Offensive Drives

updated February 21, 2025

The majority of game possessions are categorized as offensive drives, defined as possessions that consist of at least one scrimmage play run by an offense against the opposing team defense. From 2007 to 2024, there were a total of 299,560 non-garbage, regulation offensive drives in FBS vs FBS games (13,322 games in the 18-season span), an average of 22.5 per game. Unless otherwise noted, all ratings and analysis of offenses and defenses on this site are produced from this set of drives.

 
 

The primary objective of the offense on a drive is to produce points by advancing the ball into field goal range or into the end zone for a touchdown, and the primary objective of the defense is to prevent the offense from doing so. From 2007 to 2024, offenses scored an average of 2.16 points per drive, calculated as follows:

  • Safeties: recorded as a drive result of negative two points scored. 

  • Touchdowns followed by an extra point or two-point conversion attempt that was returned for a defensive score: recorded as a drive result of four points scored. 

  • Total points scored including field goals, touchdowns, extra points, and two-point conversions at the conclusion of all other drives: recorded as scored (3, 6, 7, or 8 points).

Offensive scoring rates vary by drive depending on how close the drive starts to the end zone.

The relationship between starting field position and points scored per drive is one of the primary factors used in offensive and defensive efficiency calculations on this site. Though the chart above illustrates this relationship, it also obscures other factors like variations in points per drive rates by season and the frequency of drives by starting field position as indicated in the chart below.

 
 

There are six ways in which an offensive drive can start: kickoff, punt, fumble, interception, turnover on downs, and failed field goal. There are eight ways in which an offensive drive can conclude: touchdown, field goal attempt, punt, turnover on downs, fumble, interception, safety, or time expiring at the end of the half. The frequency of drive outcomes has also varied by season.

 
 

Detailed points per drive and drive start/end event frequencies by season, by starting field position, and for the entire 2007 to 2024 span are provided in the tables below.


All non-garbage, regulation offensive drives in FBS vs FBS college football games since 2007 are included in the data set summarized in the tables below, including the total number of drives, points scored per drive (PPD), available yards percentage (AYP), yards per play (YPP), drive success rate (DSR), the frequency rate of each drive start event, and the frequency rate of each drive end event. For points scored, safeties are recorded as a drive result of negative two points scored, touchdowns followed by a conversion attempt returned for a defensive score are recorded as a drive result of four points scored, and total points at the conclusion of all other drives are recorded as scored.

