2nd-half scoring margin (up) against 1st-half scoring margin (across). 135 teams with data.
Up and right are always better: metrics where lower is better (like ranks or points allowed) run in reverse. Dashed lines are the averages of the teams shown and split the chart into four groups. There's no trend line or gray band here: the chart compares two separate skills, so no spot is "expected." The lists rank teams on both skills together. Tap or click a team to open it in Head to head.
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Who wins the first half and who wins the second. Across is how much a team outscores opponents before halftime, per game; up is the same after it (overtime not counted). Up and right wins both halves. Down and right builds a lead and gives some of it back; up and left digs a hole and climbs out.
There is a moderate relationship here (r = +0.57; r runs from −1 to +1, and positive means the two go together): teams better on 1st-half scoring margin tend to be better on 2nd-half scoring margin. 1st-half scoring margin accounts for about 32% of the differences in 2nd-half scoring margin across the 135 teams shown.
Split by the averages: Win both halves 50, Slow starters who close 21, Fast starters who fade 17, Lose both halves 47.
Win both halves: Miami (1st and 12th), Notre Dame (6th and 1st), Georgia (3rd and 15th). Lose both halves: UTEP (130th and 135th), Northern Illinois (135th and 130th), Charlotte (131st and 134th). Ranks are among the 135 teams shown, 1st-half scoring margin first, then 2nd-half scoring margin.
SEC: 11 of 16 in Win both halves, 4 in Lose both halves. Top of the list: Georgia (3rd and 15th of 135).
Big 12: 8 of 16 in Win both halves, 2 in Lose both halves. Top of the list: Utah (2nd and 47th of 135).
Where the data comes from. 2nd-half scoring margin: play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 31, 2026. 1st-half scoring margin: play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 31, 2026.
| Team | The numbers |
|---|---|
| Air Force | 2nd-half scoring margin +6.0, 1st-half scoring margin +1.4 |
| Akron | 2nd-half scoring margin -6.1, 1st-half scoring margin -7.6 |
| App State | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.1, 1st-half scoring margin +0.6 |
| Arkansas State | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.1, 1st-half scoring margin +0.4 |
| Army | 2nd-half scoring margin +4.4, 1st-half scoring margin +5.4 |
| Ball State | 2nd-half scoring margin -6.9, 1st-half scoring margin -6.5 |
| Boise State | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.1, 1st-half scoring margin +9.1 |
| Boston College | 2nd-half scoring margin -2.4, 1st-half scoring margin -2.1 |
| Bowling Green | 2nd-half scoring margin -4.1, 1st-half scoring margin -7.4 |
| Buffalo | 2nd-half scoring margin 0.0, 1st-half scoring margin -3.6 |
| California | 2nd-half scoring margin -7.6, 1st-half scoring margin -3.9 |
| Central Michigan | 2nd-half scoring margin +2.0, 1st-half scoring margin -10.0 |
| Charlotte | 2nd-half scoring margin -8.6, 1st-half scoring margin -9.9 |
| Clemson | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.1, 1st-half scoring margin +1.3 |
| Coastal Carolina | 2nd-half scoring margin -3.0, 1st-half scoring margin +4.6 |
| Colorado State | 2nd-half scoring margin -0.1, 1st-half scoring margin -6.8 |
| Delaware | 2nd-half scoring margin +4.7, 1st-half scoring margin -2.4 |
| Duke | 2nd-half scoring margin +11.5, 1st-half scoring margin +6.3 |
| East Carolina | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.3, 1st-half scoring margin +3.6 |
| Eastern Michigan | 2nd-half scoring margin -2.2, 1st-half scoring margin -2.1 |
| Florida Atlantic | 2nd-half scoring margin -3.1, 1st-half scoring margin +5.1 |
| Florida International | 2nd-half scoring margin -0.2, 1st-half scoring margin +0.3 |
| Florida State | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.3, 1st-half scoring margin +1.5 |
| Fresno State | 2nd-half scoring margin +7.8, 1st-half scoring margin +0.1 |
| Georgia Southern | 2nd-half scoring margin -2.0, 1st-half scoring margin +5.3 |
| Georgia State | 2nd-half scoring margin +2.4, 1st-half scoring margin +4.9 |
| Georgia Tech | 2nd-half scoring margin -6.6, 1st-half scoring margin +1.1 |
| Hawai'i | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.8, 1st-half scoring margin -2.0 |
| Illinois | 2nd-half scoring margin +2.9, 1st-half scoring margin +2.6 |
| Indiana | 2nd-half scoring margin +8.0, 1st-half scoring margin +11.2 |
