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 = -0.28(r² = 0.08)

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	Clemson	ACC	0.92	own 27.0	32.3%	33.3%	3.10	35.6%	6.7%	11.7%	19.4%
2	Fresno State	Mountain West	1.07	own 25.5	36.9%	39.0%	2.87	37.7%	5.8%	13.6%	18.2%
3	California	Pac-12	1.16	own 27.8	40.1%	37.7%	3.79	29.7%	4.3%	16.7%	21.7%
4	Michigan State	Big Ten	1.20	own 30.3	36.1%	41.1%	2.91	35.0%	6.1%	13.5%	21.5%
5	Michigan	Big Ten	1.20	own 31.1	43.0%	35.9%	4.24	31.0%	6.3%	19.7%	14.1%
6	Alabama	SEC	1.21	own 26.5	39.2%	33.5%	4.30	35.9%	11.4%	18.6%	17.4%
7	App State	Sun Belt	1.22	own 29.1	36.9%	40.3%	3.29	36.1%	4.9%	13.9%	23.6%
8	Mississippi State	SEC	1.24	own 32.4	40.3%	44.3%	2.79	24.4%	3.0%	11.5%	24.4%
9	Utah State	Mountain West	1.26	own 29.0	40.8%	42.0%	3.30	30.8%	9.5%	18.3%	23.7%
10	Penn State	Big Ten	1.34	own 27.4	38.0%	35.7%	3.90	30.9%	7.7%	17.9%	19.6%
11	Utah	Pac-12	1.40	own 29.3	42.7%	42.1%	3.55	25.0%	9.2%	19.7%	22.4%
12	Cincinnati	American Athletic	1.43	own 29.2	37.8%	40.1%	3.71	34.9%	10.5%	18.4%	20.4%
13	Miami	ACC	1.43	own 33.9	38.1%	44.6%	3.53	33.1%	6.1%	18.2%	16.2%
14	Kentucky	SEC	1.44	own 27.2	41.7%	43.6%	3.65	36.1%	7.5%	19.6%	18.1%
15	Iowa	Big Ten	1.46	own 29.6	38.1%	36.4%	4.40	30.1%	4.9%	19.6%	23.1%
16	Auburn	SEC	1.47	own 27.1	43.6%	43.0%	3.67	32.4%	9.2%	16.2%	20.4%
17	Southern Miss	Conference USA	1.47	own 31.5	36.5%	40.5%	3.77	37.9%	6.9%	18.1%	14.7%
18	Notre Dame	FBS Independents	1.47	own 28.4	42.5%	44.1%	3.34	30.9%	7.9%	17.1%	21.7%
19	UAB	Conference USA	1.49	own 29.0	41.2%	42.0%	3.73	32.7%	13.3%	18.7%	19.3%
20	Washington	Pac-12	1.54	own 30.5	42.4%	44.1%	3.60	30.1%	4.4%	17.6%	17.6%
21	Florida	SEC	1.56	own 26.4	41.7%	55.7%	3.21	32.1%	11.5%	20.6%	19.1%
22	Eastern Michigan	Mid-American	1.61	own 28.7	42.4%	45.4%	3.66	31.2%	6.4%	19.1%	24.1%
23	Northwestern	Big Ten	1.63	own 29.4	43.0%	43.0%	3.87	30.7%	10.1%	19.6%	20.7%
24	Marshall	Conference USA	1.64	own 26.9	39.1%	40.4%	4.29	34.4%	9.9%	20.5%	17.2%
25	Georgia	SEC	1.67	own 29.1	45.1%	44.2%	4.13	26.8%	9.4%	22.5%	18.1%
26	Boston College	ACC	1.68	own 29.5	46.1%	44.5%	4.20	25.3%	7.5%	24.7%	24.7%
27	North Texas	Conference USA	1.70	own 27.9	43.3%	43.9%	4.07	32.9%	12.3%	22.6%	17.4%
28	Northern Illinois	Mid-American	1.70	own 29.9	43.6%	48.3%	3.70	26.7%	5.8%	19.8%	15.1%
29	Ohio State	Big Ten	1.71	own 25.8	74.3%	43.7%	4.39	30.5%	13.7%	24.2%	15.8%
30	Virginia	ACC	1.73	own 27.7	42.7%	43.9%	3.95	26.2%	10.8%	20.8%	25.4%
31	LSU	SEC	1.76	own 27.6	42.1%	41.9%	4.31	35.8%	10.1%	22.3%	19.6%
32	Troy	Sun Belt	1.76	own 27.7	43.4%	40.8%	4.47	30.3%	9.9%	23.9%	21.1%
33	Temple	American Athletic	1.79	own 31.0	42.7%	48.1%	4.26	29.0%	11.1%	27.8%	21.6%
