Daily Blog • April 19, 2010
Spring practice is nearly wrapped up for all the teams so make sure to check out our Spring Central Section to get the latest details surrounding your favorite team. Coming soon is our interesting tidbit section, which will detail several different factors like the Top Winningest Active Coaches, Top Home/Away and top individual performers over the last 5 years.

The NFL draft is less than a week and my NFL Draft Guide is complete with more than a 100 pages filled with the latest and greatest information on this year’s draft! It includes position by position rankings, combine invites, pro day workouts and an updated 2-round Mock Draft!  While my NFL Draft Guide would probably sell for $6.95 on the newsstands you can download the entire guide for free at PhilSteele.com!

Josh Buchanan who runs JBScouting.com does a great job following FCS football and he contributes significantly to my FCS preview. Josh also has scouted for the Texas vs. Nation Game and East Coast Bowl the last few years and has interned with the Carolina Panthers. He has just released finished his small school draft guide with nearly 200 pages of jampacked infomation exclusively on this year's small school top players! You can purchase his guide by clicking here.

In the magazine on each team we include a chart of various offensive/defensive stats from the last 7 years. Included in this chart is the number of returning starters, offensive/defensive ppg, total turnovers, and sack totals.

Today’s blog will take a closer look at defensive ppg for all 120 teams over the last 5 years. Here are the….

Top 5 Single Season Defensive PPG L/5 yrs

1. 2008 USC 9.0 PPG
2. 2009 Nebraska 10.4 PPG
3. 2005 Alabama 10.7 PPG
4. 2006 Virginia Tech 11.0 PPG
5. 2008 TCU 11.3 PPG 

Bottom 5 Single Season Defensive PPG L/5 yrs

1. 2008 North Texas 47.6 PPG
2. 2005 Temple 45.3 PPG
3. 2007 North Texas 45.1 PPG
4. 2008 Washington St 43.8 PPG
5. 2009 Rice 43.1 PPG

Top Single Season Scoring AVG L/5 yrs (All 120 Teams)

2007 23.19 PPG*

Bottom Single Season Scoring AVG L/5 yrs (All 120 Teams)

2007 27.17 PPG

*This was the first year the NCAA instituted a running game clock after punts/kickoffs and obviously it had an ill effect on the scoring avg for all teams.

Ohio St scoring defense has been dominant over the past 5 years allowing just 13.4 ppg which is more than 1 ppg lower than #2 Virginia Tech. TCU has always fielded good defenses under HC Gary Patterson and the Horned Frogs have given up just 14.74 ppg the last 5 years. USC thanks to allowing just 9.0 ppg in 2008 (lowest since Auburn in 1988!) was #6 allowing just 16.56 ppg.

I have also separated the teams conference by conference and it is interesting to see which conferences give up more/less than others. The SEC is known for their strong defenses and this data supports that claim with 7 teams in the top 25 led by Alabama at #5. The Big 10 is also a strong defensive league with 3 top 10 teams and the ACC placed 5 teams in the top 20. The Pac-10 and WAC are not known for strong defenses outside of USC and Boise St and this chart shows just that with the Pac-10 having just 1 Top 30 team (USC #6) and the WAC placing just one team in the top 75 (Boise St #13).

