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.

130 teams · dashed lines mark the league medianr = -0.35(r² = 0.12)

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	Wisconsin	Big Ten	0.83	own 29.4	33.6%	34.6%	2.98	37.1%	6.3%	11.9%	18.9%
2	Clemson	ACC	0.90	own 32.5	37.2%	32.3%	3.46	40.4%	6.8%	13.0%	14.3%
3	Alabama	SEC	0.98	own 28.0	35.8%	31.3%	3.44	36.7%	2.7%	11.6%	23.8%
4	Virginia Tech	ACC	1.05	own 28.3	40.1%	33.6%	3.56	41.6%	10.1%	15.4%	18.8%
5	Penn State	Big Ten	1.10	own 29.1	59.2%	34.8%	3.73	37.3%	10.6%	16.2%	20.5%
6	Michigan	Big Ten	1.19	own 29.1	34.1%	32.1%	4.27	46.3%	9.9%	16.7%	11.1%
7	Washington	Pac-12	1.21	own 29.3	42.4%	36.6%	3.88	34.4%	3.0%	16.0%	19.9%
8	Texas	Big 12	1.26	own 29.4	39.4%	37.4%	3.91	34.1%	8.4%	17.3%	17.3%
9	Auburn	SEC	1.26	own 32.6	44.6%	41.9%	3.34	36.1%	5.8%	16.1%	18.1%
10	Ohio State	Big Ten	1.31	own 31.4	41.9%	40.1%	3.40	35.3%	7.2%	18.0%	21.6%
11	Iowa	Big Ten	1.32	own 32.5	44.3%	50.7%	2.90	29.6%	7.9%	17.1%	22.4%
12	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	1.37	own 31.6	38.4%	40.7%	3.77	37.2%	7.0%	18.0%	12.2%
13	Georgia	SEC	1.41	own 30.3	38.6%	35.1%	4.02	37.6%	7.9%	15.8%	18.2%
14	Wyoming	Mountain West	1.41	own 30.8	43.1%	41.4%	3.68	32.4%	4.1%	18.6%	26.9%
15	Mississippi State	SEC	1.42	own 31.9	41.1%	38.1%	4.09	36.0%	14.3%	21.1%	17.7%
16	Fresno State	Mountain West	1.43	own 32.0	47.7%	40.4%	3.80	31.5%	7.5%	17.8%	19.9%
17	Duke	ACC	1.45	own 30.1	43.8%	39.6%	4.04	31.9%	9.0%	20.1%	24.3%
18	TCU	Big 12	1.45	own 28.3	42.0%	44.6%	3.55	28.3%	11.9%	19.5%	15.7%
19	Troy	Sun Belt	1.49	own 31.9	45.5%	48.9%	3.15	31.6%	8.3%	19.6%	26.3%
20	Michigan State	Big Ten	1.51	own 32.5	41.7%	35.1%	4.44	35.8%	8.1%	18.2%	20.3%
21	Northwestern	Big Ten	1.51	own 31.6	42.7%	41.1%	3.79	32.5%	9.2%	19.6%	20.3%
22	Purdue	Big Ten	1.53	own 31.2	43.0%	38.3%	4.00	37.6%	9.4%	18.8%	16.8%
23	Miami	ACC	1.54	own 33.2	44.5%	41.8%	3.80	32.7%	7.8%	18.3%	24.8%
24	South Florida	American Athletic	1.56	own 31.0	55.1%	36.6%	4.50	32.0%	9.8%	21.6%	21.6%
25	Marshall	Conference USA	1.58	own 29.6	45.5%	42.1%	4.00	30.3%	9.9%	21.1%	15.1%
26	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	1.58	own 31.3	43.2%	43.0%	4.00	34.0%	8.3%	21.8%	14.7%
27	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	1.58	own 32.1	46.6%	44.0%	3.80	35.2%	9.4%	20.1%	18.9%
28	Boston College	ACC	1.59	own 29.3	40.9%	40.7%	4.00	37.3%	11.3%	20.9%	16.4%
29	San Diego State	Mountain West	1.60	own 30.0	42.0%	40.6%	4.07	39.9%	9.8%	21.8%	19.6%
30	UCF	American Athletic	1.62	own 30.3	49.6%	43.8%	4.13	26.9%	13.8%	23.1%	24.4%
31	Boise State	Mountain West	1.63	own 29.9	45.0%	37.2%	4.87	26.2%	5.5%	23.8%	19.5%
32	Iowa State	Big 12	1.65	own 31.1	50.1%	45.3%	3.76	33.6%	9.5%	21.9%	18.3%