| Iowa | 2nd-half scoring margin +2.6, 1st-half scoring margin +13.1 |
| Jacksonville State | 2nd-half scoring margin +5.1, 1st-half scoring margin +1.7 |
| James Madison | 2nd-half scoring margin +5.1, 1st-half scoring margin +15.8 |
| Kennesaw State | 2nd-half scoring margin -4.4, 1st-half scoring margin -0.6 |
| Kent State | 2nd-half scoring margin -6.8, 1st-half scoring margin -8.1 |
| Liberty | 2nd-half scoring margin +11.8, 1st-half scoring margin +8.5 |
| Louisiana | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.9, 1st-half scoring margin +5.0 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.9, 1st-half scoring margin +9.9 |
| Louisville | 2nd-half scoring margin +11.3, 1st-half scoring margin +2.1 |
| Marshall | 2nd-half scoring margin -2.0, 1st-half scoring margin -5.4 |
| Maryland | 2nd-half scoring margin -5.7, 1st-half scoring margin +1.6 |
| Massachusetts | 2nd-half scoring margin 0.0, 1st-half scoring margin +6.3 |
| Memphis | 2nd-half scoring margin +11.2, 1st-half scoring margin +2.0 |
| Miami | 2nd-half scoring margin +8.8, 1st-half scoring margin +20.1 |
| Miami (OH) | 2nd-half scoring margin -6.3, 1st-half scoring margin +7.5 |
| Michigan | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.8, 1st-half scoring margin +2.0 |
| Michigan State | 2nd-half scoring margin -2.6, 1st-half scoring margin -4.0 |
| Minnesota | 2nd-half scoring margin +2.8, 1st-half scoring margin +2.0 |
| Missouri State | 2nd-half scoring margin -6.4, 1st-half scoring margin -0.1 |
| Navy | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.0, 1st-half scoring margin -5.3 |
| NC State | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.6, 1st-half scoring margin +7.9 |
| Nebraska | 2nd-half scoring margin +5.5, 1st-half scoring margin +11.3 |
| Nevada | 2nd-half scoring margin +4.4, 1st-half scoring margin -2.6 |
| New Mexico | 2nd-half scoring margin +10.8, 1st-half scoring margin +12.4 |
| New Mexico State | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.1, 1st-half scoring margin -2.6 |
| North Carolina | 2nd-half scoring margin -2.1, 1st-half scoring margin +5.0 |
| North Dakota State | 2nd-half scoring margin +6.9, 1st-half scoring margin +9.3 |
| North Texas | 2nd-half scoring margin +5.0, 1st-half scoring margin +6.8 |
| Northern Illinois | 2nd-half scoring margin -7.5, 1st-half scoring margin -13.9 |
| Northwestern | 2nd-half scoring margin +5.9, 1st-half scoring margin +9.0 |
| Notre Dame | 2nd-half scoring margin +12.6, 1st-half scoring margin +14.4 |
| Ohio | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.5, 1st-half scoring margin +6.0 |
| Ohio State | 2nd-half scoring margin +6.3, 1st-half scoring margin +14.9 |
| Old Dominion | 2nd-half scoring margin -2.0, 1st-half scoring margin -8.0 |
| Oregon | 2nd-half scoring margin +6.8, 1st-half scoring margin +5.1 |
| Oregon State | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.9, 1st-half scoring margin +11.3 |
| Penn State | 2nd-half scoring margin +2.6, 1st-half scoring margin +7.8 |
| Pittsburgh | 2nd-half scoring margin +4.3, 1st-half scoring margin +9.1 |
| Purdue | 2nd-half scoring margin +0.5, 1st-half scoring margin -3.3 |
| Rice | 2nd-half scoring margin -4.4, 1st-half scoring margin -6.4 |
| Rutgers | 2nd-half scoring margin +2.4, 1st-half scoring margin -7.3 |
| Sacramento State | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.4, 1st-half scoring margin -11.9 |
| Sam Houston | 2nd-half scoring margin -7.9, 1st-half scoring margin +0.8 |
| San Diego State | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.4, 1st-half scoring margin -6.4 |
| San José State | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.2, 1st-half scoring margin -0.9 |
| SMU | 2nd-half scoring margin +6.9, 1st-half scoring margin +6.1 |
| South Alabama | 2nd-half scoring margin -5.3, 1st-half scoring margin +5.8 |
| Southern Miss | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.5, 1st-half scoring margin -5.6 |
| Stanford | 2nd-half scoring margin -8.0, 1st-half scoring margin -9.0 |
| Syracuse | 2nd-half scoring margin -3.3, 1st-half scoring margin +8.0 |
| Temple | 2nd-half scoring margin -4.7, 1st-half scoring margin +0.9 |
| Texas State | 2nd-half scoring margin +2.9, 1st-half scoring margin +3.3 |
| Toledo | 2nd-half scoring margin +4.8, 1st-half scoring margin +7.1 |
| Troy | 2nd-half scoring margin -2.8, 1st-half scoring margin +1.0 |
| Tulane | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.9, 1st-half scoring margin -1.9 |
