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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/hikingandtravel on 2025-07-09 04:38:51+00:00.
I see a lot of “returning production” statistics thrown around during the preseason and offseason. Considering last year had Virginia Tech and OK State leading the field in returning production, it made me curious just how important returning production actually is.
Here’s a top and bottom 25 from the past 3 seasons ranking teams by their returning production percentages followed by their records and ranking at the end of the season as well as any championships/playoff appearances. I am also including each teams win differential compared to the previous year to see if returning production allowed a team to win games. Obviously a 6 or 7 win team may not seem like evidence of the importance of returning production, however if that team improved from a 3 win season, I’d say it’s important. One caveat is because 2021 was shortened season, I could not properly offer a win differential between 2021 and 2022.
2022 Top 25 Returning Production Teams
| Team | Ret. Prod. % | 2022 Record (Notes) | Final AP Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 92% | 6–7 | N/A |
| BYU | 88% | 8–5 | N/A |
| Stanford | 88% | 3–9 | N/A |
| UMass | 86% | 1–11 | N/A |
| South Florida | 86% | 1–11 | N/A |
| Georgia Southern | 85% | 6–7 | N/A |
| Southern Mississippi | 85% | 7–6 | N/A |
| Northern Illinois | 83% | 3–9 | N/A |
| TCU | 82% | 13–2; lost Big 12 Championship vs Kansas State, lost CFP Final vs Georgia | 2 |
| Kansas | 82% | 6–7 | N/A |
| Florida State | 82% | 10–3 | 11 |
| NC State | 81% | 8–5 | N/A |
| North Texas | 81% | 7–7; lost C-USA Championship vs UTSA | N/A |
| Louisville | 80% | 8–5 | N/A |
| Syracuse | 80% | 7–6 | N/A |
| UNLV | 80% | 5–7 | N/A |
| Troy | 80% | 12–2 | 19 |
| UCF | 79% | 9–5; lost AAC Championship vs Tulane | N/A |
| SMU | 79% | 7–6 | N/A |
| Mississippi State | 78% | 9–4 | 20 |
| Fresno State | 78% | 10–4; won Mountain West Championship vs Boise State | 24 |
| UTSA | 77% | 11–3; won C-USA Championship vs North Texas | N/A |
| Texas State | 77% | 4–8 | N/A |
| Ohio State | 76% | 11–2; lost CFP Semis vs Georgia | 4 |
| Georgia State | 76% | 4–8 | N/A |
| Charlotte | 76% | 3–9 | N/A |
| Iowa | 76% | 8–5 | N/A |
2022 Bottom 25 Returning Production Teams
| Team | Ret. Prod. % | 2022 Record (Notes) | Final AP Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas State | 57% | 10–4; won Big 12 Championship vs TCU | 14 |
| Marshall | 57% | 9–4 | N/A |
| Nebraska | 57% | 4–8 | N/A |
| New Mexico | 57% | 2–10 | N/A |
| Buffalo | 57% | 7–6 | N/A |
| San Jose State | 57% | 7–5 | N/A |
| Middle Tennessee | 56% | 8–5 | N/A |
| Georgia Tech | 56% | 5–7 | N/A |
| Tulsa | 56% | 5–7 | N/A |
| West Virginia | 56% | 5–7 | N/A |
| Wyoming | 55% | 7–6 | N/A |
| Utah State | 55% | 6–7 | N/A |
| California | 55% | 4–8 | N/A |
| San Diego State | 54% | 4–8 | N/A |
| New Mexico State | 54% | 7–6 | N/A |
| Kent State | 53% | 5–7 | N/A |
| Oklahoma State | 52% | 7–6 | N/A |
| Washington State | 52% | 7–6 | N/A |
| Navy | 52% | 4–8 | N/A |