33	LSU	SEC	1.65	own 28.6	44.4%	38.4%	4.45	34.6%	9.8%	19.6%	18.8%
34	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	1.66	own 30.4	46.7%	42.1%	4.20	36.2%	14.5%	23.7%	13.8%
35	UTSA	Conference USA	1.71	own 29.0	43.0%	42.9%	4.13	34.3%	7.6%	22.9%	21.9%
36	Utah State	Mountain West	1.75	own 29.0	44.7%	48.1%	3.90	34.0%	9.3%	22.8%	21.0%
37	USC	Pac-12	1.75	own 31.3	51.3%	48.8%	4.01	27.4%	11.3%	24.4%	19.6%
38	App State	Sun Belt	1.78	own 35.6	48.1%	43.8%	4.08	34.0%	10.4%	20.1%	20.8%
39	Houston	American Athletic	1.79	own 28.9	47.8%	50.0%	3.60	27.4%	9.6%	20.5%	18.5%
40	Central Michigan	Mid-American	1.79	own 35.4	45.4%	46.7%	4.04	30.9%	10.9%	23.0%	20.0%
41	Indiana	Big Ten	1.80	own 30.9	43.8%	37.5%	5.07	37.5%	9.9%	24.3%	11.8%
42	South Carolina	SEC	1.81	own 29.0	47.6%	47.1%	4.06	25.7%	4.4%	21.3%	19.9%
43	Oklahoma State	Big 12	1.83	own 29.2	49.2%	45.2%	4.24	36.9%	11.9%	25.0%	16.7%
44	Ohio	Mid-American	1.84	own 37.3	53.2%	45.7%	4.16	30.7%	7.9%	22.9%	21.4%
45	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	1.84	own 29.9	49.8%	52.8%	3.59	22.4%	12.8%	24.0%	18.4%
46	Utah	Pac-12	1.85	own 32.0	43.6%	47.9%	3.96	36.3%	11.0%	21.2%	18.5%
47	Minnesota	Big Ten	1.86	own 31.3	48.2%	44.6%	4.39	33.8%	10.1%	25.2%	18.0%
48	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	1.87	own 34.0	53.5%	50.4%	4.13	27.1%	10.5%	26.3%	18.1%
49	Florida State	ACC	1.88	own 31.1	44.5%	47.3%	4.12	24.7%	8.2%	24.0%	16.4%
50	NC State	ACC	1.91	own 32.5	51.1%	46.4%	4.43	29.3%	8.6%	25.7%	20.7%
51	Texas A&M	SEC	1.94	own 32.6	48.4%	42.3%	5.00	37.5%	16.7%	27.4%	13.1%
52	Washington State	Pac-12	1.94	own 34.8	41.9%	44.5%	4.46	35.5%	13.6%	24.5%	20.6%
53	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	1.94	own 34.8	51.5%	48.4%	4.13	28.7%	9.6%	24.8%	14.6%
54	New Mexico State	Sun Belt	1.95	own 34.2	46.5%	48.0%	4.14	31.2%	9.8%	25.4%	19.1%
55	Florida	SEC	1.96	own 35.0	50.7%	50.0%	4.25	34.4%	12.5%	25.0%	12.5%
56	Pittsburgh	ACC	1.97	own 30.3	49.8%	49.6%	4.30	27.9%	12.4%	27.1%	17.1%
57	Southern Miss	Conference USA	1.97	own 32.9	47.1%	50.3%	4.11	30.6%	10.2%	25.2%	12.9%
58	Wake Forest	ACC	2.01	own 31.8	52.3%	52.7%	4.00	24.2%	12.7%	25.4%	19.4%
59	Stanford	Pac-12	2.02	own 27.3	52.2%	48.3%	4.38	26.5%	9.5%	25.9%	23.8%
60	Louisville	ACC	2.04	own 33.3	58.1%	53.9%	3.96	22.0%	14.2%	29.1%	18.4%
61	Florida Atlantic	Conference USA	2.04	own 31.2	53.8%	47.1%	4.33	29.7%	7.1%	25.8%	23.9%
62	Virginia	ACC	2.07	own 32.9	49.2%	49.0%	4.36	29.5%	9.4%	28.2%	18.8%
63	Toledo	Mid-American	2.08	own 30.3	50.9%	46.6%	4.56	30.4%	14.9%	28.0%	21.7%
64	Kansas State	Big 12	2.09	own 31.9	56.7%	47.9%	4.57	29.6%	12.0%	26.8%	17.6%
65	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	2.09	own 30.3	47.5%	48.5%	4.42	33.3%	11.6%	25.4%	11.6%
