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Points for vs. points against: 2026 College Football Chart

College Football Charts
Data updatedOct 31, 2026

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Points for vs. points against

Points allowed (up) against Points scored (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

The scoreboard, both ways. Right scores more; up gives up less. Down and right plays shootouts.

There is a weak relationship here (r = +0.34; r runs from −1 to +1, and positive means the two go together): teams better on Points scored tend to be better on Points allowed. Points scored accounts for about 12% of the differences in Points allowed across the 138 teams shown.

Split by the averages: Wins both ways 41, Wins with defense 29, Shootout teams 25, Loses both ways 43.

Winning both ways: Miami (1st and 11th), Notre Dame (6th and 4th), Georgia (3rd and 16th). Losing both ways: Northern Illinois (135th and 136th), UTEP (136th and 135th), Charlotte (128th and 137th). Ranks are among the 138 teams shown, Points scored first, then Points allowed.

Pac-12: 2 of 8 in Wins both ways, 2 in Loses both ways. Top of the list: Oregon State (4th and 62nd of 138).

Mountain West: 1 of 10 in Wins both ways, 3 in Loses both ways. Top of the list: New Mexico (19th and 1st of 138).

Where the data comes from. Points allowed: play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 24, 2026. Points scored: play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 24, 2026.

Winning both ways

  1. Miami 1st and 11th of 138
  2. Notre Dame 6th and 4th of 138
  3. Georgia 3rd and 16th of 138
  4. New Mexico 19th and 1st of 138
  5. Ohio State 10th and 5th of 138
  6. LSU 7th and 18th of 138

Losing both ways

  1. Northern Illinois 135th and 136th of 138
  2. UTEP 136th and 135th of 138
  3. Charlotte 128th and 137th of 138
  4. Sacramento State 134th and 126th of 138
  5. UL Monroe 123rd and 134th of 138
  6. Stanford 126th and 132nd of 138

About the stats on this chart

What is points scored?

Average points scored per game against FBS opponents.

Why does points scored matter?

Points are the whole point, but they come with the schedule baked in. Use them next to an adjusted rating, not instead of one.

Where does the points scored data come from?

From play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 24, 2026.

What is points allowed?

Average points allowed per game against FBS opponents. Lower is better.

Why does points allowed matter?

Points allowed tell you what happened, not how good the defense is. A defense that plays nobody looks great here.

Where does the points allowed data come from?

From play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 24, 2026.