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Data updatedNov 1, 2026

EPA

College Football Rankings by EPA per 3rd-down Play Allowed, 2026

Nebraska ranks first in FBS in EPA per 3rd-down play allowed at −0.40, ahead of Michigan (−0.03) and UCLA (0.00). The middle of FBS is about +0.39, and Northern Illinois is last of 138 (+1.04). Lower is better.

Expected points added per play, from CollegeFootballData.com. EPA measures how much each play changes the points a team can expect from the drive. Zero is break-even; +0.20 is very good. Not adjusted for opponents.

Games through Oct 31, 2026. Ranks are among the 138 FBS teams with the number.

Every FBS team by EPA per 3rd-down play allowed

RankTeamConferenceEPA per 3rd-down play allowed
1NebraskaBig Ten−0.40
2MichiganBig Ten−0.03
3UCLABig Ten0.00
4Boston CollegeACC+0.02
5Texas TechBig 12+0.07
6WashingtonBig Ten+0.09
7North Dakota StateMountain West+0.10
8Georgia SouthernSun Belt+0.12
9MinnesotaBig Ten+0.13
9OklahomaSEC+0.13
9OregonBig Ten+0.13
12New MexicoMountain West+0.15
13LSUSEC+0.17
13USCBig Ten+0.17
15Sam HoustonConference USA+0.18
16East CarolinaAmerican Athletic+0.19
17Boise StatePac-12+0.20
18TCUBig 12+0.21
19BaylorBig 12+0.22
19LibertyConference USA+0.22
21Air ForceMountain West+0.23
21Fresno StatePac-12+0.23
21NorthwesternBig Ten+0.23
24GeorgiaSEC+0.24
24IowaBig Ten+0.24
24MemphisAmerican Athletic+0.24
24San José StateMountain West+0.24
28Florida InternationalConference USA+0.25
28MiamiACC+0.25
30Notre DameIndependents+0.26
30TroySun Belt+0.26
32MassachusettsMid-American+0.27
32SyracuseACC+0.27
32TennesseeSEC+0.27
32Western KentuckyConference USA+0.27
36LouisvilleACC+0.28
36NevadaMountain West+0.28
36Texas A&MSEC+0.28
39App StateSun Belt+0.29
39DukeACC+0.29
41ClemsonACC+0.30
42AlabamaSEC+0.31
42Kent StateMid-American+0.31
42LouisianaSun Belt+0.31
42Louisiana TechSun Belt+0.31
46Bowling GreenMid-American+0.32
46IndianaBig Ten+0.32
46Penn StateBig Ten+0.32
49NC StateACC+0.34
49UNLVMountain West+0.34
51Arizona StateBig 12+0.35
51Georgia StateSun Belt+0.35
51Iowa StateBig 12+0.35
51KansasBig 12+0.35
51ToledoMid-American+0.35
56Sacramento StateMid-American+0.36
56UCFBig 12+0.36
58ColoradoBig 12+0.37
58IllinoisBig Ten+0.37
58South FloridaAmerican Athletic+0.37
58TexasSEC+0.37
58WisconsinBig Ten+0.37
63AuburnSEC+0.38
63HoustonBig 12+0.38
63MarylandBig Ten+0.38
63Ohio StateBig Ten+0.38
67ArizonaBig 12+0.39
67BuffaloMid-American+0.39
67New Mexico StateConference USA+0.39
67UABAmerican Athletic+0.39
67UTSAAmerican Athletic+0.39
72Oklahoma StateBig 12+0.40
72Southern MissSun Belt+0.40
74DelawareConference USA+0.41
74Kansas StateBig 12+0.41
74Michigan StateBig Ten+0.41
74San Diego StatePac-12+0.41
74UConnIndependents+0.41
74Western MichiganMid-American+0.41
80TulsaAmerican Athletic+0.42
80Utah StatePac-12+0.42
82North TexasAmerican Athletic+0.43
82Old DominionSun Belt+0.43
82SMUACC+0.43
85Ole MissSEC+0.44
86ArkansasSEC+0.45
86Arkansas StateSun Belt+0.45
86James MadisonSun Belt+0.45
86North CarolinaACC+0.45
86OhioMid-American+0.45
86Oregon StatePac-12+0.45
86PittsburghACC+0.45
86South CarolinaSEC+0.45
94Middle TennesseeConference USA+0.46
95CharlotteAmerican Athletic+0.47
95Coastal CarolinaSun Belt+0.47
97CaliforniaACC+0.48
97Kennesaw StateConference USA+0.48
97UL MonroeSun Belt+0.48
97VirginiaACC+0.48
97Washington StatePac-12+0.48
102Wake ForestACC+0.49
103BYUBig 12+0.50
103Central MichiganMid-American+0.50
105Virginia TechACC+0.51
106Jacksonville StateConference USA+0.52
106UtahBig 12+0.52
106WyomingMountain West+0.52
109RutgersBig Ten+0.53
109Texas StatePac-12+0.53
111CincinnatiBig 12+0.54
111South AlabamaSun Belt+0.54
111West VirginiaBig 12+0.54
114Ball StateMid-American+0.57
115Miami (OH)Mid-American+0.58
115NavyAmerican Athletic+0.58
115VanderbiltSEC+0.58
118AkronMid-American+0.59
118KentuckySEC+0.59
118Mississippi StateSEC+0.59
118MissouriSEC+0.59
118Missouri StateConference USA+0.59
123Hawai'iMountain West+0.60
124Eastern MichiganMid-American+0.61
124UTEPMountain West+0.61
126ArmyAmerican Athletic+0.62
127Florida AtlanticAmerican Athletic+0.63
127MarshallSun Belt+0.63
129FloridaSEC+0.67
129Georgia TechACC+0.67
131TempleAmerican Athletic+0.68
132TulaneAmerican Athletic+0.69
133RiceAmerican Athletic+0.72
134StanfordACC+0.74
135Colorado StatePac-12+0.81
136PurdueBig Ten+0.87
137Florida StateACC+0.91
138Northern IllinoisMountain West+1.04

The best team in each conference

Big Ten: Nebraska (−0.40, 1st); ACC: Boston College (+0.02, 4th); Big 12: Texas Tech (+0.07, 5th); Mountain West: North Dakota State (+0.10, 7th); Sun Belt: Georgia Southern (+0.12, 8th); SEC: Oklahoma (+0.13, 9th); Conference USA: Sam Houston (+0.18, 15th); American Athletic: East Carolina (+0.19, 16th); Pac-12: Boise State (+0.20, 17th); Independents: Notre Dame (+0.26, 30th); Mid-American: Massachusetts (+0.27, 32nd).

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