66	UAB	Conference USA	2.10	own 35.7	53.0%	51.8%	4.18	27.0%	9.9%	25.5%	16.3%
67	Temple	American Athletic	2.10	own 35.2	49.5%	50.0%	4.30	26.4%	10.8%	26.4%	16.9%
68	Oregon	Pac-12	2.12	own 32.6	48.1%	48.4%	4.47	29.7%	9.0%	27.1%	16.8%
69	Missouri	SEC	2.13	own 33.1	50.7%	52.6%	4.30	28.9%	13.8%	27.0%	14.5%
70	Oklahoma	Big 12	2.13	own 30.8	50.5%	46.9%	4.73	30.5%	14.6%	28.7%	13.4%
71	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.15	own 34.9	50.6%	50.0%	4.41	32.8%	12.1%	26.7%	12.9%
72	BYU	FBS Independents	2.18	own 30.1	59.1%	51.2%	4.36	27.9%	9.3%	25.6%	17.8%
73	Georgia State	Sun Belt	2.18	own 33.2	55.8%	49.1%	4.44	33.0%	13.2%	28.3%	18.9%
74	Massachusetts	FBS Independents	2.27	own 36.2	51.5%	52.5%	4.44	31.6%	11.5%	28.1%	17.3%
75	Buffalo	Mid-American	2.27	own 31.9	52.9%	52.7%	4.30	28.2%	13.0%	29.8%	16.0%
76	Colorado	Pac-12	2.28	own 28.4	56.4%	54.3%	4.30	22.8%	15.0%	29.1%	15.8%
77	Western Michigan	Mid-American	2.28	own 34.7	53.1%	46.8%	5.09	35.5%	17.7%	31.9%	14.2%
78	Idaho	Sun Belt	2.31	own 34.2	61.9%	52.8%	4.37	25.2%	16.5%	27.6%	15.8%
79	West Virginia	Big 12	2.33	own 33.3	73.1%	54.4%	4.45	28.5%	15.2%	30.4%	12.7%
80	Akron	Mid-American	2.34	own 33.0	59.8%	59.4%	4.10	23.2%	14.8%	30.3%	18.7%
81	Memphis	American Athletic	2.36	own 30.7	52.5%	52.5%	4.66	28.1%	14.4%	32.5%	20.6%
82	California	Pac-12	2.36	own 29.7	54.6%	56.5%	4.37	22.1%	9.9%	29.0%	17.6%
83	Colorado State	Mountain West	2.38	own 27.6	54.5%	52.2%	4.65	27.2%	16.2%	30.9%	16.2%
84	South Alabama	Sun Belt	2.40	own 33.4	60.5%	64.0%	3.77	17.6%	16.0%	28.0%	20.8%
85	Tennessee	SEC	2.42	own 32.1	53.8%	48.8%	5.07	32.8%	13.6%	32.0%	16.8%
86	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	2.42	own 31.5	52.5%	52.6%	4.70	27.1%	16.5%	33.8%	18.8%
87	Arizona State	Pac-12	2.42	own 32.9	59.2%	53.8%	4.77	26.9%	18.6%	32.0%	14.1%
88	North Carolina	ACC	2.45	own 32.0	55.2%	54.4%	4.50	29.4%	14.7%	30.9%	14.7%
89	Charlotte	Conference USA	2.49	own 28.3	57.4%	58.9%	4.23	19.4%	15.3%	32.3%	13.7%
90	Rutgers	Big Ten	2.50	own 33.3	53.5%	53.9%	4.84	26.6%	14.1%	31.3%	10.9%
91	Syracuse	ACC	2.51	own 29.9	55.2%	57.9%	4.43	27.1%	17.1%	32.9%	12.1%
92	Illinois	Big Ten	2.53	own 32.8	55.4%	53.6%	4.81	27.5%	12.3%	34.1%	15.9%
93	Kentucky	SEC	2.54	own 31.0	55.0%	56.1%	4.54	25.8%	20.4%	31.8%	18.9%
94	Texas Tech	Big 12	2.55	own 30.7	54.2%	58.6%	4.35	26.3%	13.2%	32.2%	19.7%
95	Army	FBS Independents	2.56	own 33.7	66.9%	59.0%	4.58	19.0%	18.0%	36.0%	16.0%
96	Nevada	Mountain West	2.57	own 34.8	66.0%	64.1%	4.18	17.2%	14.8%	34.4%	19.5%
97	Texas State	Sun Belt	2.58	own 32.7	57.2%	57.1%	4.51	24.4%	16.0%	31.1%	10.9%
98	Arizona	Pac-12	2.60	own 30.6	53.7%	55.4%	4.85	25.7%	15.5%	36.5%	16.9%
