College Football - Defensive Stats

Team Score FD RA RY PA PY TY Time PEN Penalty Yards Penalty Yards Rank YP YR Y/PL TO
Michigan10.4013.2730.0090.0027.67137.73247.0027:455.0040.331149.023.004.281.80
Ohio State11.2315.6234.77119.4628.92132.15265.4630:434.7740.691138.683.444.170.85
Penn State13.4613.9233.3874.3126.08145.62247.6227:285.4642.311099.512.234.161.85
Iowa14.7916.4335.57111.2133.71158.50281.9331:276.0752.00608.373.134.071.07
Georgia15.6416.0030.14113.6430.43159.43289.0726:245.0038.931199.543.774.771.21
Ohio15.8514.2328.1590.4628.54167.46272.8526:166.3160.54209.343.214.811.69
Notre Dame15.9215.9233.62118.5428.62139.54275.8529:114.1534.771299.303.534.431.85
Miami-OH15.9318.2136.36132.2130.29181.50330.4329:526.7158.862910.163.644.961.29
Oregon16.5018.2928.64102.5735.29195.50318.4328:575.5044.50989.253.584.981.29
Troy17.1417.6433.57106.3631.07178.86308.2928:525.2143.791009.213.174.771.64
Southern Methodist17.7916.7135.64121.9330.57163.29304.1429:536.7964.0779.263.424.591.21
Air Force18.1514.6929.7791.5426.92171.08277.6926:335.2348.387410.303.074.901.08
Nebraska18.2516.6731.3392.9234.33192.50303.5029:055.6751.75619.432.974.621.17
California-Los Angeles18.3817.1530.4680.7734.62199.62301.5430:595.5447.77789.512.654.631.85
Texas18.9317.7128.3682.5735.93239.57336.9328:384.5034.6413010.962.915.241.71
Alabama19.0016.2933.57124.9329.50172.14316.0028:505.1439.141189.843.725.011.36
Duke19.0020.3136.31141.9232.08197.38352.6931:006.2356.15429.873.915.161.15
Florida State19.2917.7936.36152.2129.71156.64332.0030:367.3661.791610.914.195.021.21
Utah19.3115.3826.5482.7732.38203.62307.1525:247.0853.385410.763.125.211.15
James Madison19.4616.9232.0083.7735.31225.69333.6928:324.7742.0811010.552.624.961.62
Wisconsin20.1518.5435.15134.7732.00194.62343.6930:195.5447.31829.963.835.121.31
Toledo20.2918.5737.43147.9329.29164.86331.2932:015.8651.076310.543.954.971.29
Tennessee20.3118.7735.62113.6931.85200.77335.1535:025.5440.231159.673.194.971.38
Tulane20.5019.1431.79113.3633.79211.07341.9328:384.5035.791289.563.575.211.93
North Carolina State20.7717.0029.15116.4632.38195.85332.0827:216.2357.153710.703.995.401.85
Missouri20.8518.0832.38122.4631.23192.62335.9229:347.4660.082410.023.785.281.46
Kansas State21.0017.2331.00147.4633.69211.23372.5428:065.5450.086611.124.765.761.77
Northern Illinois21.0017.9235.31150.1527.08160.92321.0028:146.1556.084310.464.255.151.15
South Alabama21.0016.1535.31113.6927.15187.31312.8529:275.6245.089511.763.225.011.69
Arizona21.0819.6932.46118.2333.31221.85357.9229:097.1563.54911.183.645.441.46
Clemson21.0814.2330.46114.6230.85158.54288.2326:545.4647.77799.723.764.702.15
Army21.0818.4236.08175.8325.75180.33365.7527:225.8344.589711.454.875.921.58
Rutgers21.2318.5434.15137.6228.69166.92313.9228:114.0036.921259.734.035.001.38
Louisville21.2915.8629.9399.7129.71201.07317.0027:355.7949.867012.193.335.311.43
Texas A&M22.0816.4632.38108.7728.00188.31316.1528:368.3173.54311.283.365.241.00
Wyoming22.3119.8534.77143.6933.38201.77357.7729:464.6240.8511210.334.135.251.69
East Carolina22.4217.6736.42121.0028.75208.17340.1730:565.3347.088611.903.325.221.33
Navy22.4217.9235.25128.8328.75211.42353.6728:443.4224.8313111.283.655.532.00
Maryland22.4620.6936.92125.4631.92192.08334.0831:486.0054.085110.583.404.851.85
Mississippi22.5420.3838.15153.0831.85212.23382.5432:165.6247.778010.954.015.461.38
Northwestern22.5418.3838.77157.8527.54171.46343.6931:224.1537.771239.614.075.181.69
