The College Football Playoff selection committee and the entire college football community will have their eyes on Florida State on Saturday night. What they will witness is a Seminoles defense that continues to show remarkable improvement, reaching No. 6 nationally in stop rate. “Stop rate” measures the percentage of a defense’s drives that culminate in punts, turnovers, or turnovers on downs. This basic metric provides a more accurate portrayal of a defense’s effectiveness in today’s fast-paced college football compared to the traditional yards per game or points per game. As we enter Year 7 of tracking this metric, we recognize every defense’s points per drive average along with the final standings for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017. Florida State’s run to a 12-0 regular season has been dominated by the stellar performance of offensive playmakers such as Jordan Travis, Trey Benson, Keon Coleman, and Johnny Wilson. However, Travis’ season-ending injury complicates the Seminoles’ Playoff case in a highly competitive season where eight great teams are fighting for four spots.
Florida State’s defense has significantly influenced their remarkable run. Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller has raised the unit’s stop rate from No. 106 nationally to 75 percent over the course of three years while also developing one of the best pass defenses in the country. The Seminoles have held four of their last six opponents to under 100 passing yards and lead the FBS in completion percentage defense. Their success is also reflected in being a top-10 team in rushing the passer, with only Iowa and Clemson forcing more punts this season. Having built a strong, experienced defense with 20 different players who have played at least 200 snaps, Fuller’s rebuild of the unit has made an enormous impact.
Florida State’s final regular-season ACC championship game will be a tough test. The Seminoles will face off against Louisville, a team currently at No. 14 in stop rate. The winner of this game is highly likely to secure their spot in the College Football Playoff. It’s going to be a thrilling night of college football, with a multitude of fan bases eagerly awaiting the outcome. As the CFP playoffs approach, Florida State’s defense looks prepared and determined to make a significant statement. Be sure to keep an eye on the complete list of FBS-only stop rate standings for the 2023 regular season. All data is courtesy of TruMedia and Pro Football Focus.