Drive EfficiencyDrive Start Event FrequencyDrive End Event Frequency
Span Drives PPD AYP YPP DSR   KO Punt Fum Int Down FFG   TD FGA Punt Down Fum Int Saf Half
2007-25316,2052.16.4595.70.402.436.381.051.058.045.029.269.133.404.056.048.075.003.012
Season Drives PPD AYP YPP DSR   KO Punt Fum Int Down FFG   TD FGA Punt Down Fum Int Saf Half
200717,0052.04.4405.44.387.414.388.059.067.040.032.251.136.410.051.054.085.003.011
200815,9252.04.4395.47.388.421.383.061.062.039.033.254.133.408.051.055.083.003.012
200915,9782.04.4415.50.389.422.389.061.062.034.031.250.139.414.045.055.081.003.013
201015,9832.13.4505.61.394.428.383.059.065.036.029.266.128.408.046.053.085.002.011
201116,1822.08.4505.63.390.420.389.062.060.037.031.261.129.413.048.057.077.003.013
201216,8402.15.4615.75.398.428.382.059.060.041.030.270.128.405.051.056.076.002.013
201317,0322.13.4565.67.392.429.389.053.062.041.027.268.124.415.051.049.078.003.012
201417,8642.12.4535.71.395.425.392.054.058.040.030.266.130.416.050.050.075.002.012
201517,8782.13.4535.75.397.429.396.050.056.040.029.264.132.419.050.046.074.003.011
201617,6032.20.4655.86.401.437.391.050.054.043.025.276.125.414.053.046.071.003.013
201717,6822.15.4575.71.397.433.397.048.054.040.028.268.129.422.051.045.072.002.012
201817,4682.19.4615.69.402.438.388.048.053.045.028.276.126.413.056.045.069.003.012
201917,0722.24.4705.78.413.444.382.048.052.045.028.279.134.404.056.047.067.001.012
202011,7872.30.4775.88.421.456.361.049.055.049.029.289.132.383.060.048.071.002.015
202116,6532.24.4725.82.417.452.370.043.053.053.028.278.139.391.064.042.069.003.013
202216,9162.22.4675.75.410.449.369.047.052.057.025.275.135.391.069.045.069.003.013
202316,9292.21.4645.78.413.446.370.043.056.057.029.271.142.390.070.043.072.002.011
202416,7642.26.4725.79.421.457.357.043.058.057.028.277.144.376.070.043.074.003.013
202516,6442.24.4745.72.420.457.357.041.056.062.027.273.147.378.074.040.071.002.014
Start Drives PPD AYP YPP DSR   KO Punt Fum Int Down FFG   TD FGA Punt Down Fum Int Saf Half
own 12,3911.01.3375.87.202.047.649.051.066.186.001.146.057.539.036.045.079.064.034
own 21,8181.09.3445.82.214.050.671.062.101.117-.152.062.566.027.043.073.053.025
own 31,8061.18.3665.95.229.059.698.057.073.111.002.157.072.561.030.050.074.034.021
own 41,7941.30.3805.97.239.075.717.051.073.082.002.172.067.546.048.050.074.026.018
own 51,9391.42.4036.20.263.110.701.039.068.080.003.186.077.528.040.053.075.018.023
own 62,0481.46.4046.20.266.123.709.048.054.064.002.190.076.545.031.046.076.015.021
own 72,3321.38.3915.97.254.174.690.039.053.044.000.182.072.540.042.056.074.013.021
own 83,0121.45.4026.10.264.211.683.030.038.036.003.188.076.532.038.053.079.015.019
own 93,1481.53.4106.09.276.209.679.032.039.039.002.196.080.526.042.054.071.007.024
own 104,2531.47.4035.97.267.231.691.018.031.025.004.188.079.531.041.054.082.009.016
own 113,2951.53.4096.03.279.198.703.026.035.035.004.194.085.526.038.054.079.006.019
own 123,6291.58.4095.96.286.233.681.023.035.026.002.200.086.515.042.050.085.005.017
own 133,7491.59.4216.00.293.274.637.022.034.032.001.201.092.510.047.047.080.003.021
own 143,9561.63.4276.04.296.299.620.025.030.025.002.205.091.515.042.052.076.002.017
own 155,2881.66.4255.98.297.319.607.014.029.028.003.212.085.497.045.053.088.003.017
own 164,3761.66.4225.90.300.376.536.023.032.031.002.211.089.500.047.053.080.003.018
own 174,7851.64.4265.88.304.416.508.017.028.027.002.205.099.490.050.056.083.002.015