Auburn22.6217.1535.62155.0027.69188.38357.1530:516.6256.384011.554.355.641.38
Iowa State22.7720.0035.08134.2334.46219.00363.1530:204.1535.8512711.393.835.221.46
Miami-FL22.7717.1531.69105.6230.46197.54321.6227:575.9249.926911.413.335.171.38
New Mexico State22.8021.0032.53144.0031.87235.40392.6728:006.2754.005211.584.436.100.87
Oregon State22.9220.0031.69114.0832.77214.23349.2329:165.2337.0012410.553.605.421.46
Fresno State23.4620.6238.38166.1530.92193.46370.8530:366.1552.775911.284.335.351.77
Oklahoma23.4619.9235.46138.8536.46238.23389.6230:565.8547.857711.513.925.422.00
Coastal Carolina23.8520.3835.54167.7730.08202.08379.5428:098.1573.15411.784.725.781.77
Virginia Tech23.9216.9235.31148.0026.23150.00316.7728:505.5443.691039.384.195.151.23
Bowling Green24.0018.9236.08146.2326.08161.00326.0829:335.2339.1511710.364.055.252.15
Texas-San Antonio24.0819.0036.46135.4634.85210.54369.0829:514.9242.5410710.783.725.181.31
Liberty24.2920.2928.86118.0036.21244.14372.7926:555.9353.005711.434.095.731.79
Ball State24.4218.0831.25111.8329.75190.42316.0827:165.0845.589210.633.585.180.92
Washington24.8022.2031.60148.4039.00249.27407.0029:516.6759.402710.844.705.761.33
Syracuse25.3821.3838.46148.1532.69219.85380.3831:425.4653.155610.663.855.351.69
Florida Atlantic25.5022.0839.75149.2534.33233.83397.3332:135.4247.258310.673.755.361.50
Boise State25.5718.5032.21134.7931.50235.00385.1428:455.7946.298912.284.186.041.36
San Jose State25.6219.6237.38170.2327.62170.31353.2329:206.1556.853810.114.555.431.62
League Average25.7719.5835.48148.4330.90208.70371.3129:515.8550.98011.154.185.591.40
Central Florida25.7721.8539.69194.4628.23180.15391.0830:584.6939.3811611.154.905.761.23
Kentucky25.8520.3134.62113.0033.15220.62352.9232:226.5458.62319.823.265.211.38
Texas Tech26.0020.6936.85159.7734.00218.08390.6931:135.5446.548810.664.345.511.31
West Virginia26.1519.8533.77144.0032.08220.08380.7727:186.3156.693911.404.265.781.23
South Carolina26.3321.2538.58149.9233.17235.67395.5831:415.5844.179911.593.895.511.33
Kansas26.5420.5436.31161.5429.38203.77378.2329:125.3150.696410.474.455.761.38
Mississippi State26.5818.3337.42145.9228.33189.25350.5831:165.5845.50939.833.905.331.00
Eastern Michigan26.6922.2339.46188.4629.77202.15401.5430:506.4657.463511.484.785.801.46
Minnesota26.6918.4631.85149.0830.08205.77368.3828:075.3149.467210.964.685.951.46
San Diego State26.7521.0033.33166.0032.75231.00406.0027:124.9243.6710412.544.986.141.50
Appalachian State27.0019.8635.57176.2930.07183.21376.7928:216.8662.79119.984.965.741.79
Old Dominion27.1522.3140.69142.1534.46239.08392.6935:105.6950.086710.573.495.231.62
Wake Forest27.1718.6736.67154.6729.50220.67386.6730:546.6763.001012.154.225.841.33
North Carolina27.3122.3838.69162.9233.15224.54404.1531:197.0056.234110.894.215.631.69
Pittsburgh27.3320.0041.17150.5026.33194.75362.6731:525.6753.505311.923.665.371.33
Buffalo27.4217.9236.08179.9227.25177.58366.8329:265.4246.588710.294.995.791.58
Florida27.5817.8332.08155.5027.17214.58381.8326:536.0046.009013.214.856.440.58
Texas Christian27.8321.0838.92154.6733.33239.75408.3332:024.9238.8312212.043.975.651.00
Arkansas27.9218.8336.42154.4226.50188.08357.1729:165.4242.9210611.764.245.681.42
Akron28.0017.9236.92148.3327.83176.17335.5830:254.7545.009611.374.025.180.92
Louisiana State28.0021.0835.54161.9232.31241.77416.6231:087.0857.233611.734.566.141.08