34	Iowa State	Big 12	1.80	own 28.0	45.6%	46.6%	4.03	27.1%	6.8%	23.3%	17.3%
35	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	1.83	own 26.7	43.6%	43.6%	4.68	32.9%	17.4%	26.9%	17.4%
36	Syracuse	ACC	1.83	own 27.5	44.5%	45.7%	4.09	33.0%	15.6%	22.0%	22.0%
37	BYU	FBS Independents	1.83	own 28.6	42.5%	43.4%	4.34	35.3%	2.9%	25.0%	13.2%
38	Oregon	Pac-12	1.85	own 29.7	46.1%	51.3%	3.98	28.2%	10.9%	23.1%	20.5%
39	San Diego State	Mountain West	1.85	own 30.4	42.9%	46.4%	4.11	30.4%	10.9%	23.2%	15.9%
40	Wisconsin	Big Ten	1.87	own 31.1	46.1%	49.6%	3.76	30.1%	7.7%	21.0%	20.3%
41	Wyoming	Mountain West	1.88	own 28.2	42.2%	42.4%	4.64	32.8%	7.2%	24.0%	12.0%
42	Georgia Southern	Sun Belt	1.90	own 27.2	46.4%	53.8%	3.86	28.8%	11.4%	25.8%	20.4%
43	UCF	American Athletic	1.90	own 28.8	54.7%	55.5%	3.52	20.5%	13.0%	23.3%	23.3%
44	TCU	Big 12	1.91	own 30.8	43.3%	42.0%	4.70	24.0%	8.7%	25.3%	14.7%
45	Akron	Mid-American	1.92	own 33.4	47.9%	49.6%	4.06	27.0%	10.6%	25.5%	17.0%
46	Louisiana Tech	Conference USA	1.93	own 29.6	44.5%	43.7%	4.57	28.9%	14.8%	26.1%	18.3%
47	Ohio	Mid-American	1.94	own 25.3	43.6%	39.5%	5.31	38.8%	12.4%	28.7%	23.3%
48	Texas State	Sun Belt	1.94	own 30.5	45.2%	51.1%	3.90	35.1%	9.9%	22.9%	17.6%
49	Missouri	SEC	1.95	own 28.9	46.4%	52.7%	3.78	28.1%	13.7%	22.6%	21.2%
50	Boise State	Mountain West	1.95	own 28.3	45.2%	45.0%	4.33	26.2%	12.8%	24.2%	16.8%
51	Nevada	Mountain West	1.96	own 31.4	46.1%	46.5%	4.24	32.3%	10.3%	26.5%	21.3%
52	Miami (OH)	Mid-American	1.98	own 28.1	45.5%	41.8%	4.88	29.8%	11.3%	27.7%	15.6%
53	NC State	ACC	1.99	own 27.2	45.9%	46.8%	4.37	32.4%	16.6%	25.2%	18.0%
54	Stanford	Pac-12	2.01	own 26.1	49.1%	55.2%	3.66	25.4%	8.2%	23.1%	14.9%
55	Arizona State	Pac-12	2.02	own 26.0	49.9%	49.0%	4.32	24.1%	12.4%	25.5%	17.2%
56	Washington State	Pac-12	2.02	own 28.0	47.3%	45.0%	4.61	29.8%	16.0%	26.7%	16.0%
57	Colorado	Pac-12	2.04	own 29.1	45.4%	47.1%	4.45	25.7%	14.0%	24.3%	12.5%
58	Tulane	American Athletic	2.08	own 31.4	46.3%	45.1%	4.77	29.9%	11.1%	27.8%	14.6%
59	Maryland	Big Ten	2.08	own 29.0	49.7%	50.3%	4.52	27.7%	10.6%	27.7%	18.4%
60	Duke	ACC	2.09	own 27.9	45.8%	48.3%	4.41	32.5%	10.6%	28.5%	17.9%
61	USC	Pac-12	2.09	own 29.1	46.2%	46.9%	4.66	24.8%	13.1%	28.3%	11.0%
62	Middle Tennessee	Conference USA	2.09	own 28.0	47.4%	48.9%	4.48	25.5%	15.6%	27.7%	22.7%
63	Texas	Big 12	2.15	own 29.3	50.9%	51.5%	4.31	29.1%	12.7%	27.3%	18.2%
64	Minnesota	Big Ten	2.15	own 28.3	47.3%	45.3%	4.99	30.7%	15.3%	28.0%	17.3%
65	Army	FBS Independents	2.16	own 29.5	47.9%	49.0%	4.41	26.0%	13.5%	28.8%	26.9%
66	Texas A&M	SEC	2.17	own 27.4	45.6%	45.3%	4.78	30.2%	15.1%	29.5%	8.6%
