College Football - Defensive Stats

Team Score FD RA RY PA PY TY Time PEN Penalty Yards Penalty Yards Rank YP YR Y/PL TO
Ohio State9.2913.1430.3689.3624.43129.71219.0726:583.5728.001358.732.944.001.00
Indiana11.6913.1925.8177.1930.44188.81266.0026:304.0634.9413110.002.994.731.88
Texas Tech11.7913.8631.0070.0734.50187.93258.0029:544.7136.571279.202.263.942.29
Toledo13.3114.6236.0098.9227.08156.23255.1529:344.9238.0812411.542.754.051.62
Miami-FL14.8117.1330.2589.2532.56204.88294.1326:554.5037.7512510.512.954.681.56
San Diego State15.3816.0834.92131.6232.23162.85294.4629:485.5444.381059.453.774.381.38
Oklahoma15.4614.9232.3877.3131.31195.23272.5430:154.4636.0812910.582.394.281.00
Iowa16.0815.6931.23107.6928.62172.69280.3828:273.8531.5413410.443.454.691.08
Western Michigan17.3616.5033.50125.5727.86179.93305.5027:254.7141.5711611.663.754.981.71
Georgia17.5716.2127.7181.5032.79216.50298.0026:185.5744.4310410.862.944.930.93
Notre Dame17.5818.5033.5098.8334.50213.42312.2530:426.5857.424511.132.954.591.92
Oregon17.8715.5333.87115.7328.27157.93273.6729:115.6741.4011710.483.424.401.40
James Madison18.3614.5730.4385.0730.07181.57266.6425:465.5048.009211.882.804.411.21
Old Dominion18.5417.6238.15140.0831.54191.46331.5431:287.3866.081210.043.674.762.00
Washington18.6917.8530.62100.1534.38211.15311.3130:255.3844.9210110.243.274.791.46
Fresno State18.7716.4632.46132.0028.38153.69285.6927:436.9260.923010.094.074.702.00
Missouri18.9215.7732.15101.6929.15173.46275.1528:096.8554.156010.493.164.490.92
Utah18.9218.6237.54180.0829.54177.85357.9229:126.0849.468312.174.805.341.38
Brigham Young19.1417.9332.86122.7132.29210.86333.5727:166.0745.0710011.353.735.121.71
Alabama19.2015.9333.93126.8726.47170.27297.1328:265.6752.476910.383.744.921.40
Arizona19.3116.4636.38143.2329.62165.31308.5429:025.3150.857610.333.944.672.38
Virginia19.5715.7133.21114.5029.43195.57310.0727:434.7942.7111011.183.454.951.50
Louisiana State19.8518.6933.38123.6231.77205.08328.6929:447.0059.083810.843.705.041.62
Northwestern19.8517.3131.69136.3126.69193.54329.8527:414.6244.4610311.284.305.651.54
East Carolina20.0819.2333.46120.2334.92230.77351.0031:405.6949.238610.423.595.131.85
Iowa State20.1717.6731.08138.0032.25218.50356.5028:246.5057.834211.064.445.631.50
Washington State20.2316.6933.00127.0027.15174.38301.3827:316.5463.152310.123.855.010.92
Texas20.3119.1533.08103.9235.77234.92338.8531:215.7743.1510910.493.144.921.77
Michigan20.3818.3832.85111.9232.77211.38323.3130:125.1543.2310810.143.414.931.46
Wyoming20.5018.3336.83168.7528.83175.50344.2532:237.0062.672710.974.585.241.25
Clemson20.5419.0029.77105.3837.23251.54356.9229:076.0054.235811.123.545.331.31
Penn State20.5417.6235.15142.5428.15184.23326.7730:303.6227.5413610.414.055.161.00
Southern Methodist20.5421.7735.08111.9240.15283.15395.0833:057.0861.232911.583.195.252.15
Auburn20.6719.1734.7599.3331.75229.83329.1730:155.7552.506811.592.864.951.42