| Liberty | 51% | 8–5 | N/A |
| Illinois | 51% | 8–5 | N/A |
| Virginia | 51% | 3–7 | N/A |
| Western Michigan | 49% | 5–7 | N/A |
| Duke | 48% | 9–4 | N/A |
| Louisiana | 48% | 6–7 | N/A |
2023 Top 25 Returning Production Teams
| Team | Ret. Prod. % | 2023 Record & Accolades | Final AP Rank | Win Differential (from 2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | 87% | 13–1; won ACC Championship vs Louisville | 6 | +3 |
| Kansas | 85% | 9–4 | 23 | +3 |
| FAU | 83% | 4–8 | N/A | –1 |
| Wyoming | 83% | 9–4 | N/A | +2 |
| Michigan | 81% | 15–0; won CFP Championship vs Washington | 1 | +6 |
| UConn | 80% | 3–9 | N/A | –3 |
| Texas A&M | 80% | 7–6 | N/A | –1 |
| Boston College | 78% | 7–6 | N/A | +1 |
| Missouri | 78% | 11–2 | 8 | +3 |
| Temple | 77% | 3–9 | N/A | 0 |
| Toledo | 77% | 11–3; lost MAC Championship vs Miami (Ohio) | N/A | 0 |
| Northern Illinois | 77% | 7–6 | N/A | +4 |
| South Alabama | 77% | 7–6 | N/A | 0 |
| USC | 76% | 8–5 | N/A | –3 |
| UMass | 76% | 3–9 | N/A | +2 |
| Utah | 76% | 8–5 | N/A | N/A |
| Navy | 75% | 5–7 | N/A | +1 |
| FIU | 74% | 4–8 | N/A | N/A |
| Texas | 74% | 12–2; won Big 12 Championship vs Oklahoma State, lost CFP Semis vs Washington | 3 | +1 |
| North Texas | 74% | 5–7 | N/A | –2 |
| Rice | 73% | 6–7 | N/A | +2 |
| Washington | 73% | 14–1; won Pac-12 Championship vs Oregon, lost CFP Championship vs Michigan | 2 | +8 |
| Rutgers | 73% | 7–6 | N/A | N/A |
| Syracuse | 73% | 6–7 | N/A | –1 |
| Coastal Carolina | 72% | 8–5 | N/A | –1 |
| Louisiana Tech | 72% | 3–9 | N/A | N/A |
| Wisconsin | 72% | 7–6 | N/A | +2 |
2023 Bottom 25 Returning Production Teams
| Team | Ret. Prod. % | 2023 Record & Accolades | Final AP Rank | Win Differential (from 2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 53% | 2–10 | N/A | 0 |
| Arizona State | 53% | 3–9 | N/A | N/A |
| Buffalo | 53% | 3–9 | N/A | –4 |
| San Jose State | 53% | 7–6 | N/A | 0 |
| Wake Forest | 52% | 4–8 | N/A | N/A |
| UL-Monroe | 52% | 2–10 | N/A | –3 |
| Ohio | 52% | 10–3 | N/A | +3 |
| UTSA | 52% | 9–4 | N/A | –2 |
| Virginia | 52% | 3–9 | N/A | 0 |
| SMU | 52% | 11–3; won AAC Championship vs Tulane | 22 | +4 |
| TCU | 52% | 5–7 | N/A | –8 |
| Pittsburgh | 51% | 3–9 | N/A | –5 |
| Charlotte | 50% | 3–9 | N/A | 0 |
| Western Michigan | 49% | 4–8 | N/A | –1 |
| Hawaii | 47% | 5–8 | N/A | +2 |
| Georgia Southern | 47% | 6–7 | N/A | 0 |
| Cincinnati | 46% | 3–9 | N/A | N/A |
| Alabama | 40% | 12–2; won SEC Championship vs Georgia, lost CFP Semis vs Michigan | 5 | +3 |
| Tulsa | 40% | 4–8 | N/A | –1 |
| UAB | 39% | 4–8 | N/A | N/A |
| Texas State | 38% | 8–5 | N/A | +4 |
| Stanford | 35% | 3–9 | N/A | 0 |
| ECU | 34% | 2–10 | N/A | N/A |
| Appalachian State | 33% | 9–5; lost Sun Belt Championship vs Troy | N/A | N/A |
| Georgia State | 31% | 7–6 | N/A | +3 |
| Kent State | 25% | 1–11 | N/A | –4 |
2024 Top 25 Returning Production Teams
| Team | Ret. Prod. % | 2024 Record & Accolades | Final AP Rank | Win Differential (from 2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Tech | 86% | 6–7 | N/A | N/A |
| Iowa State | 85% | 11–3; lost Big 12 Championship vs Arizona State | 15 | +7 |