own 185,0561.70.4325.86.316.445.480.018.028.025.004.210.105.486.051.052.080.002.013
own 195,3181.69.4315.81.310.467.453.016.033.027.005.211.098.490.053.049.085.002.012
own 2025,0321.73.4335.82.316.336.462.019.059.008.116.218.099.481.051.054.082.001.015
Start Drives PPD AYP YPP DSR   KO Punt Fum Int Down FFG   TD FGA Punt Down Fum Int Saf Half
own 216,3591.82.4465.90.335.515.369.018.022.022.053.228.107.468.049.051.081.001.015
own 226,5831.79.4365.76.327.520.368.019.024.023.047.225.103.477.050.052.082.001.011
own 236,7831.82.4435.77.336.524.355.014.023.028.055.227.109.468.056.049.074.001.016
own 246,7101.92.4525.87.351.507.365.016.023.030.058.242.110.458.052.050.078.000.011
own 2558,9131.92.4535.72.354.930.053.002.004.004.008.240.114.446.062.046.079.001.011
own 266,7891.94.4525.75.354.524.342.017.025.034.058.242.113.454.049.053.076.000.013
own 276,6842.00.4635.82.367.494.363.018.025.038.062.249.118.428.057.055.081.001.012
own 286,4831.98.4625.77.369.472.375.020.024.048.061.243.126.432.055.052.077.000.014
own 296,0962.08.4765.80.382.445.383.023.027.054.068.261.120.423.054.050.078.000.012
own 307,5912.16.4795.78.395.448.398.014.027.049.064.268.127.409.056.049.078.000.012
own 315,6862.16.4875.77.405.416.403.022.035.063.061.268.136.395.062.053.072.000.014
own 325,5502.19.4765.72.400.390.418.026.035.067.063.276.124.413.058.048.070-.012
own 335,0232.20.4855.70.411.381.417.025.038.082.057.271.140.388.060.050.079-.012
own 344,7922.28.4975.72.420.354.438.032.037.084.054.285.135.380.059.049.080.000.011
own 358,1392.26.4915.63.422.552.322.018.026.052.030.280.141.378.062.052.073.000.013
own 364,2952.34.5025.74.437.316.466.035.045.096.041.288.149.373.061.046.068-.015
own 374,1372.34.4935.64.439.315.482.034.053.088.029.287.152.371.058.047.072-.013
own 383,7502.51.5255.90.470.298.485.053.050.097.017.311.159.338.058.044.078.000.012
own 393,4502.45.5085.72.456.290.496.044.055.103.012.306.149.348.061.051.071.000.013
own 404,6892.45.5085.56.456.401.442.029.052.072.004.305.151.342.060.050.081-.011
Start Drives PPD AYP YPP DSR   KO Punt Fum Int Down FFG   TD FGA Punt Down Fum Int Saf Half
own 413,1332.63.5345.69.496.250.525.060.065.094.005.321.175.323.061.045.064.000.011
own 423,0292.56.5185.59.484.236.547.062.070.081.003.316.167.329.060.051.066.000.009
own 432,6892.54.5225.56.485.213.533.074.072.102.005.310.175.328.061.043.075-.009
own 442,4622.76.5485.67.512.200.544.075.072.106.003.342.169.286.076.050.066-.011
own 452,9022.76.5375.59.515.191.570.065.088.085.002.339.176.300.069.044.063-.009
own 462,1862.66.5325.50.500.183.511.120.086.096.005.332.168.294.070.053.076-.007
own 472,1762.85.5415.46.533.176.522.108.103.087.003.347.186.290.065.040.064-.009
own 482,0472.85.5445.40.536.159.540.108.106.084.002.351.186.267.078.047.067-.004
own 491,9092.83.5395.40.534.166.514.116.119.082.003.348.186.268.069.046.072-.012
502,2172.89.5545.39.548.184.530.092.110.082.002.357.191.265.069.043.067-.009
opp 491,6512.93.5495.31.548.151.497.119.132.099.001.363.184.263.068.037.078-.005
opp 481,6213.06.5555.29.564.156.508.107.151.077.001.377.188.251.080.036.062-.007
opp 471,5373.17.5735.43.599.150.477.126.148.096.003.386.213.220.064.043.068-.005
opp 461,4903.15.5715.32.601.165.424.158.156.092.005.385.216.220.070.050.055-.005
opp 451,6273.16.5655.19.602.162.467.123.157.090.002.384.218.222.072.041.058-.005
opp 441,3763.26.5805.30.622.191.372.152.174.107.004.400.222.201.066.047.058-.005