Louisiana Tech20.7720.6232.00134.6937.23240.08374.7729:578.0067.23911.734.215.411.92
Texas A&M21.0015.7731.23130.7729.31176.62307.3827:296.0050.318010.734.195.080.77
Ole Miss21.0719.1335.93149.0730.53198.93348.0031:145.8751.277511.484.155.241.00
Louisville21.1516.9232.85114.3131.46188.77303.0829:477.3858.624010.143.484.711.54
Wisconsin21.5817.0031.00105.3328.67218.25323.5829:204.0835.0013010.913.405.420.50
Army21.6218.6234.08153.1527.62190.38343.5425:244.8537.5412610.864.495.571.23
Miami-OH21.7118.7135.86134.1431.29200.00334.1429:035.4339.6412011.293.744.981.43
Ohio21.9218.4632.92144.0027.69208.08352.0827:414.4638.7712211.714.375.811.31
Florida State22.0018.5838.42138.0827.17190.75328.8331:146.3353.506611.283.595.011.17
Wake Forest22.0818.6935.92121.6235.15206.92328.5430:555.6951.31749.963.394.621.15
South Carolina22.0819.6736.08136.6731.08216.33353.0032:015.7554.755611.543.795.261.83
New Mexico22.3119.0833.38112.6931.69229.69342.3829:557.3163.772210.593.385.261.31
Houston22.8518.0834.77129.0031.00218.85347.8527:417.5466.691111.713.715.291.38
Vanderbilt22.8519.9229.38108.0835.23249.46357.5428:416.9262.852510.633.685.531.15
Western Kentucky22.8520.6235.77176.0836.15224.54400.6230:237.7767.69811.364.925.571.08
Minnesota22.9217.6232.54121.0828.46210.54331.6230:085.6948.469111.043.725.441.23
Southern California23.0020.0032.92143.2330.31207.54350.7729:585.6957.694310.424.355.551.38
Memphis23.1519.0835.38132.0830.15227.15359.2328:136.4651.857112.413.735.481.46
South Florida23.3822.6938.46142.9237.00242.00384.9234:358.5470.54610.663.725.101.92
Buffalo23.5018.5041.50157.7528.75186.42344.1731:534.9236.2512811.713.804.901.25
Central Michigan23.5419.4634.23145.6931.54209.38355.0827:516.0854.006111.444.265.401.62
Central Florida23.5818.5838.33150.6728.00185.08335.7530:065.4248.509010.483.935.061.17
Illinois23.6220.0832.08126.6933.00218.38345.0828:585.7751.927010.403.955.301.23
Troy23.9318.7938.93176.1427.86196.50372.6430:045.6449.148711.714.525.581.29
Tulane23.9322.1434.29122.5734.14261.64384.2129:065.5048.578911.343.585.611.79
Florida24.0019.4238.58153.9227.92222.92376.8330:136.1749.428412.503.995.671.42
Boise State24.0716.6433.71162.0028.50175.50337.5026:117.7965.291411.324.815.421.64
Hawaii24.0819.3832.23134.1530.31227.62361.7728:036.9263.852112.654.165.781.08
Bowling Green24.2517.6734.17140.5826.67201.67342.2528:296.0050.427912.874.115.631.33
Northern Illinois24.3320.0039.92183.3326.42173.92357.2530:465.7546.429511.104.595.391.08
Arizona State24.4619.4634.38124.0035.31233.46357.4628:255.6253.926210.963.615.131.15
North Carolina24.5020.8336.08125.2532.08211.25336.5031:205.1750.837710.353.474.941.00
Nebraska24.6217.9236.31176.4624.15154.08330.5429:254.7741.6911510.954.865.471.00
Pittsburgh24.7717.6934.9295.0833.15235.31330.3831:047.8573.46411.292.724.851.62
Georgia Tech25.0021.1535.92164.3131.31234.85399.1530:576.2355.385512.074.575.940.69
Navy25.0019.2334.77141.3128.62230.00371.3127:234.3834.4613212.514.065.861.15
