College football stop rate standings: How the new CFP rankings’ top 11 stack up on defense

The college football season is heating up as we move into a thrilling November, with only 11 Power 5 teams remaining undefeated or with one loss. These teams currently rank as the top 11 in the latest College Football Playoff committee rankings. What sets them apart is that five of them boast defenses among the top 10 in stop rate.

Stop rate is a measure of success that calculates the percentage of a defense’s drives ending in punts, turnovers, or a turnover on downs. In the fast-paced world of college football, this basic metric provides a more accurate reflection of a defense’s effectiveness than traditional yardage or points per game statistics.

Over the past seven years, we’ve tracked this statistic alongside every defense’s points per drive average. In the latest update, Florida State surged to No. 8 in our stop rate rankings after a 24-7 triumph over Pitt, while Louisville climbed to No. 9 following a 34-3 victory against Virginia Tech. The Seminoles currently hold an outstanding stop rate of 76% against FBS competition, showcasing a high level of defense since their overtime win at Clemson. Louisville also deserves credit for their response since their loss to Pitt, rebounding with just three points allowed over 20 drives.

Leading the stop rate standings are Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. Michigan in particular has held their opponents to 14 or fewer points throughout the season, a feat only achieved by one other team in the past five years. The top 11 teams in the new CFP rankings are compared in terms of stop rate and score rate, revealing that Michigan and Florida State rank among the top 10 in both metrics.

For a broader perspective, we’ve also included the full FBS-only stop rate standings, showing how other defenses across the country are performing. This data provides insight into the effective and resilient defenses that are making an impact this college football season.

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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.