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 = -0.25(r² = 0.06)

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	Alabama	SEC	0.83	own 27.4	32.4%	33.0%	3.26	37.2%	8.0%	12.2%	18.6%
2	Wisconsin	Big Ten	1.03	own 32.3	37.4%	32.2%	3.20	42.1%	7.9%	12.5%	17.8%
3	Ohio State	Big Ten	1.10	own 26.2	34.8%	32.3%	3.81	33.5%	6.1%	15.2%	17.7%
4	San Diego State	Mountain West	1.13	own 26.8	37.1%	33.1%	3.84	36.4%	9.9%	16.6%	19.9%
5	Boston College	ACC	1.13	own 30.1	34.6%	35.7%	3.33	38.8%	7.8%	11.6%	17.8%
6	Michigan	Big Ten	1.20	own 27.0	36.3%	35.0%	3.58	37.1%	7.7%	14.0%	16.8%
7	Marshall	Conference USA	1.20	own 27.1	38.7%	42.0%	3.21	28.4%	7.4%	16.1%	21.6%
8	Boise State	Mountain West	1.24	own 28.0	36.4%	35.6%	3.77	39.4%	12.5%	16.9%	21.3%
9	Georgia	SEC	1.28	own 32.5	51.4%	39.0%	3.58	36.2%	4.3%	17.0%	19.9%
10	Florida	SEC	1.30	own 31.8	45.1%	35.1%	4.20	38.1%	7.7%	17.3%	16.7%
11	App State	Sun Belt	1.34	own 32.9	42.1%	42.9%	3.38	36.0%	8.8%	17.0%	19.1%
12	Northwestern	Big Ten	1.41	own 31.4	39.5%	42.5%	3.31	32.0%	7.2%	17.6%	16.3%
13	Temple	American Athletic	1.42	own 31.9	40.6%	40.0%	3.87	35.9%	9.4%	17.1%	18.2%
14	Missouri	SEC	1.43	own 32.3	40.3%	43.4%	3.32	31.8%	3.9%	16.3%	18.6%
15	Tennessee	SEC	1.43	own 25.6	42.0%	37.9%	4.05	33.8%	10.3%	20.0%	13.8%
16	Texas A&M	SEC	1.43	own 28.8	42.3%	43.0%	3.75	35.8%	12.6%	18.5%	16.6%
17	Houston	American Athletic	1.44	own 26.4	39.8%	42.3%	3.82	36.9%	13.1%	20.2%	22.6%
18	Clemson	ACC	1.45	own 31.0	37.5%	40.0%	3.83	36.3%	12.1%	18.9%	20.5%
19	Toledo	Mid-American	1.45	own 31.8	44.9%	47.0%	3.22	27.6%	6.0%	17.2%	22.4%
20	Florida State	ACC	1.47	own 27.3	39.0%	35.5%	4.14	30.5%	7.1%	17.0%	18.4%
21	Washington	Pac-12	1.48	own 28.9	42.9%	45.9%	3.54	29.4%	7.5%	19.2%	21.2%
22	Iowa	Big Ten	1.49	own 30.0	40.9%	40.4%	3.90	30.1%	9.6%	17.9%	20.5%
23	Utah	Pac-12	1.50	own 28.6	42.0%	44.7%	3.93	30.4%	9.3%	21.1%	24.2%
24	Oklahoma	Big 12	1.51	own 29.8	39.6%	36.7%	4.33	40.0%	6.1%	18.9%	17.2%
25	Vanderbilt	SEC	1.53	own 34.2	46.6%	47.4%	3.33	31.9%	8.2%	15.6%	17.0%
26	Penn State	Big Ten	1.58	own 32.3	37.7%	36.1%	4.37	31.9%	6.0%	20.5%	20.5%
27	West Virginia	Big 12	1.60	own 29.4	40.2%	43.6%	3.79	31.4%	10.5%	18.6%	24.4%
28	UConn	American Athletic	1.63	own 29.4	45.3%	48.1%	3.49	28.2%	12.2%	19.1%	24.4%
29	Ole Miss	SEC	1.67	own 33.0	49.1%	45.8%	3.96	24.8%	7.8%	20.3%	22.2%
30	BYU	FBS Independents	1.75	own 31.4	43.8%	46.9%	3.94	31.0%	9.0%	23.4%	18.6%
31	Louisville	ACC	1.77	own 31.3	41.5%	41.3%	4.39	36.8%	11.0%	22.6%	18.1%
32	Akron	Mid-American	1.80	own 29.6	48.4%	42.5%	4.27	30.5%	8.5%	24.1%	26.2%
33	Illinois	Big Ten	1.81	own 30.9	44.6%	45.5%	4.20	30.1%	9.8%	23.1%	16.8%