67	West Virginia	Big 12	2.18	own 28.1	47.1%	42.9%	5.25	30.1%	14.3%	28.6%	18.1%
68	Western Kentucky	Conference USA	2.19	own 30.1	52.2%	54.3%	4.16	22.5%	13.2%	25.6%	19.4%
69	Florida State	ACC	2.22	own 36.4	49.8%	53.6%	4.22	30.1%	8.5%	28.1%	17.0%
70	Central Michigan	Mid-American	2.22	own 35.3	45.8%	48.9%	4.53	25.2%	9.8%	28.7%	14.7%
71	Kansas State	Big 12	2.28	own 28.6	53.9%	57.8%	3.97	18.1%	17.2%	27.6%	21.6%
72	Buffalo	Mid-American	2.28	own 30.0	44.5%	44.5%	5.12	36.1%	11.0%	30.3%	17.4%
73	Toledo	Mid-American	2.28	own 26.7	48.8%	47.5%	5.08	30.0%	15.0%	33.1%	16.3%
74	Florida International	Conference USA	2.28	own 27.6	53.9%	54.8%	4.47	27.4%	12.9%	32.3%	19.4%
75	Kansas	Big 12	2.28	own 28.4	51.6%	51.9%	4.71	26.7%	13.7%	31.3%	20.6%
76	Charlotte	Conference USA	2.31	own 33.9	49.8%	51.9%	4.46	32.1%	15.1%	31.1%	14.1%
77	Tulsa	American Athletic	2.33	own 30.5	52.3%	53.5%	4.35	28.3%	11.0%	27.6%	19.7%
78	Purdue	Big Ten	2.36	own 29.1	54.1%	51.9%	4.63	25.3%	15.8%	29.8%	13.3%
79	Pittsburgh	ACC	2.37	own 31.3	51.4%	53.3%	4.53	25.3%	15.3%	31.3%	18.7%
80	Arizona	Pac-12	2.38	own 28.6	49.1%	49.3%	4.99	29.7%	15.9%	33.3%	15.9%
81	Wake Forest	ACC	2.38	own 29.7	48.8%	48.8%	5.14	25.9%	15.1%	33.7%	10.8%
82	South Florida	American Athletic	2.39	own 30.4	59.3%	53.4%	4.50	28.1%	13.0%	30.8%	16.4%
83	Air Force	Mountain West	2.39	own 28.9	50.7%	51.3%	4.85	28.2%	16.2%	34.2%	14.5%
84	Memphis	American Athletic	2.40	own 28.9	50.8%	50.6%	4.92	25.6%	15.8%	32.9%	17.1%
85	UTEP	Conference USA	2.43	own 34.8	56.6%	52.3%	4.64	21.9%	11.7%	29.7%	10.2%
86	Vanderbilt	SEC	2.44	own 25.4	53.4%	56.4%	4.35	26.3%	11.3%	28.6%	18.1%
87	Virginia Tech	ACC	2.44	own 28.3	53.2%	53.7%	4.72	27.9%	15.7%	33.3%	19.1%
88	Liberty	FBS Independents	2.44	own 32.5	51.4%	52.9%	4.71	22.5%	18.1%	31.9%	18.1%
89	Indiana	Big Ten	2.46	own 30.5	53.0%	52.2%	4.90	24.6%	10.9%	31.9%	19.6%
90	Oklahoma State	Big 12	2.47	own 28.6	52.4%	54.5%	4.69	27.9%	16.2%	33.8%	11.7%
91	South Carolina	SEC	2.48	own 28.8	52.3%	56.6%	4.47	19.9%	9.6%	30.1%	14.0%
92	UL Monroe	Sun Belt	2.50	own 27.8	52.5%	57.0%	4.48	13.2%	12.4%	33.1%	9.9%
93	Nebraska	Big Ten	2.51	own 32.1	54.8%	54.4%	4.63	24.3%	16.9%	31.6%	15.4%
94	Florida Atlantic	Conference USA	2.51	own 32.1	66.0%	53.3%	4.71	23.8%	16.4%	34.4%	18.0%
95	Texas Tech	Big 12	2.51	own 28.1	55.6%	57.3%	4.48	20.3%	21.7%	32.6%	15.2%
96	Tennessee	SEC	2.52	own 29.5	52.6%	60.5%	4.36	28.2%	12.1%	33.9%	11.3%
97	SMU	American Athletic	2.54	own 30.4	52.6%	52.9%	4.82	25.0%	13.2%	32.4%	16.9%
98	North Carolina	ACC	2.54	own 31.2	53.3%	57.8%	4.49	21.1%	18.0%	34.4%	15.6%
99	UTSA	Conference USA	2.54	own 29.3	52.4%	55.8%	4.67	24.6%	16.7%	32.6%	15.2%
