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Is it the line or the back?: 2026 College Football Chart

College Football Charts
Data updatedOct 31, 2026

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Is it the line or the back?

Open-field yards per carry (adjusted) (up) against Line yards per carry (adjusted) (across). 138 teams.

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.

What this shows

Line yards are the first few yards of each run, the part the offensive line earns. Open-field yards come more than 10 yards downfield, the part the back earns. Right is the line doing its job; up is the back taking it the distance.

There is a weak relationship here (r = +0.29; r runs from −1 to +1, and positive means the two go together): teams better on Line yards per carry (adjusted) tend to be better on Open-field yards per carry (adjusted). Line yards per carry (adjusted) accounts for about 9% of the differences in Open-field yards per carry (adjusted) across the 138 teams shown.

Split by the averages: Line and back both 41, The back does the work 23, The line does the work 28, Nothing doing 46.

Line and back both: UCLA (2nd and 5th), Navy (7th and 7th), Texas State (33rd and 4th). Nothing doing: Old Dominion (138th and 88th), Kent State (135th and 134th), California (133rd and 129th). Ranks are among the 138 teams shown, Line yards per carry (adjusted) first, then Open-field yards per carry (adjusted).

SEC: 7 of 16 in Line and back both, 5 in Nothing doing. Top of the list: Georgia (22nd and 9th of 138).

Big 12: 7 of 16 in Line and back both, 5 in Nothing doing. Top of the list: Cincinnati (20th and 8th of 138).

Where the data comes from. Open-field yards per carry (adjusted): CollegeFootballData.com advanced stats, games through Oct 24, 2026. Line yards per carry (adjusted): CollegeFootballData.com advanced stats, games through Oct 24, 2026.

Line and back both

  1. UCLA 2nd and 5th of 138
  2. Navy 7th and 7th of 138
  3. Texas State 33rd and 4th of 138
  4. Louisville 128th and 1st of 138
  5. Cincinnati 20th and 8th of 138
  6. Rice 97th and 2nd of 138

Nothing doing

  1. Old Dominion 138th and 88th of 138
  2. Kent State 135th and 134th of 138
  3. California 133rd and 129th of 138
  4. Sam Houston 134th and 119th of 138
  5. Florida International 124th and 137th of 138
  6. TCU 132nd and 120th of 138

About the stats on this chart

What is line yards per carry?

Rushing yards credited to the offensive line (the first few yards of each carry), adjusted for opponents.

Why does line yards per carry matter?

Line yards are the part of a run the offensive line earns. It's the best way to grade the big guys without film.

Where does the line yards per carry data come from?

From CollegeFootballData.com advanced stats, games through Oct 24, 2026.

What is open-field yards per carry?

Yards per carry gained more than 10 yards downfield, adjusted for opponents. It measures the long-run threat.

Why does open-field yards per carry matter?

Open-field yards are the part of a run that belongs to the back. High here and low on line yards means the backs are carrying the run game.

Where does the open-field yards per carry data come from?

From CollegeFootballData.com advanced stats, games through Oct 24, 2026.