| Nebraska | 77% | 7–6 | N/A | +3 |
| Oklahoma State | 77% | 3–9 | N/A | –6 |
| Virginia | 76% | 5–7 | N/A | +2 |
| Northwestern | 76% | 4–8 | N/A | N/A |
| Kennesaw State | 76% | 2–10 | N/A | N/A |
| Rutgers | 74% | 7–6 | N/A | 0 |
| Miami (Ohio) | 74% | 9–5; lost MAC Championship vs Ohio | N/A | N/A |
| Syracuse | 74% | 10–3 | 20 | +4 |
| UMass | 74% | 2–10 | N/A | –1 |
| Rice | 73% | 4–8 | N/A | –2 |
| Louisiana | 73% | 10–4; lost Sun Belt Championship vs Marshall | N/A | +7 |
| California | 73% | 6–7 | N/A | +2 |
| Colorado | 72% | 9–4 | 25 | N/A |
| Utah | 72% | 5–7 | N/A | –3 |
| USF | 72% | 7–6 | N/A | N/A |
| Texas A&M | 72% | 8–5 | N/A | +1 |
| Minnesota | 71% | 8–5 | N/A | N/A |
| Wisconsin | 71% | 5–7 | N/A | –2 |
| TCU | 71% | 9–4 | N/A | +4 |
| ODU | 70% | 5–7 | N/A | N/A |
| Penn State | 70% | 13–3; lost Big Ten Championship vs Oregon, won CFP First Round vs SMU, won CFP Quarterfinals, lost CFP Semis vs Notre Dame | 5 | N/A |
| Texas | 70% | 13–3; lost SEC Championship vs Georgia, won CFP First Round vs Clemson, won CFP Quarterfinals vs Arizona State, lost CFP Semis vs Ohio State | 4 | –1 |
| Memphis | 69% | 11–2 | 24 | 0 |
| Arkansas State | 69% | 8–5 | N/A | N/A |
2024 Bottom 25 Returning Production Teams
| Team | Ret. Prod. % | 2024 Record & Accolades | Final AP Rank | Win Differential (from 2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 45% | 4–8 | N/A | 0 |
| UTSA | 45% | 7–6 | N/A | –2 |
| UTEP | 45% | 3–9 | N/A | 0 |
| Middle Tennessee | 45% | 3–9 | N/A | 0 |
| Coastal Carolina | 45% | 6–7 | N/A | –2 |
| Alabama | 44% | 9–4 | 17 | –3 |
| Tulsa | 44% | 3–9 | N/A | –1 |
| FAU | 42% | 3–9 | N/A | –1 |
| San Jose State | 42% | 7–6 | N/A | 0 |
| Toledo | 42% | 8–5 | N/A | –3 |
| South Alabama | 41% | 7–6 | N/A | 0 |
| Louisiana Tech | 41% | 5–8 | N/A | +2 |
| Mississippi State | 41% | 2–10 | N/A | 0 |
| New Mexico | 40% | 5–7 | N/A | +3 |
| Oregon State | 40% | 5–7 | N/A | 0 |
| UL-Monroe | 40% | 5–7 | N/A | +3 |
| James Madison (JMU) | 39% | 9–4 | N/A | 0 |
| UNC | 37% | 6–7 | N/A | 0 |
| Michigan | 36% | 8–5 | N/A | –7 |
| Troy | 36% | 4–8 | N/A | –4 |
| Washington | 36% | 6–7 | N/A | –8 |
| Georgia State | 32% | 3–9 | N/A | –4 |
| Buffalo | 29% | 9–4 | N/A | +6 |
| Ohio | 27% | 11–3; won MAC Championship vs Miami (Ohio) | N/A | +1 |
| Air Force | 25% | 5–7 | N/A | 0 |
2025 Top 25 Returning Production Teams
| Team | Ret. Prod. % |
|---|---|
| Clemson | 81% |
| Arizona State | 79% |
| Illinois | 76% |
| Texas Tech | 75% |
| Kennesaw State | 73% |
| Texas A&M | 71% |
| Rutgers | 71% |
| Vanderbilt | 70% |
| Boise State | 69% |
| Oklahoma | 69% |
| Baylor | 68% |
| Cincinnati | 68% |
| Stanford | 67% |
| South Florida | 67% |
| Liberty | 66% |
| Arizona | 66% |
| Missouri State | 66% |
| Florida | 66% |
| Troy | 66% |
| Delaware | 65% |
| New Mexico State | 65% |
| Auburn | 65% |
| Houston | 65% |
| UL-Monroe | 64% |
| Wisconsin | 64% |
| Georgia Tech | 64% |
| Pittsburgh | 64% |
| Wyoming | 64% |
| Michigan | 64% |
2025 Bottom 25 Returning Production Teams =====================================…
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