Innovative Statistics
Football Outsiders exclusive statistics

2019 COLLEGE FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE FEI RATINGS

2019 DFEI Defense Ratings (final)

DFEI Defense Ratings (DFEI) represent the per possession scoring advantage a team's defense would be expected to have on a neutral field against an average offense. Unadjusted defensive possession efficiency (DPE) is calculated as a function of defensive game splits. Schedule strength is represented by each team's average per possession defensive opponent adjustment (DOA). Touchdown rate (DTD) is the percentage of opponent offensive drives that result in a touchdown. First Down rate (DFD) is the percentage of opponent offensive drives that result in a touchdown or at least one first down. Available Yards percentage (DAY) is the total yards surrendered by the defense divided by the total yards available to be earned based on starting field position. Explosive Drive rate (DED) is the percentage of opponent offensive drives that average at least ten yards per play. Busted Drive rate (DBD) is the percentage of opponent offensive drives that earn zero or negative yards. Turnover rate (DTO) is the percentage of opponent offensive drives that result in a fumble or interception.

Ratings and supporting data are calculated from the results of non-garbage possessions in FBS vs. FBS games.

Rk Team W-L DFEI DPE Rk DOA Rk DTD Rk DFD Rk DAY Rk DED Rk DBD Rk DTO Rk
1 Clemson 13-1 1.39 1.08 1 .31 7 .113 1 .550 1 .289 2 .106 30 .192 3 .172 6
2 Ohio State 13-1 1.23 1.07 2 .16 21 .116 2 .589 2 .284 1 .068 10 .199 2 .130 33
3 Georgia 11-2 .99 .93 3 .06 54 .121 3 .614 6 .300 3 .029 2 .171 10 .086 110
4 Auburn 8-4 .97 .42 24 .55 1 .203 23 .635 12 .395 23 .128 53 .142 34 .115 56
5 Notre Dame 11-2 .91 .81 4 .10 40 .145 6 .614 4 .342 4 .062 5 .172 9 .159 12
6 Oregon 11-2 .86 .72 6 .14 27 .150 7 .673 33 .372 12 .068 9 .136 38 .170 8
7 Iowa 10-3 .85 .76 5 .09 44 .143 5 .657 26 .361 8 .079 12 .129 45 .129 34
8 Baylor 10-3 .82 .67 10 .15 26 .162 10 .714 55 .395 22 .065 7 .104 78 .162 11
9 Wisconsin 10-4 .79 .61 14 .18 16 .191 17 .652 24 .366 10 .135 59 .184 6 .128 35
10 Alabama 10-2 .78 .69 9 .10 42 .158 8 .700 47 .396 25 .083 14 .133 41 .167 9
11 Penn State 10-2 .74 .50 17 .25 11 .162 9 .721 61 .410 32 .059 4 .147 27 .118 52
12 Utah 10-3 .74 .63 12 .11 37 .171 11 .642 18 .360 7 .114 44 .138 36 .146 18
13 LSU 14-0 .70 .37 29 .33 5 .205 25 .675 35 .393 21 .119 48 .192 4 .119 47
14 Michigan 9-4 .69 .36 31 .33 4 .245 42 .640 17 .356 5 .094 19 .165 12 .115 55
15 Florida Atlantic 10-3 .56 .47 19 .09 43 .209 26 .620 8 .376 15 .146 73 .146 32 .184 2
Rk Team W-L DFEI DPE Rk DOA Rk DTD Rk DFD Rk DAY Rk DED Rk DBD Rk DTO Rk