League Average25.0919.6035.72149.1830.65216.83366.0129:556.0052.35011.524.185.511.32
Jacksonville State25.2120.9336.14144.2931.86234.50378.7929:296.4353.436712.033.995.571.71
Texas Christian25.3120.2335.85133.0832.69245.62378.6931:074.9243.4610712.233.715.531.62
Kennesaw State25.5021.2939.64185.8630.07216.29402.1431:557.2965.641311.834.695.771.07
Cincinnati25.6222.6241.38178.4629.92220.38398.8535:435.0038.3812311.024.315.590.77
Kentucky26.4220.0836.67134.2529.83239.92374.1729:216.5057.674413.033.665.631.17
Liberty26.5020.1737.92179.0829.17196.75375.8329:155.2545.929711.634.725.601.17
Maryland26.5022.5839.92175.5831.92226.50402.0833:015.0042.1711311.234.405.601.75
North Texas26.5020.2143.43215.7127.71166.21381.9331:376.4355.865210.674.975.372.00
Kansas State26.6720.7540.33163.7532.58222.42386.1730:594.4233.5013312.024.065.302.17
Kansas26.7519.5036.50173.1729.58214.08387.2529:185.5847.679311.324.745.860.83
Connecticut27.0022.7742.15199.4630.15218.54418.0031:094.4638.7712111.104.735.781.31
California27.1519.6233.00156.3832.31205.38361.7729:467.3862.772610.314.745.541.00
North Carolina State27.1521.2332.15138.7736.15273.15411.9230:077.0064.691612.044.326.031.15
Arkansas State27.3820.8538.15170.9230.08244.15415.0830:399.0078.00111.894.486.081.31
Southern Miss27.3822.1541.85174.6933.08229.15403.8532:168.3870.46710.954.175.392.23
Akron27.4219.5836.17155.9229.67229.17385.0829:595.9255.675312.854.315.851.67
Nevada27.5020.0035.58149.7529.75220.17369.9229:187.0059.083711.444.215.661.25
New Mexico State27.5821.5837.67165.5033.92236.42401.9229:538.1776.17210.954.395.611.92
Nevada-Las Vegas28.0021.5734.00177.4331.71241.71419.1429:186.8662.432812.725.226.381.71
Utah State28.6922.6237.54181.2336.85258.85440.0831:506.1556.464911.934.835.921.31
Missouri State28.7720.5433.00153.3131.77229.46382.7728:397.4676.08311.264.655.911.23
Tennessee28.8522.5437.54152.0033.92245.15397.1533:476.0851.857210.954.055.561.54
Texas-San Antonio28.8519.0835.15149.5430.38222.77372.3128:086.4660.003512.224.255.681.38
Tulsa28.9220.9242.50182.4228.92214.25396.6731:265.4253.586511.694.295.550.92
Texas State29.0021.8538.85165.0030.92218.00383.0030:495.3849.008810.654.255.490.92
Stanford29.1721.1731.75119.2537.08288.92408.1730:067.8360.833211.793.765.931.08
Louisiana29.2321.3839.69186.6929.15224.00410.6930:186.5465.081511.564.705.971.38
Oregon State29.4218.9234.25158.4228.92221.42379.8328:077.6764.331813.494.636.010.83
Duke29.4322.4334.43147.4333.00276.43423.8630:136.4360.143412.484.286.291.71
Temple29.6720.7539.42197.3325.75199.50396.8329:515.0841.8311412.675.016.091.25
Eastern Michigan29.7520.5842.08230.2524.58183.33413.5831:536.1756.754612.365.476.200.75
Appalachian State29.7722.7736.08149.5435.92267.54417.0831:415.1549.628211.754.145.791.46
Ball State29.8320.8337.75178.6729.50226.83405.5030:246.2556.085012.434.736.031.08
Michigan State29.9219.5032.83147.3330.58231.33378.6729:415.3342.2511211.474.495.970.75