34	Ohio	Mid-American	1.82	own 29.2	54.8%	45.6%	4.46	30.4%	16.7%	25.4%	15.2%
35	Mississippi State	SEC	1.82	own 28.0	46.3%	45.5%	4.23	25.9%	10.5%	22.4%	15.4%
36	UCLA	Pac-12	1.84	own 29.5	47.8%	48.1%	3.92	26.6%	7.6%	22.1%	20.9%
37	TCU	Big 12	1.86	own 28.6	44.3%	42.1%	4.68	32.8%	14.0%	25.7%	15.8%
38	Florida Atlantic	Conference USA	1.86	own 29.6	46.6%	48.0%	4.21	23.6%	16.9%	26.4%	18.2%
39	Minnesota	Big Ten	1.87	own 30.2	44.2%	45.8%	4.29	29.4%	8.5%	23.5%	11.8%
40	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	1.88	own 28.2	44.7%	43.1%	4.83	35.1%	17.8%	27.6%	19.0%
41	East Carolina	American Athletic	1.88	own 29.1	45.5%	45.9%	4.32	34.8%	7.4%	25.9%	14.1%
42	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	1.89	own 27.9	45.0%	47.0%	4.31	31.1%	11.9%	25.8%	15.9%
43	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	1.89	own 34.4	49.1%	56.8%	3.51	27.1%	14.8%	25.2%	21.9%
44	Southern Miss	Conference USA	1.89	own 28.6	45.5%	49.7%	3.98	34.5%	11.5%	23.0%	18.2%
45	South Florida	American Athletic	1.89	own 32.8	76.3%	49.3%	3.96	27.3%	13.3%	23.3%	19.3%
46	Stanford	Pac-12	1.90	own 28.3	48.2%	48.3%	4.22	30.9%	10.7%	23.5%	14.1%
47	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	1.91	own 27.0	41.9%	43.8%	4.62	35.0%	13.1%	24.8%	21.9%
48	Central Michigan	Mid-American	1.91	own 30.9	46.9%	46.0%	4.21	31.8%	10.3%	24.6%	18.3%
49	LSU	SEC	1.91	own 31.4	46.5%	46.0%	4.36	25.9%	14.4%	25.9%	20.9%
50	Georgia State	Sun Belt	1.91	own 30.8	49.2%	50.7%	3.89	18.1%	9.0%	22.2%	18.8%
51	Michigan State	Big Ten	1.93	own 28.0	45.0%	47.7%	4.23	32.0%	12.4%	25.5%	22.2%
52	Virginia Tech	ACC	1.97	own 30.0	44.8%	43.7%	4.81	32.3%	13.9%	25.9%	17.1%
53	Washington State	Pac-12	1.97	own 33.4	55.1%	53.3%	3.70	21.9%	13.9%	24.8%	25.6%
54	Duke	ACC	1.98	own 28.4	44.7%	45.2%	4.39	27.4%	12.1%	24.8%	21.7%
55	USC	Pac-12	1.98	own 31.2	52.9%	51.2%	4.19	24.1%	9.6%	26.5%	16.9%
56	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	1.98	own 32.8	48.1%	53.2%	3.72	29.5%	9.3%	23.1%	21.4%
57	Nevada	Mountain West	2.01	own 31.8	51.6%	54.7%	3.85	27.0%	10.9%	25.6%	15.3%
58	Wake Forest	ACC	2.01	own 28.2	46.6%	43.4%	4.66	26.4%	11.6%	25.6%	10.8%
59	Kentucky	SEC	2.02	own 32.1	52.3%	52.3%	3.97	23.4%	10.2%	26.6%	14.8%
60	Nebraska	Big Ten	2.02	own 32.0	48.0%	48.5%	4.29	31.9%	12.3%	25.8%	15.3%
61	Baylor	Big 12	2.04	own 31.1	45.8%	42.9%	4.74	31.9%	8.0%	27.0%	23.9%
62	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	2.05	own 32.4	47.4%	47.6%	4.54	24.8%	6.9%	25.5%	14.5%
63	NC State	ACC	2.07	own 27.5	44.5%	44.4%	4.87	34.4%	17.9%	27.2%	16.6%
64	Navy	American Athletic	2.07	own 28.1	50.1%	53.8%	3.88	31.1%	11.8%	26.9%	31.1%
65	Oklahoma State	Big 12	2.10	own 28.7	55.9%	46.6%	4.91	28.0%	13.0%	29.2%	19.9%
