The College Football Playoff selection committee and the rest of the college football world is going to be closely watching the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday night. Why the attention to the Seminoles? Because of their increasingly dominant defense that has exploded to the No. 6 position this season in the country in stop rate.
What is stop rate, and why is it important? Stop rate measures the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers, or a turnover on downs. It is seen as a more accurate reflection of a defense’s effectiveness in today’s faster-paced college football than traditional metrics like yards per game or points per game.
According to the full FBS-only stop rate standings for the 2023 regular season, Florida State’s defense boasts an impressive 75 percent stop rate. The team’s defense has played a significant role in their perfect 12-0 regular season run, despite the attention mostly being focused on the offensive playmakers like Jordan Travis, Trey Benson, Keon Coleman, and Johnny Wilson.
However, Travis’ season-ending leg injury and their upcoming ACC championship game against No. 14 Louisville has complicated the Seminoles’ Playoffs case. The No. 4 Seminoles will need a strong performance, and their defense will play a crucial role in their success.
Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, in his first season in charge, has transformed the defensive unit from being ranked No. 106 nationally in stop rate in 2020 to the current No. 6 position this year. The Seminoles have one of the best pass defenses in the country and have held four of their last six opponents to under 100 passing yards.
In addition to forced punts, Fuller has built a defense with impressive depth and experience. With successful transfer portal additions and high school signees contributing to their defensive prowess, the Seminoles will aim to maintain their defensive dominance against Louisville this weekend.
With the tightest CFP race seen to date, all eyes will be on the Seminoles as they aim to solidify their position in the hunt for a national title, and their defense remains ready to make a serious statement.