College football stop rate rankings: Defensive turnaround keys Nebraska’s midseason surge

Nebraska is on the verge of achieving bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016, thanks to the remarkable performance of head coach Matt Rhule in his first year. The key to their success? A defense that is rapidly becoming one of the best in college football in terms of stop rate. But what exactly is stop rate? It’s a fundamental measure of success, representing the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers, or a turnover on downs. In today’s fast-paced college football, this simple metric provides a more accurate reflection of a defense’s effectiveness than traditional statistics like yards per game or points per game.

We have been tracking this statistic for seven years now and have compiled the final standings for each season, including 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017, along with every defense’s points per drive average. By these standards, the Huskers are emerging as one of the most improved defenses in the nation. Last season, they ranked 93rd in stop rate, but they have climbed to an impressive 23rd in this week’s update. In the past six games, Rhule’s team has won five, and their defense has been one of the best in the country, particularly in October. During their current three-game winning streak, their stop rate stands at an impressive 87.2 percent, which places them fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and second among all Power 5 defenses in the month of October.

In the last month, the Huskers’ defense has allowed a total of only 22 points over 39 drives, and they rank in the top 10 nationally in several key categories, including yards per play (4.0), rush defense (allowing only 66 yards per game), first downs allowed (12.7 per game), and three-and-out rate (46 percent). Additionally, during the three-game streak, they have not allowed a touchdown on any of the six trips into the red zone. Rhule deserves credit for finding a gem in defensive coordinator Tony White, whom he hired away from Syracuse upon his return from the NFL. Unlike many other teams, Nebraska didn’t rely heavily on the transfer portal to reconstruct their defense; instead, they focused on bringing out the best in the players they already had. In fact, out of the defensive starters in their recent win over Purdue, only one player, freshman edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, was not on the team last year.

Rhule understands the importance of recognizing the team’s improving performance while also acknowledging areas for improvement. In a recent news conference, he pointed out some issues with alignment in the secondary, allowing a touchdown on a third-and-15 situation, as well as tackling and difficulties with quarterback scrambles. According to Rhule, the defense reviewed the game tape and understood that their performance wasn’t as good as the statistics indicated. This mindset is essential for a team in the midst of rebuilding, especially if they want to win close games in the future.

Despite facing numerous injuries on offense, the Huskers’ defense has consistently stepped up. This season, Nebraska has lost 19 turnovers, which ranks them third in FBS. In their season-opening losses to Minnesota and Colorado, they gave up a combined 26 points off turnovers. However, since then, the defense has done a remarkable job of minimizing the damage, allowing only two touchdowns and two field goals off 11 turnovers.

Looking ahead, Nebraska faces a challenging road trip to Michigan State, followed by matchups with Maryland, Wisconsin, and Iowa. If they can continue to perform well, make crucial stops, and take care of business, they have a solid chance of not only reaching bowl eligibility but also being a major contender in the Big Ten West race. It’s worth noting how other defenses around the country are performing in terms of stop rate. Below, you’ll find the full FBS-only stop rate standings as of Week 10, sourced from TruMedia and Pro Football Focus.

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Alex Martin

Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.