99	North Texas	Conference USA	2.60	own 32.8	59.9%	54.8%	4.92	25.5%	14.6%	35.7%	15.3%
100	Old Dominion	Conference USA	2.63	own 35.3	57.4%	56.1%	4.69	19.7%	15.9%	35.6%	15.2%
101	Florida International	Conference USA	2.63	own 32.6	61.9%	60.5%	4.47	18.7%	20.9%	35.1%	20.9%
102	Ole Miss	SEC	2.65	own 31.0	60.6%	58.1%	4.58	26.5%	15.4%	32.4%	12.5%
103	New Mexico	Mountain West	2.65	own 28.0	49.2%	53.0%	5.00	32.1%	17.9%	34.3%	9.7%
104	Navy	American Athletic	2.65	own 32.3	61.1%	57.3%	4.66	23.1%	18.8%	33.3%	17.1%
105	Baylor	Big 12	2.67	own 34.8	56.7%	59.9%	4.49	25.0%	17.4%	32.6%	9.8%
106	Kent State	Mid-American	2.72	own 34.1	53.2%	55.0%	4.94	33.6%	21.4%	35.9%	15.3%
107	UNLV	Mountain West	2.77	own 33.8	64.3%	61.7%	4.50	16.7%	15.0%	35.8%	20.0%
108	Cincinnati	American Athletic	2.80	own 29.7	59.9%	61.0%	4.68	22.9%	12.7%	33.9%	7.6%
109	Coastal Carolina	Sun Belt	2.81	own 30.3	53.9%	53.4%	5.25	25.4%	14.4%	36.4%	8.5%
110	UCLA	Pac-12	2.84	own 30.4	58.9%	59.1%	4.96	17.5%	13.0%	35.7%	12.3%
111	Nebraska	Big Ten	2.84	own 30.1	58.9%	54.9%	5.40	23.3%	15.8%	39.1%	11.3%
112	Tulane	American Athletic	2.87	own 32.1	63.6%	61.9%	4.63	20.0%	17.1%	38.1%	22.9%
113	SMU	American Athletic	2.88	own 32.5	61.4%	62.1%	4.74	21.4%	17.9%	37.9%	22.1%
114	Vanderbilt	SEC	2.93	own 32.9	58.2%	59.0%	4.97	26.2%	18.0%	37.7%	13.1%
115	Maryland	Big Ten	2.99	own 33.5	62.2%	57.5%	5.30	25.2%	11.0%	40.2%	14.2%
116	Bowling Green	Mid-American	3.02	own 31.2	61.0%	61.9%	4.87	22.4%	16.4%	39.6%	19.4%
117	UConn	American Athletic	3.02	own 31.1	62.3%	58.4%	5.29	21.9%	17.5%	41.6%	14.6%
118	Tulsa	American Athletic	3.04	own 31.5	67.2%	64.3%	4.81	18.6%	19.3%	39.3%	13.6%
119	San José State	Mountain West	3.04	own 33.2	57.2%	57.4%	5.38	29.7%	13.6%	40.0%	9.7%
120	Air Force	Mountain West	3.05	own 34.1	61.3%	63.6%	4.99	20.3%	16.1%	39.8%	9.3%
121	Louisiana	Sun Belt	3.05	own 33.0	63.9%	62.3%	4.90	23.8%	21.5%	40.0%	14.6%
122	Hawai'i	Mountain West	3.12	own 33.1	68.2%	63.5%	5.04	16.5%	21.7%	43.5%	9.6%
123	Arkansas	SEC	3.21	own 35.3	96.4%	67.8%	4.73	19.0%	19.8%	40.5%	14.1%
124	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	3.21	own 32.0	73.4%	58.0%	5.55	18.9%	25.2%	43.4%	11.9%
125	UTEP	Conference USA	3.23	own 32.6	60.7%	61.7%	5.32	21.9%	15.6%	44.5%	12.5%
126	Rice	Conference USA	3.23	own 30.8	62.5%	64.7%	5.00	18.5%	13.5%	42.0%	9.2%
127	Ball State	Mid-American	3.24	own 35.1	57.4%	62.0%	5.22	24.8%	20.2%	42.6%	11.6%
128	Kansas	Big 12	3.27	own 36.8	61.8%	64.8%	5.05	22.5%	21.8%	42.3%	8.5%
129	East Carolina	American Athletic	3.62	own 30.7	67.9%	66.9%	5.41	18.9%	23.6%	48.0%	11.0%
130	Oregon State	Pac-12	3.92	own 36.1	74.5%	72.7%	5.42	13.7%	21.4%	50.4%	8.6%

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.