16 Washington 7-5 .55 .33 33 .22 13 .198 21 .698 46 .433 43 .048 3 .159 20 .151 16
17 Cincinnati 11-3 .53 .45 22 .08 49 .181 16 .675 34 .404 29 .094 21 .163 15 .163 10
18 Pittsburgh 7-5 .52 .42 25 .10 38 .193 19 .713 54 .387 20 .107 33 .173 8 .093 98
19 Florida 9-2 .51 .46 21 .05 57 .192 18 .667 29 .384 17 .125 50 .125 51 .125 38
20 San Diego State 9-3 .50 .71 7 -.22 113 .140 4 .597 3 .359 6 .093 18 .186 5 .186 1
21 Appalachian State 12-1 .49 .50 18 .00 68 .196 20 .614 5 .368 11 .114 45 .146 31 .133 27
22 Western Kentucky 9-3 .49 .54 16 -.05 82 .171 12 .650 22 .405 30 .081 13 .106 75 .122 40
23 Michigan State 7-6 .49 .41 26 .08 48 .224 32 .629 10 .373 13 .105 28 .161 18 .133 28
24 Buffalo 7-5 .49 .70 8 -.22 114 .217 30 .651 23 .373 14 .147 75 .209 1 .132 29
25 Miami 5-7 .46 .47 20 .00 67 .199 22 .645 19 .385 18 .099 25 .163 14 .121 44
26 Northwestern 3-9 .46 .38 28 .09 47 .220 31 .659 27 .409 31 .023 1 .121 54 .083 113
27 Central Florida 9-3 .44 .66 11 -.22 112 .173 14 .633 11 .362 9 .067 8 .160 19 .120 45
28 South Carolina 3-8 .39 .06 48 .33 6 .228 35 .717 56 .448 50 .110 38 .110 70 .102 80
29 TCU 4-7 .37 .16 39 .21 14 .244 41 .637 13 .401 27 .133 58 .133 42 .126 37
30 Kansas State 7-5 .34 .21 36 .14 30 .211 27 .684 38 .441 45 .158 90 .128 47 .090 102
Rk Team W-L DFEI DPE Rk DOA Rk DTD Rk DFD Rk DAY Rk DED Rk DBD Rk DTO Rk
31 Texas A&M 7-5 .33 .09 45 .24 12 .232 37 .744 79 .417 35 .136 61 .168 11 .088 107
32 Tennessee 7-5 .31 .17 38 .14 29 .236 39 .732 70 .431 41 .071 11 .134 40 .110 61
33 Boise State 11-2 .31 .35 32 -.04 80 .231 36 .650 21 .396 26 .098 24 .147 29 .119 48
34 Missouri 5-6 .28 .42 23 -.15 101 .205 24 .639 15 .381 16 .090 16 .115 62 .107 65
35 Wyoming 7-5 .27 .56 15 -.29 122 .173 13 .734 72 .427 38 .094 20 .115 61 .137 25
36 Minnesota 10-2 .25 .36 30 -.11 97 .216 28 .664 28 .395 24 .086 15 .129 44 .138 23
37 Duke 4-7 .23 .14 40 .09 45 .254 49 .638 14 .414 33 .115 46 .138 35 .092 99
38 Temple 7-5 .23 .24 34 -.01 71 .248 46 .669 30 .444 46 .110 40 .138 37 .117 53
39 Florida State 5-7 .20 .05 50 .15 25 .228 34 .732 68 .484 70 .107 34 .067 123 .101 85
40 Kentucky 7-5 .18 .22 35 -.04 76 .233 38 .725 64 .428 39 .150 80 .083 105 .117 54
41 Louisiana Tech 9-3 .18 .62 13 -.44 128 .180 15 .698 45 .403 28 .065 6 .108 71 .180 3
42 Arizona State 7-5 .17 .00 53 .17 18 .270 63 .774 99 .462 57 .131 55 .102 79 .175 4
43 Iowa State 6-6 .14 -.03 57 .16 19 .246 44 .619 7 .432 42 .097 23 .134 39 .075 122
44 Tulsa 4-8 .14 -.11 64 .25 10 .291 70 .723 63 .462 58 .106 32 .085 102 .085 112
45 Nebraska 5-7 .14 .18 37 -.05 81 .261 56 .718 58 .425 37 .127 52 .127 49 .120 46
Rk Team W-L DFEI DPE Rk DOA Rk DTD Rk DFD Rk DAY Rk DED Rk DBD Rk DTO Rk