Defensive PPG Last 5 Years

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
1
Ohio St
12.5
13.9
12.8
12.8
15.2
13.44
2
Virginia Tech
15.6
16.7
16.1
11
12.9
14.46
3
TCU
12.8
11.3
18.7
12.3
18.6
14.74
4
Penn St
12.2
14.4
17.5
14.4
17
15.1
5
Alabama
11.7
14.3
22
19.2
10.7
15.58
6
USC
19.8
9
16
15.2
22.8
16.56
7
Florida
12.4
12.9
25.5
13.5
18.8
16.62
8
LSU
16.2
24.2
19.9
12.6
14.2
17.42
9
Iowa
15.4
13
18.8
20.7
20
17.58
10
Clemson
20.4
17.3
18.7
16.2
17.6
18.04
11
Boston College
19.8
18.4
20.4
15.7
15.9
18.04
12
Auburn
27.5
18
16.9
13.9
15.5
18.36
13
Boise St
17.1
12.6
21.6
17.6
24.4
18.66
14
Texas
16.7
18.8
25.3
18.3
16.4
19.1
15
West Virginia
21.7
17
18.1
21.7
17.8
19.26
16
USF
19.8
20
23.4
16.9
18
19.62
17
Utah
20.2
17.2
16.8
19.8
24.1
19.62
18
Rutgers
17.9
18.8
22.5
14.3
25.6
19.82
19
Oklahoma
14.5
24.5
20.3
17.3
23.1
19.94
20
Miami, Fl
22.2
24.2
26
15.5
14.3
20.44
21
Tennessee
22.2
16.8
27.3
19.5
18.6
20.88
22
Georgia Tech
24.8
20.3
20.8
18.4
20.1
20.88
23
Georgia
25.9
24.5
20.2
17.6
16.4
20.92
24
BYU
21.5
21.9
18.5
14.7
29.2
21.16
25
South Carolina
20.4
21.1
23.5
18.7
23.2
21.38
26
Wisconsin
21.8
26.5
23.2
12.1
23.8
21.48
27
Connecticut
23.6
19.8
19
27
19.2
21.72
28
Virginia
26.3
21.7
19.7
17.8
23.3
21.76
29
Mississippi
17.7
19
28.5
22.9
22.3
22.08
30
Pittsburgh
19.8
21.5
24.3
22.8
22.1
22.1
31
Wake Forest
26.3
18.3
22.2
15.4
28.7
22.18
32
California
25.5
19.9
26.8
19.3
21.2
22.54
33
Cincinnati
23.1
20.1
18.8
19.6
31.4
22.6
34
Michigan
27.5
28.9
21.4
15.9
20.3
22.8
35
Northern Illinois
21.6
18
30.8
21.2
22.8
22.88
36
Florida St
30
20.2
22.9
19.8
22
22.98
37
Southern Miss
25.8
24.1
24.2
18.6
22.7
23.08
38
Air Force
15.7
22.2
21.1
25.2
31.7
23.18
39
Nebraska
10.4
28.5
37.9
18.3
21
23.22
40
Arizona
23.9
21.3
26.8
19.6
26.4
23.6
41
Vanderbilt
23.3
19.6
22.6
23.7
29.2
23.68
42
Middle Tenn
23.7
24.9
28.3
23.2
18.7
23.76
43
North Carolina
17.1
21.2
24.5
30.5
26.2
23.9
44
Texas Tech
22.5
27.8
25.9
25.1
18.8
24.02
45
Kansas
28.4
28.8
16.4
25.5
22
24.22
46
Troy
29.8
21.3
24.6
22.2
23.2
24.22
47
Arizona St
21.1
22.7
22.5
25.1
29.9
24.26
48
Maryland
31.3
22.5
21.5
21.8
25
24.42
49
East Carolina
21.9
21.1
30.4
20.8
28.8
24.6
50
Mississippi St
26.8
24.7
23.2
25.8
23.5
24.8
51
Navy
19.4
22
36.4
20.1
26.1
24.8
52
Arkansas St
23.3
23.8
27.6
24.1
25.3
24.82
53
Missouri
25.4
27.2
23.3
19.5
29.2
24.92
54
NC State
31.2
26.3
28.3
21.8
17.7
25.06
55
Oregon
23.8
28.2
23.6
26.5
23.2
25.06
56
Notre Dame
26
22.2
28.8
23.8
24.5
25.06
57
Arkansas
25.1
31.2
26.5
18.3
24.6
25.14
58
Oregon St
25
23.1
22.6
22.2
33.2
25.22
59
UCLA
21.2
29
22.3
19.9
34.2
25.32
60
Ohio