100	San José State	Mountain West	2.55	own 30.5	54.5%	58.9%	4.52	23.4%	16.3%	34.0%	18.4%
101	Rutgers	Big Ten	2.55	own 31.7	51.2%	52.8%	4.86	25.0%	14.6%	33.3%	12.5%
102	East Carolina	American Athletic	2.61	own 31.1	71.8%	50.0%	5.23	32.7%	14.7%	33.3%	10.0%
103	Baylor	Big 12	2.62	own 29.9	53.9%	56.6%	4.80	19.9%	22.8%	33.8%	11.8%
104	New Mexico	Mountain West	2.66	own 31.5	52.7%	62.2%	4.45	21.7%	19.6%	35.7%	14.0%
105	Houston	American Athletic	2.69	own 30.4	52.6%	56.8%	4.80	27.8%	13.6%	35.5%	16.0%
106	Arkansas	SEC	2.70	own 34.2	55.5%	59.1%	4.56	25.0%	13.6%	33.3%	11.4%
107	UCLA	Pac-12	2.71	own 32.0	58.0%	55.7%	4.99	18.6%	16.4%	35.7%	15.0%
108	New Mexico State	FBS Independents	2.75	own 33.2	55.0%	56.5%	5.12	23.8%	17.0%	36.0%	8.2%
109	Oklahoma	Big 12	2.77	own 28.5	56.4%	56.1%	5.29	21.3%	13.6%	39.4%	9.7%
110	Ball State	Mid-American	2.83	own 30.4	59.5%	60.2%	4.70	21.1%	11.7%	36.7%	19.5%
111	Colorado State	Mountain West	2.84	own 32.3	57.8%	56.9%	5.09	18.7%	19.5%	35.8%	12.2%
112	Georgia Tech	ACC	2.85	own 30.4	57.7%	55.2%	5.30	19.8%	17.2%	39.7%	19.8%
113	Hawai'i	Mountain West	2.89	own 36.6	61.2%	62.3%	4.71	16.9%	14.9%	38.3%	12.3%
114	Western Michigan	Mid-American	2.91	own 33.5	53.4%	55.9%	5.21	28.3%	20.7%	38.6%	15.9%
115	Ole Miss	SEC	2.91	own 29.9	59.6%	63.0%	4.63	22.1%	18.1%	36.2%	15.8%
116	Old Dominion	Conference USA	2.98	own 29.5	58.1%	59.1%	5.06	18.2%	18.9%	40.2%	15.2%
117	Kent State	Mid-American	2.99	own 34.1	58.6%	63.0%	4.75	21.0%	18.8%	40.6%	13.0%
118	Rice	Conference USA	2.99	own 29.8	55.0%	55.7%	5.40	26.4%	22.1%	39.3%	14.3%
119	UNLV	Mountain West	3.00	own 33.1	56.0%	58.6%	5.12	23.6%	17.9%	36.4%	13.6%
120	Louisiana	Sun Belt	3.08	own 29.0	59.1%	61.0%	5.05	22.0%	15.6%	39.7%	16.3%
121	Coastal Carolina	Sun Belt	3.12	own 31.1	62.2%	68.4%	4.56	19.3%	24.6%	42.1%	16.7%
122	Illinois	Big Ten	3.16	own 29.3	60.4%	60.2%	5.25	24.1%	20.3%	42.9%	15.0%
123	Navy	American Athletic	3.22	own 30.5	61.7%	63.1%	5.10	27.9%	16.4%	44.3%	18.0%
124	South Alabama	Sun Belt	3.24	own 34.0	61.2%	63.2%	5.21	21.8%	21.8%	42.9%	15.8%
125	Massachusetts	FBS Independents	3.27	own 33.0	61.9%	64.5%	5.16	22.5%	22.5%	43.5%	16.7%
126	Georgia State	Sun Belt	3.33	own 31.0	65.9%	69.2%	4.99	21.7%	30.0%	45.0%	6.7%
127	Bowling Green	Mid-American	3.42	own 32.4	60.2%	59.5%	5.75	23.0%	15.9%	46.8%	10.3%
128	Louisville	ACC	3.79	own 32.6	67.8%	67.2%	5.64	13.6%	21.6%	50.4%	12.8%
129	Oregon State	Pac-12	3.94	own 30.6	69.4%	68.3%	5.76	18.7%	25.2%	54.5%	8.1%
130	UConn	American Athletic	4.25	own 31.1	79.1%	76.2%	5.58	14.3%	35.7%	56.4%	11.1%

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.