Adjusted Efficiency
An efficiency metric modified for context such as opponent strength, game location, tempo, garbage time, or game state.
Glossary category
College Football Advanced Metrics Glossary
Advanced metrics add game context to raw production, helping compare teams and players across pace, opponents, and situations.
Back to all glossary termsTop Advanced Metrics Terms
Adjusted EfficiencyAn efficiency metric modified for context such as opponent strength, game location, tempo, garbage time, or game state.Adjusted Yards Per AttemptA passing efficiency stat that adjusts yards per attempt for touchdowns and interceptions.Air YardsThe yards a pass travels from the line of scrimmage to the catch point or target point.Average Depth of TargetAverage air yards per target.Broken TackleA play where a ball carrier avoids or escapes a tackle attempt.Defensive Success RateThe percentage of opponent plays that fail to meet success-rate thresholds.Elo RatingA team strength rating that updates based on results and opponent quality.EPA AllowedExpected Points Added allowed by a defense.
All Advanced Metrics Definitions
53 terms
Adjusted Yards Per Attempt
A passing efficiency stat that adjusts yards per attempt for touchdowns and interceptions.
Air Yards
The yards a pass travels from the line of scrimmage to the catch point or target point.
Average Depth of Target
Average air yards per target.
Broken Tackle
A play where a ball carrier avoids or escapes a tackle attempt.
Defensive Success Rate
The percentage of opponent plays that fail to meet success-rate thresholds.
Elo Rating
A team strength rating that updates based on results and opponent quality.
EPA Allowed
Expected Points Added allowed by a defense.
EPA Per Play
Total EPA divided by total plays.
Expected Points Added
EPA estimates how much a play changed a team's expected points.
Explosiveness
A measure of how much value a team gets from big or successful plays.
FEI
A drive-based college football rating system that evaluates team efficiency.
Field Position Value
The scoring advantage created by starting drives closer to the opponent's end zone.
Five Factors
A common football analytics framework focused on efficiency, explosiveness, field position, finishing drives, and turnovers.
FPI
ESPN's Football Power Index, a predictive team rating system.
Fumble Luck
The idea that fumble recoveries can be volatile because loose-ball recovery often varies heavily in small samples.
Game Control
A measure of how much a team controlled the flow or win probability of a game.
Garbage Time
Low-leverage game time when the score margin is very large.
Garbage-Time Adjustment
A method of reducing or removing low-leverage plays from statistical evaluation.
Interception Rate
Interceptions divided by pass attempts.
Leverage
The importance of a play or situation based on how much it can affect the game outcome.
Line Yards
A rushing metric that attempts to separate offensive line contribution from runner contribution.
Net EPA Per Play
Offensive EPA per play minus defensive EPA allowed per play.
Net Kickoff Efficiency
A measure of kickoff performance after accounting for starting field position, touchbacks, and returns.
Net Success Rate
Offensive success rate minus defensive success rate allowed.
Net Yards Per Attempt
Passing yards adjusted for sacks, usually divided by attempts plus sacks.
Open-Field Yards
Rushing yardage gained after reaching the open field.
Opponent Adjustment
A correction that accounts for the strength of opponents faced.
Opponent-Adjusted EPA
EPA modified to account for the quality of the opposing offense or defense.
Opponent-Adjusted Success Rate
Success rate modified to account for opponent strength.
Opportunity Rate
The percentage of runs where the offense gains enough initial yardage to create a successful rushing opportunity.
Pace
How quickly a team plays, often measured by plays per game, seconds per play, or possessions per game.
Passer Rating
A formula-based quarterback efficiency rating using passing statistics.
Passing Downs
Downs and distances where the offense is more likely to pass, usually because it needs significant yardage.
Passing Success Rate
The percentage of passing plays that gain enough yardage based on down and distance.
Possessions Per Game
The average number of offensive drives or possessions a team has per game.
Postgame Win Expectancy
An estimate of how often a team would be expected to win based on the game's statistical profile.
Power Success Rate
The percentage of short-yardage power situations converted by the offense.
Predicted Points Added
A points-based efficiency metric similar in purpose to EPA, commonly abbreviated PPA.
QBR
A quarterback rating model designed to estimate total quarterback contribution.
Rating
A numerical estimate of team or player strength.
Returning Production
A measure of how much prior-season player production returns to a team.
Route Participation
The percentage of pass plays on which a player runs a route.
Second-Level Yards
Rushing yardage gained beyond the defensive line but before the deepest defensive level.
SP+
A predictive college football rating system associated with efficiency, explosiveness, tempo, and opponent adjustment.
Standard Downs
Downs and distances where the offense has more play-calling flexibility, commonly including early downs and short-yardage situations.
Success Rate
The percentage of plays that gain enough yardage based on down and distance.
Success Rate Allowed
How often a defense allows successful plays based on down-and-distance success-rate thresholds.
Target Share
The percentage of a team's passing targets directed to a specific player.
Touchdown Rate
Passing or rushing touchdowns divided by attempts, depending on context.
Win Probability
The estimated chance a team has to win at a specific moment.
Win Probability Added
How much a play changes a team's chance to win.
Yards After Contact
Rushing yardage gained after a ball carrier is contacted by a defender.