21.3
27.3
29.9
18.1
30.5
25.42
61
Louisville
26.3
29.8
31.4
16.3
23.8
25.52
62
Wyoming
27.3
27.8
25.9
22
27
26
63
Army
21.9
23.7
30.3
27.9
26.7
26.1
64
UCF
22.5
24.1
26.6
28.8
28.7
26.14
65
New Mexico
35.9
22.8
19
24
29.7
26.28
66
Central Michigan
18.9
30.2
36.9
22.3
23.6
26.38
67
Michigan St
26.3
22.1
26.6
28.4
28.7
26.42
68
Tulsa
27.3
27.9
33.4
20.2
23.5
26.46
69
Western Michigan
27.5
24.9
28.9
19.9
31.1
26.46
70
Colorado
28.8
29.3
29.5
22.3
23.6
26.7
71
Kent St
22.4
31.7
29.2
20.1
30.1
26.7
72
Purdue
29.1
25.1
26.5
26.7
28.1
27.1
73
Northwestern
24.5
20.2
31
26.2
33.9
27.16
74
Oklahoma St
21.7
28.1
29.5
25.6
31.3
27.24
75
Kentucky
22.7
21.5
29.6
28.4
34.1
27.26
76
Akron
28.8
31.3
29.2
22.6
24.5
27.28
77
Fresno St
28.4
31.1
27
28.3
22.5
27.46
78
WKU
39.6
27.2
20.8
23.9
26.5
27.6
79
San Jose St
34.5
21.6
29.3
20.8
32.5
27.74
80
Bowling Green
27.5
23.2
32.1
28.3
27.6
27.74
81
ULM
27.3
31.2
27.7
22.3
30.8
27.86
82
Iowa St
21.8
35.8
31.8
30.8
19.2
27.88
83
Minnesota
23.8
24.8
36.7
26
29
28.06
84
Ball St
28.2
20.5
28.3
25.8
37.8
28.12
85
Houston
30.1
30.9
29.2
23.5
27
28.14
86
Miami, Oh
34.2
32.7
25.6
25.3
23.5
28.26
87
Kansas St
23.3
35.8
30.8
23.8
27.7
28.28
88
Marshall
24.3
27.7
34.3
29.3
25.9
28.3
89
Colorado St
29.8
30.2
30.8
21.9
30.8
28.7
90
Hawaii
29.5
28.9
25.5
24.1
35.7
28.74
91
Nevada
28.5
32.3
32.2
19.2
31.9
28.82
92
Stanford
26.5
27.4
28.3
31.4
30.6
28.84
93
Illinois
30.2
26.6
21.8
26.8
39.5
28.98
94
Buffalo
23.8
28.2
27.6
35.9
29.7
29.04
95
Syracuse
27.9
32.7
34.8
24.6
26.8
29.36
96
Louisiana Tech
25.8
23.7
30.7
41.7
25.5
29.48
97
UAB
32.3
31.3
35.1
24.8
24
29.5
98
Memphis
34.8
27.2
32.2
30.4
23
29.52
99
Texas A&M
33.5
37.4
25.9
20.5
31.2
29.7
100
Florida Atlantic
33.8
28.7
33.2
24.9
30.8
30.28
101
Louisiana
30.3
33.7
35.8
24.7
27.6
30.42
102
Baylor
27.3
29.3
37
32.6
26.5
30.54
103
Washington
26.7
38.6
31.6
25.9
30.6
30.68
104
SMU
27.6
38.2
39.8
24.5
25.5
31.12
105
Duke
28.3
23.4
33.2
33.8
37.1
31.16
106
San Diego St
30.5
37.2
34.4
27.1
27.1
31.26
107
Toledo
37.7
31.4
39.2
27.7
21.8
31.56
108
FIU
35.3
28.3
39.1
26.1
29.4
31.64
109
Temple
22.3
23.1
26.3
41.3
45.3
31.66
110
Eastern Michigan
38.3
35.6
31.2
26.8
26.8
31.74
111
Indiana
30
35.3
28.5
32.8
32.8
31.88
112
UNLV
32.4
32.6
28.6
31.8
34.6
32
113
UTEP
33.5
37
37.1
31.3
25.9
32.96
114
Tulane
36.7
34.5
31.3
33.3
31.6
33.48
115
Washington St
38.5
43.8
32.4
23.1
31.5
33.86
116
New Mexico St
31.6
34.1
36.2
30.8
38.8
34.3
117
Utah St
34
34.7
33.8
38.5
32.7
34.74
118
North Texas
35.6
47.6
45.1
25.3
31.5
37.02
119
Idaho
36
42.8
36.9
34.8
38.1
37.72
120
Rice
43.1
33.3
42.9
33.2
40.6
38.62