Rice28.0819.3837.23152.9229.08199.69365.0828:526.2359.312811.804.115.510.92
Middle Tennessee28.0821.1736.25146.0835.75236.58395.5831:176.4255.084510.594.035.491.33
Washington State28.0820.0835.42150.7533.25224.08389.3329:566.4254.085011.164.265.671.25
Boston College28.3119.0035.62187.7725.69191.62383.9228:326.0849.237312.845.276.261.31
Michigan State28.3321.1736.67152.7530.50221.50390.1731:454.7547.927611.764.175.811.33
Texas El Paso28.5019.1737.67202.0826.08171.25386.7528:346.5858.423311.615.376.071.00
Nevada-Las Vegas28.5720.0737.86161.7928.50242.21415.5031:435.6454.294913.844.276.261.93
Oklahoma State28.5720.0036.57166.7931.64263.93441.7930:035.6445.299413.744.566.481.64
Charlotte28.5819.1735.83163.5828.25200.00374.1727:415.8350.336511.274.575.841.42
Louisiana-Lafayette28.6221.7744.31169.9229.77199.54384.9230:515.3848.317510.903.845.201.77
Marshall28.6918.6235.85158.1532.46205.69378.9230:146.5462.381210.784.415.551.38
Western Kentucky28.6921.2339.15189.0033.00219.54420.7730:276.3854.924711.374.835.832.00
Memphis28.7720.0834.31156.4633.31254.31424.4628:515.0043.6910212.674.566.281.54
Illinois29.4222.4238.25150.1733.25212.92378.2531:345.6747.758110.603.935.291.25
Georgia Tech29.4622.0841.15221.3128.31206.00436.0031:216.4658.233411.965.386.281.92
Colorado State29.5823.0840.33166.0832.42231.92415.7533:176.4262.001410.014.125.711.58
Brigham Young29.8321.7536.58177.6734.00231.25417.6731:407.4261.001911.104.865.921.67
Connecticut29.8321.5835.00149.1731.50248.50408.0028:415.5045.679111.654.266.141.08
Indiana29.9221.0837.42154.9230.58224.92390.0830:346.3358.423212.104.145.741.08
Cincinnati30.0019.8333.08176.9227.33216.17402.7528:015.0036.4212613.955.356.671.08
Georgia State30.0820.9234.00145.8533.62264.15425.3130:205.7751.466212.094.296.291.31
Arkansas State30.3822.1538.85184.2333.15249.08443.6233:426.4660.152210.944.746.161.23
Purdue30.4219.9235.92140.5830.83220.08382.0829:335.9249.837113.143.915.721.50
Georgia Southern30.4620.1534.92161.5430.46223.69396.0828:516.1559.542511.684.636.061.62
Central Michigan31.0820.2534.25159.8330.00238.58407.0829:427.2563.83812.844.676.340.67
Houston31.5022.9238.92168.5832.00243.50423.9232:115.2547.258411.114.335.981.17
Western Michigan31.7520.3334.33158.8330.08219.50393.4229:266.5859.422611.974.636.111.42
Arizona State31.8320.9231.75133.5034.92245.17396.8329:437.2560.172110.864.205.950.75
Florida International31.8322.6740.33191.1732.42236.50436.6732:434.5043.0810511.784.746.001.00
Hawaii32.2320.1537.00169.6225.62204.54385.3129:545.5453.315512.974.586.151.00
South Florida32.2321.0835.38143.6935.85276.77432.4631:127.3160.152312.904.066.071.85
California32.7720.9235.00132.2337.38266.69413.4631:086.5461.541811.293.785.712.08
Texas State32.8522.3137.62152.3132.23224.08397.6230:425.6947.238510.754.055.691.62
Baylor33.3320.0836.67184.9227.25227.25421.3328:184.7542.4210812.805.046.591.33
Louisiana Tech33.4220.7542.17232.5026.58176.33417.8330:146.5062.081312.235.516.080.75
Nevada33.4221.0835.25188.7528.92246.33443.5029:356.9264.17613.085.356.911.33
Virginia33.7521.6736.17184.5031.50220.08409.9228:115.6755.084611.385.106.061.17
Tulsa33.8321.0835.25164.8332.33269.67444.6730:194.0038.9212012.944.686.581.75
Southern California34.3822.7738.92186.4632.08230.38432.8532:206.3154.624811.224.796.101.23
Kent State34.5819.7538.33176.0826.25207.25390.5831:085.0038.8312113.524.596.050.75
Utah State34.6923.3842.15213.4632.69208.23433.0833:077.3166.08510.875.065.791.54
