Ohio State defense, led by Jim Knowles, dominated the 2024 season, finishing with the No. 1 stop rate in college football. Now, Knowles is set to take his expertise to Penn State in 2025, aiming to replicate his success.
What is Stop Rate?
Stop rate is a simple but effective metric that measures defensive efficiency. It calculates the percentage of a team defensive drives that result in a punt, turnover, or turnover on downs. While not as advanced as other analytics like Bill Connelly SP+, stop rate provides a clear picture of a defense ability to prevent scoring and get off the field.
Ohio State Dominant Defense
The Buckeyes finished the season with a stop rate of 78.5%, a remarkable achievement given their grueling 16-game schedule, which included six top-five opponents. Their defense played a crucial role in their national championship run, securing stops on 30 of 41 drives during the College Football Playoff (CFP). One of the most defining moments came against Texas, when Jack Sawyer’s game-clinching sack led to an 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Ohio State also ranked first in:
Scoring defense (12.9 points per game)
Points per drive (1.11)
Total defense (254.6 yards per game)
Yards per play allowed (4.19)
Defensive SP+ rating
Under Knowles leadership, Ohio State stop rate improved significantly over three seasons: from No. 12 to No. 2, and finally to No. 1. Over that span, the Buckeyes recorded the highest stop rate among all FBS teams at 76.5% against top-level competition.
Now, Knowles is taking on a new challenge at Penn State, where he’ll replace Tom Allen as defensive coordinator. The Nittany Lions finished 15th in stop rate (70.4%) in 2024 but will need to rebuild after losing star linebacker Abdul Carter and four other key defensive starters to the NFL.
Other Top Defensive Performances
Two of Ohio State CFP opponents rounded out the top three:
Texas: No. 2 (76.9%)
Tennessee: No. 3 (76.8%)
Notre Dame, which entered the national championship game ranked second, dropped to No. 5 after allowing 34 points in their title-game loss to Ohio State. The Irish now face another challenge finding a new defensive coordinator after Al Golden departed for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Key Takeaways from the Final Rankings:
Ohio State second No. 1 stop rate ranking in five years: The Buckeyes last led the nation in 2019, Ryan Day first season as head coach (81.8%).
Major coaching moves: Several top-25 stop rate teams saw coaching changes. Notable hires include:
Texas A&M: Lyle Hemphill (James Madison, No. 7)
North Texas: Skyler Cassity (Sam Houston, No. 8)
Purdue: Michael Scherer (UNLV, No. 16)
West Virginia: Zac Alley (Oklahoma, No. 21)
Florida State: Tony White (Nebraska, No. 23)
Miami: Corey Hetherman (Minnesota, No. 25)
Group of 5 standout: James Madison led all non-Power 5 teams with a stop rate of 72.9%, despite losing six key defenders to the transfer portal.
SEC dominance: The conference boasted the highest average stop rate (66.7%) and placed five teams in the top 10 Texas, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Alabama, and South Carolina.
Biggest declines:
Iowa State and Oregon fell out of the top 25 after rough postseason performances. Iowa State allowed 86 points in two games, dropping from No. 12 to No. 34. Oregon struggled against Ohio State offense in a 41-21 Rose Bowl loss, falling from No. 17 to No. 32.
Georgia’s defensive struggles: The Bulldogs posted a 62.5% stop rate, ranking 67th nationally their worst finish since 2018.
Worst defensive performance: Kent State had the lowest stop rate in FBS (39.4%) during an 0-12 season. This ranks as the fifth-worst stop rate recorded since 2017.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 season reinforced the importance of elite defensive play. The teams that ranked highest in stop rate were also among the most successful, with five of the top six teams earning CFP berths. As Jim Knowles moves on to Penn State, it will be interesting to see whether Ohio State can maintain its defensive dominance or if another program will rise to the top in 2025.