66	Buffalo	Mid-American	2.10	own 31.0	49.5%	55.1%	4.24	26.0%	17.3%	31.5%	18.1%
67	Kent State	Mid-American	2.11	own 32.5	50.0%	47.1%	4.50	28.5%	6.5%	26.8%	11.4%
68	North Carolina	ACC	2.11	own 29.2	56.8%	53.1%	4.16	24.5%	8.4%	28.0%	24.5%
69	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	2.13	own 29.6	51.0%	51.0%	4.19	27.4%	12.1%	28.0%	24.8%
70	Arizona State	Pac-12	2.14	own 28.2	46.9%	46.2%	4.87	32.5%	18.9%	27.8%	13.6%
71	Florida International	Conference USA	2.16	own 28.9	54.1%	54.9%	4.28	22.5%	11.7%	29.7%	16.2%
72	Memphis	American Athletic	2.17	own 27.1	48.2%	45.2%	5.07	29.7%	14.2%	29.7%	18.1%
73	Air Force	Mountain West	2.19	own 29.7	45.5%	47.7%	4.58	35.5%	14.8%	27.1%	13.6%
74	Colorado State	Mountain West	2.20	own 28.2	50.5%	53.3%	4.34	22.6%	13.1%	27.7%	16.1%
75	Pittsburgh	ACC	2.21	own 26.1	45.5%	49.2%	4.75	27.7%	15.4%	26.2%	12.3%
76	Utah State	Mountain West	2.23	own 30.1	47.0%	46.1%	4.96	33.8%	9.7%	29.9%	18.2%
77	Bowling Green	Mid-American	2.23	own 29.9	54.3%	52.7%	4.24	29.9%	9.6%	28.1%	21.0%
78	Texas	Big 12	2.23	own 29.6	50.0%	50.0%	4.65	26.6%	11.7%	29.9%	16.9%
79	UTSA	Conference USA	2.32	own 31.0	53.8%	57.5%	4.23	24.0%	15.1%	29.4%	17.8%
80	Auburn	SEC	2.32	own 30.6	54.6%	60.0%	3.96	19.2%	8.5%	27.7%	21.5%
81	Troy	Sun Belt	2.32	own 33.4	50.2%	54.1%	4.39	22.6%	11.3%	30.1%	15.0%
82	Colorado	Pac-12	2.35	own 31.1	54.2%	56.1%	4.27	20.0%	13.9%	30.8%	14.6%
83	Indiana	Big Ten	2.37	own 29.7	52.7%	51.8%	4.83	30.1%	15.7%	33.7%	18.7%
84	Cincinnati	American Athletic	2.38	own 35.0	121.6%	54.0%	4.41	27.7%	10.8%	29.7%	14.2%
85	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.39	own 32.6	52.9%	51.2%	4.81	26.5%	10.7%	30.6%	14.1%
86	San José State	Mountain West	2.39	own 31.8	52.1%	55.0%	4.64	25.2%	12.2%	32.8%	11.5%
87	Massachusetts	Mid-American	2.40	own 31.4	53.1%	52.3%	4.60	26.8%	12.4%	28.8%	16.3%
88	Western Michigan	Mid-American	2.41	own 29.2	50.0%	51.9%	4.64	26.4%	21.7%	31.8%	20.2%
89	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	2.42	own 35.2	51.3%	54.2%	4.56	28.5%	11.8%	31.3%	13.2%
90	UTEP	Conference USA	2.43	own 30.2	52.9%	54.1%	4.68	25.4%	24.6%	32.8%	11.5%
91	Arkansas	SEC	2.43	own 30.5	54.7%	50.8%	4.82	26.9%	10.8%	30.0%	17.7%
92	South Carolina	SEC	2.43	own 26.9	52.0%	50.0%	4.90	27.1%	13.1%	31.1%	20.5%
93	Maryland	Big Ten	2.44	own 34.4	50.1%	54.7%	4.54	25.7%	14.9%	31.8%	16.2%
94	Louisiana	Sun Belt	2.45	own 29.7	53.5%	51.5%	4.85	27.3%	12.9%	32.6%	12.1%
95	Oregon	Pac-12	2.48	own 31.4	53.8%	56.0%	4.66	22.0%	11.9%	32.7%	15.1%
96	Miami	ACC	2.49	own 29.7	56.0%	53.2%	4.68	24.1%	17.0%	29.8%	19.9%
97	New Mexico	Mountain West	2.49	own 29.3	55.4%	65.8%	3.79	22.6%	19.2%	31.5%	19.9%