opp 431,3213.19.5715.04.605.162.403.173.185.076.002.393.212.208.079.043.064-.002
opp 421,0953.38.6035.15.652.123.406.179.208.080.003.406.246.163.082.047.052-.004
opp 411,0833.44.5945.11.665.130.369.213.211.071.005.422.243.156.082.037.055-.005
Start Drives PPD AYP YPP DSR   KO Punt Fum Int Down FFG   TD FGA Punt Down Fum Int Saf Half
opp 401,2273.44.5965.06.661.131.376.201.215.074.002.414.247.151.088.036.063-.002
opp 391,0413.73.6265.16.708.122.337.227.238.076-.448.260.115.094.036.046-.001
opp 389503.69.6104.91.715.105.320.241.259.075-.439.276.117.074.042.049-.003
opp 378873.66.6205.07.719.081.310.262.275.071.001.443.276.100.092.038.048-.001
opp 368383.68.6024.93.700.074.321.267.251.086.001.450.251.124.069.042.063-.001
opp 359273.74.5994.77.738.085.305.277.255.073.004.449.289.084.080.038.055-.005
opp 348693.83.6144.73.764.060.177.291.259.206.007.452.312.075.083.033.045--
opp 338274.00.6334.87.791.083.226.296.283.110.001.476.314.054.068.039.047-.001
opp 327514.02.6314.80.802.056.205.352.265.121.001.479.322.051.075.041.029-.003
opp 317233.84.6054.51.811.051.238.347.278.083.003.437.373.040.065.035.047-.003
opp 307124.13.6224.62.820.063.208.337.308.084-.492.329.037.059.029.052-.003
opp 296734.10.6394.58.826.048.187.386.288.088.003.475.351.018.059.046.051--
opp 286774.19.6174.49.860.056.176.362.325.080.001.479.381.024.044.040.032--
opp 276754.37.6454.59.847.058.166.387.311.076.003.520.327.015.061.039.039--
opp 266044.30.6334.27.858.060.164.429.295.051.002.510.348.015.053.026.046-.002
opp 256234.30.6214.20.868.066.167.366.327.072.002.498.371.018.050.027.037--
opp 245364.40.6584.22.875.049.153.451.269.078-.530.345.007.043.037.035-.002
opp 235484.31.6263.98.876.053.135.482.268.060.002.500.376.011.040.020.049-.004
opp 225144.38.6343.87.895.037.130.455.321.054.002.506.389.002.039.027.031-.006
opp 214854.52.6353.99.872.060.130.445.309.056-.536.336.006.037.033.052--
Start Drives PPD AYP YPP DSR   KO Punt Fum Int Down FFG   TD FGA Punt Down Fum Int Saf Half
opp 205074.56.6363.69.892.028.136.410.373.053-.533.359.004.043.034.028--
opp 194484.50.6453.63.859.036.136.489.281.056.002.545.315.002.045.036.058--
opp 184234.83.6683.60.903.054.123.492.272.059-.579.324.005.033.026.033--
opp 173814.83.6683.60.892.037.144.488.278.052-.585.307.003.024.026.055--
opp 163764.89.6843.45.939.051.136.471.309.035-.577.362-.024.024.013--
opp 153784.60.6153.04.870.053.127.381.365.074-.550.320.003.048.034.045--
opp 143374.92.6543.10.905.033.151.451.300.065-.596.309.003.027.027.039--
opp 133314.74.5792.62.891.057.118.441.326.057-.556.335.003.042.018.042-.003
opp 123285.00.6322.84.915.043.113.399.399.046-.604.311-.034.024.027--
opp 113185.07.6622.69.912.025.119.469.352.031.003.613.299.003.041.013.028-.003
opp 102544.90.6212.46.925.039.122.488.291.055.004.571.354-.035.012.020-.008
opp 92755.16.6512.37.909.033.156.353.400.058-.640.269-.033.022.036--
opp 82235.48.6952.33.933.045.135.408.368.040.004.691.242-.027.018.022--
opp 72205.22.6721.89.886.014.127.445.368.045-.659.227-.050.036.023-.005
opp 62265.70.7271.98.947.049.137.438.345.031-.748.199-.022.022.009--
opp 52125.89.7111.64.948.047.151.321.425.057-.778.170-.024.014.014--
opp 41935.82.6191.17.938.062.166.342.383.047-.772.166-.031.016.016--
opp 32016.07.6881.00.930.045.100.403.413.040-.831.100-.035.030.005--
opp 21726.23.747.80.936.064.157.291.419.064.006.855.081-.035.006.023--
opp 12376.49.570.35.962.025.181.350.405.038-.907.055-.013.013.013--