46 Air Force 10-2 .13 .05 49 .08 50 .262 58 .720 60 .476 68 .103 27 .084 103 .121 41
47 California 7-5 .11 .04 51 .07 52 .236 40 .787 109 .503 81 .094 22 .094 86 .110 62
48 Navy 10-2 .11 .04 52 .07 53 .256 52 .686 39 .435 44 .124 49 .165 13 .140 20
49 Mississippi 3-8 .09 -.21 69 .30 8 .256 53 .795 115 .516 89 .145 72 .068 120 .085 111
50 Virginia Tech 6-5 .08 .14 41 -.06 86 .259 54 .622 9 .415 34 .148 78 .156 22 .126 36
51 Louisiana Lafayette 10-3 .07 .13 43 -.06 84 .228 33 .721 62 .463 60 .110 39 .074 116 .088 106
52 Wake Forest 7-5 .04 .08 46 -.04 78 .253 48 .695 42 .447 48 .195 108 .097 84 .156 13
53 South Florida 3-8 .03 -.14 68 .17 17 .298 77 .719 59 .488 72 .140 65 .132 43 .132 31
54 Texas 8-5 .03 -.13 67 .16 23 .255 50 .799 117 .513 86 .148 77 .040 130 .121 43
55 Illinois 6-7 .02 .14 42 -.12 98 .247 45 .735 74 .460 54 .142 68 .093 90 .173 5
56 Memphis 11-2 .01 -.02 56 .03 63 .255 51 .718 57 .466 64 .101 26 .161 17 .121 42
57 USC 8-5 -.02 -.01 54 -.01 70 .264 59 .771 97 .474 67 .090 17 .111 67 .104 71
58 North Carolina 6-6 -.02 .10 44 -.12 99 .245 43 .713 53 .461 55 .112 43 .126 50 .112 58
59 Marshall 7-5 -.03 -.06 61 .04 59 .267 60 .748 80 .470 66 .111 42 .089 99 .089 104
60 Miami (OH) 7-6 -.03 -.06 60 .03 60 .283 66 .678 37 .424 36 .145 69 .158 21 .105 69
Rk Team W-L DFEI DPE Rk DOA Rk DTD Rk DFD Rk DAY Rk DED Rk DBD Rk DTO Rk
61 Oklahoma State 7-5 -.03 -.11 63 .08 51 .261 55 .676 36 .460 53 .169 96 .099 82 .106 68
62 Southern Mississippi 6-6 -.08 -.04 59 -.03 75 .284 67 .657 25 .428 40 .194 107 .149 25 .082 116
63 UAB 8-5 -.10 .40 27 -.51 130 .217 29 .671 32 .387 19 .105 29 .175 7 .105 70
64 Georgia Southern 6-6 -.11 -.29 80 .18 15 .316 85 .647 20 .457 51 .135 60 .113 66 .098 90
65 SMU 10-3 -.12 -.02 55 -.10 93 .268 61 .732 69 .463 59 .146 74 .128 46 .110 63
66 BYU 6-6 -.13 -.03 58 -.09 90 .250 47 .697 44 .466 63 .106 31 .083 104 .106 67
67 Tulane 6-6 -.14 -.23 73 .09 46 .289 68 .689 40 .467 65 .111 41 .111 68 .081 117
68 Mississippi State 5-7 -.19 -.52 98 .34 3 .347 99 .777 101 .537 95 .174 100 .074 115 .140 21
69 Oklahoma 11-2 -.21 -.34 86 .12 32 .299 78 .708 50 .447 49 .139 63 .146 30 .044 129
70 Ball State 4-7 -.22 -.22 71 .00 66 .305 80 .733 71 .500 78 .137 62 .107 72 .153 15
71 Virginia 8-5 -.24 -.23 74 -.01 69 .290 69 .669 31 .458 52 .172 98 .152 23 .110 60
72 Army 3-8 -.26 -.30 82 .05 56 .320 91 .757 87 .527 92 .126 51 .117 59 .097 92
73 South Alabama 1-10 -.26 -.31 83 .05 58 .292 71 .758 88 .539 96 .108 35 .092 92 .092 100
74 Syracuse 4-7 -.27 -.30 81 .03 61 .314 84 .803 118 .510 83 .204 112 .073 117 .153 14
75 Central Michigan 7-6 -.28 .06 47 -.35 126 .270 64 .736 76 .445 47 .149 79 .122 53 .101 81
