	57.1%	4.66	27.8%	16.5%	34.6%	11.3%
106	Tulsa	American Athletic	2.71	own 31.4	55.7%	60.8%	4.68	25.3%	16.5%	37.3%	10.1%
107	Wyoming	Mountain West	2.71	own 32.7	57.2%	64.8%	4.18	24.2%	18.0%	35.2%	18.0%
108	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	2.72	own 34.8	65.6%	64.6%	4.27	20.7%	18.9%	39.6%	17.7%
109	Florida Atlantic	Conference USA	2.72	own 28.5	56.0%	57.1%	5.03	21.9%	18.1%	37.1%	10.5%
110	Southern Miss	Conference USA	2.72	own 34.0	58.5%	62.9%	4.33	20.7%	14.7%	34.5%	13.8%
111	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	2.76	own 32.3	59.1%	61.9%	4.55	20.6%	15.9%	36.5%	19.8%
112	Colorado	Pac-12	2.82	own 32.6	54.8%	60.8%	4.65	25.9%	22.8%	35.4%	10.8%
113	Washington State	Pac-12	2.88	own 32.5	56.1%	62.8%	4.58	25.6%	17.5%	35.8%	10.9%
114	Buffalo	Mid-American	2.89	own 33.2	53.2%	55.5%	5.21	31.8%	18.2%	38.2%	14.5%
115	Army	FBS Independents	2.92	own 32.0	59.2%	64.1%	4.67	20.4%	12.6%	37.9%	16.5%
116	Iowa State	Big 12	2.93	own 27.1	58.6%	66.9%	4.45	23.7%	18.0%	36.7%	15.8%
117	New Mexico	Mountain West	2.95	own 30.3	60.6%	66.0%	4.54	18.4%	19.7%	40.1%	21.1%
118	UNLV	Mountain West	2.99	own 29.1	57.0%	61.5%	4.89	20.5%	17.4%	37.9%	13.7%
119	Idaho	Sun Belt	3.00	own 31.6	60.2%	59.7%	5.06	23.5%	21.9%	39.5%	15.1%
120	North Carolina	ACC	3.01	own 29.0	57.6%	62.4%	4.98	27.5%	21.5%	41.6%	10.1%
121	California	Pac-12	3.02	own 32.2	59.8%	63.1%	4.81	20.8%	16.1%	39.6%	15.4%
122	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	3.11	own 33.2	60.1%	68.8%	4.51	23.4%	17.0%	40.4%	17.0%
123	Troy	Sun Belt	3.12	own 31.7	60.6%	67.2%	4.74	20.5%	14.8%	41.0%	16.4%
124	Texas Tech	Big 12	3.19	own 32.9	69.9%	66.2%	4.81	19.3%	20.7%	41.4%	15.9%
125	SMU	American Athletic	3.21	own 38.0	65.5%	71.9%	4.48	15.8%	17.1%	40.4%	15.8%
126	New Mexico State	Sun Belt	3.22	own 34.7	181.7%	62.6%	5.14	25.2%	13.8%	41.5%	13.0%
127	Old Dominion	Conference USA	3.34	own 32.4	64.3%	65.1%	5.22	19.3%	18.4%	45.9%	15.6%
128	Georgia State	Sun Belt	3.88	own 36.5	67.9%	73.5%	5.28	12.4%	19.5%	50.4%	8.0%

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.