Analysis of Defensive Statistics in the Football Bowl Subdivision

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the significance of specific defensive football statistics in Division I college football (Football Bowl Subdivision). The top twenty-five FBS teams in each category were compared to the corresponding bottom twenty-five FBS teams in the same category. This study used a two – sample t test assuming equal variances to analyze the data with a .05 significance level. Wins and losses were not weighted in this study. The defensive statistics that were analyzed were defensive points allowed per game, rushing yards allowed per game, passing yards allowed per game, turnovers gained, defensive 3rd down efficiency, defensive redzone efficiency, defensive big play allowed percentage, and penalties per game. This study found that the order of importance for defensive statistics during the 2015 FBS season which were significant are as follows: defensive points allowed per game, rushing yards allowed per game, total turnovers gained, defensive big plays percentage allowed, defensive 3rd down efficiency, and passing yards allowed per game. While these were significant for wining a football game, they are not the only statistics needed to win a football game and the investigation suggested other opportunities in further analytics.