Rk Team W-L DFEI DPE Rk DOA Rk DTD Rk DFD Rk DAY Rk DED Rk DBD Rk DTO Rk
76 Utah State 6-6 -.29 -.25 75 -.04 77 .319 89 .729 66 .499 77 .132 56 .090 95 .146 19
77 Indiana 7-5 -.31 -.21 70 -.10 92 .282 65 .740 77 .493 75 .214 119 .115 65 .115 57
78 Western Michigan 6-6 -.31 -.11 65 -.20 109 .261 57 .768 93 .511 85 .145 71 .094 89 .130 32
79 West Virginia 4-7 -.32 -.37 91 .06 55 .317 86 .792 112 .491 73 .150 81 .100 80 .083 114
80 Purdue 4-8 -.35 -.28 79 -.06 85 .310 82 .779 102 .501 80 .145 70 .090 97 .090 103
81 Florida International 5-7 -.36 -.12 66 -.25 119 .295 73 .767 91 .493 74 .109 36 .116 60 .132 30
82 Northern Illinois 4-7 -.37 -.26 76 -.11 96 .323 93 .734 73 .487 71 .202 111 .121 55 .073 123
83 Old Dominion 0-11 -.37 -.35 89 -.02 73 .320 90 .713 51 .508 82 .148 76 .107 73 .098 88
84 Fresno State 3-8 -.39 -.33 85 -.06 83 .317 87 .730 67 .531 93 .119 47 .127 48 .151 17
85 Arkansas State 7-5 -.42 -.35 87 -.07 87 .312 83 .701 48 .501 79 .156 88 .143 33 .104 73
86 UCLA 4-8 -.42 -.56 99 .14 28 .353 100 .767 90 .523 90 .188 103 .090 96 .098 91
87 Houston 3-8 -.43 -.77 114 .34 2 .386 114 .773 98 .540 98 .242 125 .068 122 .091 101
88 Colorado State 3-8 -.43 -.22 72 -.21 111 .305 79 .695 43 .461 56 .133 57 .117 58 .094 97
89 Texas Tech 3-8 -.44 -.46 93 .03 65 .309 81 .713 52 .510 84 .199 109 .147 28 .140 22
90 Stanford 4-8 -.44 -.57 100 .13 31 .325 95 .770 95 .545 102 .151 82 .063 125 .079 118
Rk Team W-L DFEI DPE Rk DOA Rk DTD Rk DFD Rk DAY Rk DED Rk DBD Rk DTO Rk
91 Rice 3-9 -.45 -.27 78 -.18 107 .296 74 .704 49 .464 61 .152 84 .104 76 .088 108
92 Liberty 6-5 -.46 -.09 62 -.37 127 .269 62 .689 41 .495 76 .109 37 .151 24 .118 51
93 UNLV 3-8 -.48 -.26 77 -.22 115 .296 75 .808 122 .540 97 .168 94 .080 108 .104 72
94 North Carolina State 3-8 -.50 -.52 97 .03 64 .344 98 .770 96 .525 91 .131 54 .115 63 .057 127
95 Texas State 2-9 -.50 -.62 102 .12 33 .375 109 .742 78 .547 103 .141 67 .078 110 .086 109
96 Georgia Tech 3-8 -.52 -.49 94 -.03 74 .342 97 .769 94 .550 106 .162 91 .111 69 .103 78
97 Nevada 6-6 -.52 -.35 88 -.16 105 .326 96 .726 65 .484 69 .170 97 .119 56 .104 75
98 Louisville 7-5 -.53 -.64 103 .10 39 .382 113 .764 89 .547 105 .201 110 .076 114 .111 59
99 Middle Tennessee 3-8 -.54 -.37 90 -.16 106 .298 76 .810 124 .573 117 .140 66 .091 93 .099 87
100 Arizona 3-8 -.55 -.71 109 .16 22 .360 102 .808 123 .578 120 .168 95 .056 127 .096 95
101 Maryland 2-9 -.57 -.67 105 .10 41 .353 101 .750 82 .560 109 .181 101 .069 119 .103 77
102 Ohio 6-6 -.61 -.31 84 -.29 121 .294 72 .640 16 .465 62 .140 64 .162 16 .066 125
103 Boston College 5-7 -.61 -.51 96 -.10 91 .319 88 .756 84 .560 108 .163 92 .081 106 .104 76