98	Syracuse	ACC	2.50	own 30.1	52.3%	55.4%	4.81	23.1%	15.4%	33.1%	12.3%
99	Charlotte	Conference USA	2.52	own 36.1	51.6%	59.6%	4.30	27.2%	11.9%	31.8%	16.6%
100	Army	FBS Independents	2.54	own 31.9	53.4%	51.4%	5.07	24.3%	16.8%	30.8%	9.3%
101	Virginia	ACC	2.57	own 31.3	52.6%	58.1%	4.44	24.0%	19.4%	30.2%	16.3%
102	California	Pac-12	2.58	own 31.1	53.7%	56.4%	4.57	27.1%	13.6%	30.7%	17.9%
103	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	2.61	own 36.9	52.0%	59.6%	4.51	24.7%	13.3%	34.3%	12.7%
104	Tulsa	American Athletic	2.65	own 31.1	56.9%	59.8%	4.56	21.8%	18.4%	35.8%	15.6%
105	Kansas State	Big 12	2.66	own 31.4	55.9%	53.7%	5.04	22.4%	13.6%	34.0%	15.7%
106	Arizona	Pac-12	2.72	own 29.2	52.3%	52.9%	5.40	22.9%	12.1%	36.9%	11.5%
107	Iowa State	Big 12	2.73	own 32.7	54.1%	56.1%	4.86	27.7%	16.9%	36.1%	13.1%
108	Fresno State	Mountain West	2.76	own 30.3	56.1%	54.2%	5.18	25.2%	16.8%	38.2%	16.8%
109	UNLV	Mountain West	2.77	own 31.8	56.4%	56.5%	5.00	24.6%	18.8%	37.0%	17.4%
110	Purdue	Big Ten	2.81	own 31.2	56.1%	60.6%	4.64	26.3%	17.5%	36.5%	17.5%
111	Hawai'i	Mountain West	2.88	own 31.0	55.6%	55.1%	5.24	24.3%	11.8%	37.5%	9.6%
112	Ball State	Mid-American	2.90	own 29.3	58.8%	59.1%	4.91	18.1%	19.7%	37.8%	15.8%
113	South Alabama	Sun Belt	2.91	own 37.1	56.2%	53.9%	5.39	27.7%	16.3%	37.6%	13.5%
114	Tulane	American Athletic	2.95	own 34.2	55.3%	59.7%	4.93	23.3%	14.0%	38.8%	13.2%
115	Rutgers	Big Ten	2.95	own 34.0	63.4%	65.6%	4.73	16.8%	18.3%	40.5%	19.9%
116	Old Dominion	Conference USA	2.99	own 35.7	58.9%	64.5%	4.64	22.7%	17.7%	37.6%	15.6%
117	Texas Tech	Big 12	3.04	own 31.4	60.6%	56.0%	5.51	23.9%	20.1%	42.1%	15.1%
118	Wyoming	Mountain West	3.04	own 30.6	56.7%	58.3%	5.21	24.2%	15.8%	39.2%	12.5%
119	New Mexico State	Sun Belt	3.12	own 31.8	58.4%	62.4%	5.07	24.1%	21.0%	42.0%	12.3%
120	UCF	American Athletic	3.12	own 31.9	60.4%	61.2%	5.10	20.2%	20.9%	41.1%	8.5%
121	North Texas	Conference USA	3.15	own 29.5	62.2%	63.7%	5.11	21.8%	16.9%	42.7%	16.9%
122	Kansas	Big 12	3.20	own 32.7	66.7%	71.4%	4.48	20.0%	24.3%	42.9%	12.9%
123	Oregon State	Pac-12	3.22	own 32.5	62.6%	65.3%	5.10	18.9%	21.3%	42.5%	15.8%
124	Texas State	Sun Belt	3.29	own 28.3	62.0%	61.3%	5.40	21.0%	20.2%	43.7%	11.8%
125	Idaho	Sun Belt	3.30	own 32.9	78.5%	64.7%	5.20	22.7%	22.7%	43.7%	11.8%
126	Rice	Conference USA	3.35	own 30.7	62.0%	59.3%	5.66	21.2%	26.6%	46.0%	8.8%
127	SMU	American Athletic	3.44	own 34.3	59.0%	63.5%	5.44	24.1%	23.4%	47.4%	13.9%
128	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	3.44	own 31.1	66.2%	67.2%	5.21	17.5%	19.7%	47.4%	10.2%

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.