Colorado34.8324.5837.58176.4234.75264.25453.3332:097.7573.58111.794.696.271.67
Louisiana-Monroe34.9224.9240.83172.2533.08261.58447.1732:515.1743.7510112.214.226.051.58
New Mexico35.0820.8334.17173.2526.42224.58407.5827:127.8373.58213.895.076.730.67
Temple35.6723.0842.75198.3327.25232.92441.3331:385.8355.924413.314.646.300.42
Southern Miss35.7519.7535.33178.7527.08222.25412.5026:485.4252.925814.115.066.611.42
Vanderbilt36.1722.4234.42175.3335.08267.50454.9231:107.2561.831511.075.096.551.33
Alabama-Birmingham36.9223.5038.08197.0832.42224.92435.0830:495.5050.006811.205.186.171.67
North Texas37.0823.5045.33255.1727.33213.42475.5830:055.1741.4211113.415.636.541.17
Stanford37.6725.2535.00163.6735.42283.50461.6728:276.5861.581712.154.686.560.92
Massachusetts37.8321.8339.00220.8323.75197.50427.0030:036.3358.833014.725.666.801.33

College Football Defensive Rankings

Defense wins championships, although usually only in the SEC. If you are a regular college football bettor, you are aware that defense wins bets as well and not just UNDER wagers. We rate the best college football defenses in more than a dozen key stats on this page, including yards per play, fewest first downs allowed and fewest passing yards per attempt, all of which can give you a real advantage at online sportsbooks. Click the headings on each column to re-sort the category and see the best college defensive stats page on the Internet. And scroll to the bottom for a listing of the acronyms and what they mean and why they are important to your CFB betting this weekend.

Defensive Rankings Stat Categories

  • Score: Self-explanatory - which teams give up the fewest points. Said another way, what is the best defensive team. You will see the League Average as well.
  • Y/PL: Yards per play - a key handicapping indicator that indicates how many yards each school gives up per play. The lower the number, the better the defense.
  • FD - First downs - which defense allows the fewest first downs. Not always an indicator of time of possession or victories.
  • RA - Rushing Attempts - which defense faces the fewest rushing attempts per game. This can indicate a tough run defense or can indicate that the team's offense scores so many points that opponents are forced to pass more.
  • RY - Rushing Yards - rankings of best run-stop defenses in college football.
  • YR - Yards Per Rush - which defense allows the fewest yards per rush. This is a major handicapping stat and should be checked weekly!
  • PA - Passing Attempts - fewest passing attempts per game among college football schools.
  • PY - Passing Yards - which defense allows the fewest passing yards per team, ranked by each school.
  • YP - Yards per Pass - which teams allow the least yards per pass.
  • Time - Time of Possession - which defenses are on the field the least? Which have the best time of possession stats? This is an important category and can mean the defense is very good or it can mean a team's offense holds the ball very well.
  • TO - Turnovers - which college teams create the most turnovers? Which schools generate the most takeaways? Often an opportunistic defense can make an average team good and a good team excellent.
  • Pen - Penalties - This is an overall ranking of which college teams take the most penalties (it is NOT broken down by offensive or defensive penalties).

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