104 Eastern Michigan 5-7 -.63 -.42 92 -.21 110 .321 92 .756 85 .514 87 .153 85 .115 64 .137 24
105 North Texas 3-8 -.67 -.51 95 -.16 104 .325 94 .775 100 .515 88 .167 93 .050 129 .067 124
Rk Team W-L DFEI DPE Rk DOA Rk DTD Rk DFD Rk DAY Rk DED Rk DBD Rk DTO Rk
106 Colorado 5-7 -.70 -.82 115 .12 35 .376 111 .768 92 .541 99 .184 102 .104 77 .136 26
107 Washington State 5-7 -.73 -.76 112 .03 62 .364 103 .860 130 .581 122 .194 106 .054 128 .101 84
108 Vanderbilt 2-9 -.73 -.85 117 .12 34 .393 119 .803 119 .590 123 .248 127 .077 113 .077 120
109 Hawaii 9-5 -.75 -.68 106 -.07 89 .365 105 .795 116 .564 111 .224 122 .077 112 .096 94
110 Arkansas 1-10 -.77 -1.03 124 .26 9 .421 124 .781 105 .568 114 .237 124 .070 118 .096 93
111 Kansas 2-9 -.78 -.94 120 .16 20 .393 118 .821 126 .575 118 .188 104 .077 111 .043 130
112 Coastal Carolina 4-7 -.80 -.70 107 -.10 94 .391 116 .836 128 .552 107 .173 99 .091 94 .118 50
113 Toledo 5-6 -.85 -.75 110 -.10 95 .370 107 .780 103 .571 115 .213 118 .094 87 .063 126
114 Oregon State 4-7 -.85 -.97 121 .12 36 .395 121 .807 121 .596 126 .210 116 .092 91 .101 83
115 Charlotte 6-6 -.88 -.70 108 -.18 108 .372 108 .736 75 .537 94 .157 89 .149 26 .099 86
116 San Jose State 4-7 -.89 -.65 104 -.23 117 .366 106 .789 110 .564 112 .154 87 .065 124 .171 7
117 Louisiana Monroe 4-7 -.90 -.88 119 -.02 72 .393 117 .748 81 .541 100 .207 114 .081 107 .119 49
118 Akron 0-12 -.91 -.61 101 -.30 123 .387 115 .782 106 .542 101 .153 86 .097 85 .089 105
119 Georgia State 6-6 -.92 -.77 113 -.15 102 .394 120 .780 104 .563 110 .189 105 .098 83 .106 66
120 Rutgers 2-10 -.96 -1.11 125 .15 24 .430 125 .789 111 .571 116 .211 117 .088 100 .053 128
Rk Team W-L DFEI DPE Rk DOA Rk DTD Rk DFD Rk DAY Rk DED Rk DBD Rk DTO Rk
121 Troy 4-7 -1.07 -.76 111 -.31 124 .378 112 .756 86 .547 104 .227 123 .118 57 .101 82
122 New Mexico 1-10 -1.09 -1.02 123 -.07 88 .400 122 .792 113 .567 113 .217 120 .100 81 .083 115
123 Kent State 6-6 -1.09 -.86 118 -.23 116 .365 104 .794 114 .590 124 .151 83 .079 109 .095 96
124 UTSA 3-8 -1.11 -.82 116 -.29 120 .375 110 .750 83 .577 119 .258 128 .125 52 .108 64
125 New Mexico State 1-10 -1.22 -1.18 128 -.04 79 .431 126 .819 125 .617 129 .224 121 .086 101 .078 119
126 East Carolina 2-8 -1.25 -1.01 122 -.23 118 .419 123 .803 120 .590 125 .205 113 .068 121 .103 79
127 Bowling Green 2-9 -1.31 -1.16 127 -.15 103 .455 128 .786 108 .581 121 .321 129 .089 98 .098 89
128 Connecticut 1-10 -1.43 -1.29 129 -.15 100 .472 129 .783 107 .603 127 .245 126 .094 88 .104 74
129 UTEP 0-11 -1.46 -1.14 126 -.32 125 .434 127 .830 127 .605 128 .208 115 .057 126 .075 121
130 Massachusetts 1-10 -2.52 -2.04 130 -.49 129 .593 130 .841 129 .709 130 .336 130 .106 74 .124 39