 

Conference By Conference

 

SEC

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
5
Alabama
11.7
14.3
22
19.2
10.7
15.58
7
Florida
12.4
12.9
25.5
13.5
18.8
16.62
8
LSU
16.2
24.2
19.9
12.6
14.2
17.42
12
Auburn
27.5
18
16.9
13.9
15.5
18.36
21
Tennessee
22.2
16.8
27.3
19.5
18.6
20.88
23
Georgia
25.9
24.5
20.2
17.6
16.4
20.92
25
South Carolina
20.4
21.1
23.5
18.7
23.2
21.38
29
Mississippi
17.7
19
28.5
22.9
22.3
22.08
41
Vanderbilt
23.3
19.6
22.6
23.7
29.2
23.68
50
Mississippi St
26.8
24.7
23.2
25.8
23.5
24.8
57
Arkansas
25.1
31.2
26.5
18.3
24.6
25.14
75
Kentucky
22.7
21.5
29.6
28.4
34.1
27.26

Big 10

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
1
Ohio St
12.5
13.9
12.8
12.8
15.2
13.44
4
Penn St
12.2
14.4
17.5
14.4
17
15.1
9
Iowa
15.4
13
18.8
20.7
20
17.58
26
Wisconsin
21.8
26.5
23.2
12.1
23.8
21.48
34
Michigan
27.5
28.9
21.4
15.9
20.3
22.8
67
Michigan St
26.3
22.1
26.6
28.4
28.7
26.42
72
Purdue
29.1
25.1
26.5
26.7
28.1
27.1
73
Northwestern
24.5
20.2
31
26.2
33.9
27.16
83
Minnesota
23.8
24.8
36.7
26
29
28.06
93
Illinois
30.2
26.6
21.8
26.8
39.5
28.98
111
Indiana
30
35.3
28.5
32.8
32.8
31.88

Big 12

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
14
Texas
16.7
18.8
25.3
18.3
16.4
19.1
19
Oklahoma
14.5
24.5
20.3
17.3
23.1
19.94
39
Nebraska
10.4
28.5
37.9
18.3
21
23.22
44
Texas Tech
22.5
27.8
25.9
25.1
18.8
24.02
45
Kansas
28.4
28.8
16.4
25.5
22
24.22
53
Missouri
25.4
27.2
23.3
19.5
29.2
24.92
70
Colorado
28.8
29.3
29.5
22.3
23.6
26.7
74
Oklahoma St
21.7
28.1
29.5
25.6
31.3
27.24
82
Iowa St
21.8
35.8
31.8
30.8
19.2
27.88
87
Kansas St
23.3
35.8
30.8
23.8
27.7
28.28
99
Texas A&M
33.5
37.4
25.9
20.5
31.2
29.7
102
Baylor
27.3
29.3
37
32.6
26.5
30.54

ACC

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
2
Virginia Tech
15.6
16.7
16.1
11
12.9
14.46
10
Clemson
20.4
17.3
18.7
16.2
17.6
18.04
11
Boston College
19.8
18.4
20.4
15.7
15.9
18.04
20
Miami, Fl
22.2
24.2
26
15.5
14.3
20.44
22
Georgia Tech
24.8
20.3
20.8
18.4
20.1
20.88
28
Virginia
26.3
21.7
19.7
17.8
23.3
21.76
31
Wake Forest
26.3
18.3
22.2
15.4
28.7
22.18
36
Florida St
30
20.2
22.9
19.8
22
22.98
43
North Carolina
17.1
21.2
24.5
30.5
26.2
23.9
48
Maryland
31.3
22.5
21.5
21.8
25
24.42
54
NC State
31.2
26.3
28.3
21.8
17.7
25.06
105
Duke
28.3
23.4
33.2
33.8
37.1
31.16

PAC-10

Rank Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
6
USC
19.8
9
16
15.2
22.8
16.56
32
California
25.5
19.9
26.8
19.3
21.2
22.54
40
Arizona
23.9
21.3
26.8
19.6
26.4
23.6
47
Arizona St
21.1
22.7
22.5
25.1
29.9
24.26
55
Oregon
23.8
28.2
23.6
26.5
23.2
25.06
58
Oregon St
25
23.1
22.6
22.2
33.2
25.22
59
UCLA
21.2
29
22.3
19.9
34.2
25.32
92
Stanford
26.5
27.4
28.3
31.4
30.6
28.84
103
Washington
26.7
38.6
31.6
25.9
30.6
30.68
115
Washington St
38.5
43.8
32.4
23.1
31.5
33.86

Big East

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
15
West Virginia
21.7
17
18.1
21.7
17.8
19.26
16
USF
19.8
20
23.4
16.9
18
19.62
18
Rutgers
17.9
18.8
22.5
14.3
25.6
19.82
27
Connecticut
23.6
19.8
19
27
19.2
21.72
30
Pittsburgh
19.8
21.5
24.3
22.8
22.1
22.1
33
Cincinnati
23.1
20.1
18.8
19.6
31.4
22.6
61
Louisville
26.3
29.8
31.4
16.3
23.8
25.52
95
Syracuse
27.9
32.7
34.8
24.6
26.8
29.36

