I'm a big believer in the Tackles For Loss statistic. Want to find the BCS-conference programs that are flailing? Look at the bottom of the Tackles For Loss Against statistic.

117: Auburn (7.8)
118: Colorado (8.0)
119: Illinois (8.4)
120: Maryland (9.1)

Worst team in the SEC, worst team in the Pac12, worst team in the Big Ten, second-worst team in the ACC. All with the same characteristic: giving up negative plays.

Football is about sustaining drives. Which is why turnover margin is such a huge statistic. When you directly hand the ball to your opponent without a punt, you severely limit your chance to win because you're giving them a short field in which to sustain their drive instead of a long field. And you're not getting many short fields yourself.

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