| Tulsa | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.1, 1st-half scoring margin +2.4 |
| UAB | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.7, 1st-half scoring margin -4.9 |
| UCLA | 2nd-half scoring margin +12.0, 1st-half scoring margin +8.1 |
| UConn | 2nd-half scoring margin +2.9, 1st-half scoring margin +6.4 |
| UL Monroe | 2nd-half scoring margin -5.4, 1st-half scoring margin -11.4 |
| UNLV | 2nd-half scoring margin -2.9, 1st-half scoring margin +4.1 |
| USC | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.2, 1st-half scoring margin +9.4 |
| Utah State | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.3, 1st-half scoring margin -6.3 |
| UTEP | 2nd-half scoring margin -12.9, 1st-half scoring margin -9.5 |
| UTSA | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.3, 1st-half scoring margin +4.3 |
| Virginia | 2nd-half scoring margin +0.2, 1st-half scoring margin +2.6 |
| Wake Forest | 2nd-half scoring margin +10.0, 1st-half scoring margin +11.4 |
| Washington | 2nd-half scoring margin +4.6, 1st-half scoring margin +0.8 |
| Washington State | 2nd-half scoring margin -6.2, 1st-half scoring margin -2.2 |
| Western Kentucky | 2nd-half scoring margin -5.0, 1st-half scoring margin -4.9 |
| Western Michigan | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.7, 1st-half scoring margin +3.3 |
| Wisconsin | 2nd-half scoring margin +4.6, 1st-half scoring margin +1.9 |
| Wyoming | 2nd-half scoring margin 0.0, 1st-half scoring margin -0.9 |
| Alabama | 2nd-half scoring margin +8.3, 1st-half scoring margin +8.8 |
| Arizona | 2nd-half scoring margin +5.4, 1st-half scoring margin +10.6 |
| Arizona State | 2nd-half scoring margin -0.3, 1st-half scoring margin +0.3 |
| Arkansas | 2nd-half scoring margin -0.8, 1st-half scoring margin -7.3 |
| Auburn | 2nd-half scoring margin -4.0, 1st-half scoring margin +1.4 |
| Baylor | 2nd-half scoring margin +6.4, 1st-half scoring margin +9.0 |
| BYU | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.8, 1st-half scoring margin +12.9 |
| Cincinnati | 2nd-half scoring margin +7.5, 1st-half scoring margin -2.6 |
| Colorado | 2nd-half scoring margin -6.3, 1st-half scoring margin -2.5 |
| Florida | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.5, 1st-half scoring margin +4.0 |
| Georgia | 2nd-half scoring margin +8.0, 1st-half scoring margin +18.1 |
| Houston | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.4, 1st-half scoring margin +11.6 |
| Iowa State | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.9, 1st-half scoring margin -0.1 |
| Kansas | 2nd-half scoring margin -5.7, 1st-half scoring margin +4.0 |
| Kansas State | 2nd-half scoring margin +5.8, 1st-half scoring margin +4.5 |
| Kentucky | 2nd-half scoring margin +5.4, 1st-half scoring margin +2.5 |
| LSU | 2nd-half scoring margin +12.0, 1st-half scoring margin +12.3 |
| Mississippi State | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.0, 1st-half scoring margin -0.5 |
| Missouri | 2nd-half scoring margin +5.4, 1st-half scoring margin +7.8 |
| Oklahoma | 2nd-half scoring margin +4.0, 1st-half scoring margin -2.8 |
| Oklahoma State | 2nd-half scoring margin +11.3, 1st-half scoring margin +2.8 |
| Ole Miss | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.6, 1st-half scoring margin +11.5 |
| South Carolina | 2nd-half scoring margin +4.5, 1st-half scoring margin +7.3 |
| TCU | 2nd-half scoring margin +7.9, 1st-half scoring margin +1.3 |
| Tennessee | 2nd-half scoring margin +8.3, 1st-half scoring margin +7.8 |
| Texas | 2nd-half scoring margin +5.0, 1st-half scoring margin +8.6 |
| Texas A&M | 2nd-half scoring margin +2.8, 1st-half scoring margin +6.6 |
| Texas Tech | 2nd-half scoring margin +9.8, 1st-half scoring margin +4.8 |
| UCF | 2nd-half scoring margin -0.4, 1st-half scoring margin +3.9 |
| Utah | 2nd-half scoring margin +3.9, 1st-half scoring margin +19.1 |
| Vanderbilt | 2nd-half scoring margin +1.0, 1st-half scoring margin -8.5 |
| West Virginia | 2nd-half scoring margin -1.3, 1st-half scoring margin +4.9 |
From play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 31, 2026.
From play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 31, 2026.
Up to 40 characters each. Leave one blank to keep ours. Your labels ride along in the link, the embed and the share image.
From play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 31, 2026.
From play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 31, 2026.