Florida International30.0021.0034.31161.6235.23250.46412.0828:236.2358.623911.714.715.931.62
Virginia Tech30.1721.0035.58153.2529.00224.83378.0830:476.9258.424111.534.315.850.50
Mississippi State30.2321.6938.23186.3130.46222.54408.8532:108.4670.69512.104.875.951.38
Marshall30.2519.9238.25148.9230.67261.67410.5830:025.3345.839914.603.895.961.75
Air Force30.3320.5830.58158.5028.00264.67423.1726:045.4244.6710213.575.187.220.83
South Alabama30.4220.0037.00175.4228.33205.00380.4227:567.0855.505411.884.745.821.25
Texas El Paso30.4221.1741.33169.5031.75221.83391.3334:217.5864.501711.334.105.351.00
Colorado30.5021.6742.42222.5026.92203.17425.6731:106.0056.674713.625.256.141.33
Colorado State30.8321.3340.92204.9227.08221.08426.0033:096.6759.333612.945.016.261.33
West Virginia30.8321.5039.92143.7532.50265.42409.1733:256.6754.175912.593.605.651.67
Middle Tennessee30.9221.5836.67143.4231.17256.17399.5831:164.5843.6710612.763.915.891.25
Delaware31.0021.3134.92159.7733.08245.54405.3129:466.5463.852012.054.575.961.46
Purdue31.8321.9238.42181.8326.00241.67423.5031:584.1741.1711814.364.736.570.75
Rutgers31.8320.6730.83209.9225.92222.92432.8327:284.9246.259613.116.817.631.00
Louisiana-Monroe31.9220.1737.92162.2529.42222.50384.7530:225.2549.838111.974.285.710.75
Georgia Southern32.3124.9238.46218.1531.92240.23458.3830:296.7756.464811.835.676.511.46
San Jose State32.5020.7539.08157.9228.75245.25403.1732:127.0060.333313.024.045.941.17
Baylor32.5822.2540.17197.1728.75194.50391.6730:446.2564.251910.914.915.680.92
Boston College32.7521.0835.25177.5831.17255.67433.2530:446.7560.833112.785.046.521.00
Rice32.9220.3835.23163.6928.85240.08403.7727:115.6949.388513.514.656.300.54
Coastal Carolina33.0821.6240.69209.7731.92234.46444.2331:567.3163.082411.815.166.121.77
Oklahoma State33.3321.1738.17166.9228.25251.25418.1730:485.5047.009413.584.376.301.08
California-Los Angeles33.4221.9236.67190.4227.17196.58387.0030:504.3340.0811910.975.196.060.83
Kent State33.5823.6741.17192.2532.42236.00428.2532:155.6753.586412.214.675.820.83
Arkansas33.8323.8339.58185.9228.25239.25425.1730:596.0850.587813.484.706.270.75
Syracuse34.9221.9233.17175.0832.58252.83427.9229:206.0856.005111.715.286.510.83
Charlotte36.3325.9240.33200.2533.50271.67471.9231:514.2545.839811.904.966.391.25
Florida Atlantic36.3322.9242.33200.9230.83235.17436.0831:267.5067.081011.864.755.960.67
Georgia State37.8323.5841.50208.0828.33240.75448.8329:496.0053.676313.195.016.430.50
Sam Houston State37.8324.2538.42207.5030.92275.92483.4231:135.6754.585712.695.406.971.50
Alabama-Birmingham38.2521.5841.25191.5823.75232.58424.1728:376.0051.337314.854.646.530.75
Massachusetts38.5823.0843.92221.3324.75212.50433.8333:044.6742.5811112.755.046.320.75

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.

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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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