Texas Dominates Stop Rate Rankings as Conference Championships Loom
It’s crunch time in college football, and this weekend, 18 teams will battle it out with conference championships on the line. But here’s the kicker: 11 of those teams owe their success to defenses that rank among the best in FBS in stop rate. If you’re not familiar with stop rate, buckle up, because it’s one of the simplest yet most telling stats in the game today.
So, what exactly is stop rate? It’s a straightforward measure of defensive success: the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers, or a turnover on downs. In a world of high-octane offenses and lightning-fast tempos, defensive coordinators have one job—get off the field and prevent points. Stop rate cuts through the noise and gives us a clear picture of which defenses are truly getting it done.
Last year, Michigan set the gold standard, finishing No. 1 in stop rate with an 81.6% success rate en route to a national championship. The top 25 teams in the 2023 stop rate standings combined for 249 wins, with seven of them claiming conference titles. The takeaway? Great teams make big stops when it matters most.
While stop rate isn’t as advanced as metrics like Bill Connelly’s SP+, it’s a valuable tool for evaluating defensive performance on a per-drive basis. And as the regular season wraps up, the final stop rate standings for 2024 are here, with one more update coming after the postseason.
Top 5 Teams in Stop Rate
- 1. Texas: 81.8% stop rate, 0.86 points per drive
- 2. Ohio State: 80.3% stop rate, 0.93 points per drive
- 3. Notre Dame: 79.7% stop rate, 1.14 points per drive
- 4. Tennessee: 79.4% stop rate, 1.13 points per drive
- 5. Indiana: 75.2% stop rate, 1.37 points per drive
Texas made a statement this week, jumping from No. 3 to No. 1 in the rankings after a dominant defensive performance against Texas A&M. The Longhorns didn’t allow a single point on nine drives and stopped the Aggies on three fourth-down attempts. With that effort, Texas leapfrogged Ohio State and Notre Dame to claim the top spot heading into their SEC championship showdown with Georgia.
Defensive Powerhouses in the Conference Title Hunt
Ten teams in the top 30 of stop rate will compete for conference championships this weekend. Here’s the list:
- Miami (Ohio) (No. 9)
- Army (No. 10)
- Iowa State (No. 12)
- SMU (No. 13)
- Penn State (No. 16)
- Oregon (No. 17)
- Ohio (No. 18)
- UNLV (No. 25)
- Clemson (No. 26)
- Tulane (No. 29)
Sam Houston, sitting at No. 8, boasts the best stop rate among Group of 5 defenses at 73.8%. The Bearkats’ stellar defense powered them to a 9-3 record in just their second year at the FBS level. Their success has already paid dividends, as head coach K.C. Keeler was recently hired by Temple. Meanwhile, Sam Houston’s defensive coordinator, Skyler Cassity, made waves as the youngest DC in FBS this season at just 30 years old.
Ohio’s November Surge
While Texas may top the overall rankings, Ohio’s defense was the hottest in November, posting an eye-popping 87.5% stop rate. The Bobcats enter the MAC championship game against Miami (Ohio) on a five-game win streak, setting the stage for a defensive slugfest. Miami wasn’t far behind, with an 83.3% stop rate in November. Their clash on Saturday (12 p.m. ET, ESPN) promises to be a must-watch for fans of hard-nosed football.
Biggest Turnarounds of 2024
Indiana takes the crown for the most improved defense, skyrocketing from No. 120 in stop rate last season (54.3%) to No. 5 this year (75.2%). Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines worked wonders, blending James Madison transfers with returning talent to create the nation’s best run defense. Other notable turnarounds include:
- Louisiana Tech: 119th to 19th
- Arizona State: 128th to 53rd
- Colorado: 97th to 20th
- Houston: 114th to 35th
Defensive Declines
On the flip side, Troy suffered the steepest drop, plummeting from 10th in stop rate last year (74%) to 115th (53%) this season. Florida State also endured a shocking collapse, falling from 14th to 115th. The Seminoles managed just four takeaways in 11 FBS games, a far cry from their preseason top-10 expectations. Newly hired defensive coordinator Tony White will have his hands full trying to right the ship.
The Struggles of Kent State and Purdue
At the bottom of the rankings, Kent State and Purdue had seasons to forget. Kent State finished dead last in stop rate at 39.4% during an 0-12 campaign, allowing 46 points per game and touchdowns on 44% of drives. Purdue wasn’t much better, ranking last among Power 4 teams with a 40.8% stop rate. The Boilermakers were outscored by 339 points and will need a major rebuild under their next head coach.
As the postseason looms, one thing is clear: defense wins championships. Whether it’s Texas, Ohio, or another top-ranked team, the ability to make stops in critical moments will be the key to hoisting a trophy in December.
Originally Written by: Bill Connelly