MWC

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
3
TCU
12.8
11.3
18.7
12.3
18.6
14.74
17
Utah
20.2
17.2
16.8
19.8
24.1
19.62
24
BYU
21.5
21.9
18.5
14.7
29.2
21.16
38
Air Force
15.7
22.2
21.1
25.2
31.7
23.18
62
Wyoming
27.3
27.8
25.9
22
27
26
65
New Mexico
35.9
22.8
19
24
29.7
26.28
89
Colorado St
29.8
30.2
30.8
21.9
30.8
28.7
106
San Diego St
30.5
37.2
34.4
27.1
27.1
31.26
112
UNLV
32.4
32.6
28.6
31.8
34.6
32

CUSA

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
37
Southern Miss
25.8
24.1
24.2
18.6
22.7
23.08
49
East Carolina
21.9
21.1
30.4
20.8
28.8
24.6
64
UCF
22.5
24.1
26.6
28.8
28.7
26.14
68
Tulsa
27.3
27.9
33.4
20.2
23.5
26.46
85
Houston
30.1
30.9
29.2
23.5
27
28.14
88
Marshall
24.3
27.7
34.3
29.3
25.9
28.3
97
UAB
32.3
31.3
35.1
24.8
24
29.5
98
Memphis
34.8
27.2
32.2
30.4
23
29.52
104
SMU
27.6
38.2
39.8
24.5
25.5
31.12
113
UTEP
33.5
37
37.1
31.3
25.9
32.96
114
Tulane
36.7
34.5
31.3
33.3
31.6
33.48
120
Rice
43.1
33.3
42.9
33.2
40.6
38.62

WAC

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
13
Boise St
17.1
12.6
21.6
17.6
24.4
18.66
77
Fresno St
28.4
31.1
27
28.3
22.5
27.46
79
San Jose St
34.5
21.6
29.3
20.8
32.5
27.74
90
Hawaii
29.5
28.9
25.5
24.1
35.7
28.74
91
Nevada
28.5
32.3
32.2
19.2
31.9
28.82
96
Louisiana Tech
25.8
23.7
30.7
41.7
25.5
29.48
116
New Mexico St
31.6
34.1
36.2
30.8
38.8
34.3
117
Utah St
34
34.7
33.8
38.5
32.7
34.74
119
Idaho
36
42.8
36.9
34.8
38.1
37.72

MAC

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
35
Northern Illinois
21.6
18
30.8
21.2
22.8
22.88
60
Ohio
21.3
27.3
29.9
18.1
30.5
25.42
66
Central Michigan
18.9
30.2
36.9
22.3
23.6
26.38
69
Western Michigan
27.5
24.9
28.9
19.9
31.1
26.46
71
Kent St
22.4
31.7
29.2
20.1
30.1
26.7
76
Akron
28.8
31.3
29.2
22.6
24.5
27.28
80
Bowling Green
27.5
23.2
32.1
28.3
27.6
27.74
84
Ball St
28.2
20.5
28.3
25.8
37.8
28.12
86
Miami, Oh
34.2
32.7
25.6
25.3
23.5
28.26
94
Buffalo
23.8
28.2
27.6
35.9
29.7
29.04
107
Toledo
37.7
31.4
39.2
27.7
21.8
31.56
109
Temple
22.3
23.1
26.3
41.3
45.3
31.66
110
Eastern Michigan
38.3
35.6
31.2
26.8
26.8
31.74

Sun Belt

Rank
Team
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
AVG L/5 yrs
42
Middle Tennessee
23.7
24.9
28.3
23.2
18.7
23.76
46
Troy
29.8
21.3
24.6
22.2
23.2
24.22
52
Arkansas St
23.3
23.8
27.6
24.1
25.3
24.82
78
WKU
39.6
27.2
20.8
23.9
26.5
27.6
81
ULM
27.3
31.2
27.7
22.3
30.8
27.86
100
Florida Atlantic
33.8
28.7
33.2
24.9
30.8
30.28
101
Louisiana
30.3
33.7
35.8
24.7
27.6
30.42
108
FIU
35.3
28.3
39.1
26.1
29.4
31.64
118
North Texas
35.6
47.6
45.1
25.3
31.5
37.02