Tempo matters, but the 2025 CFB data makes one thing clear:
Tempo is not the offense.
The fastest team in the study, West Virginia, played at 19.3 seconds left on the play clock but finished 4-8 at 4.5 yards per play. On the other side, Vanderbilt snapped it at 8.3 seconds and produced 7.2 YPP with a 10-3 record.
North Texas also went fast and produced. Navy went slow and produced.
The conclusion is simple. Tempo is a tool. Efficiency, sequencing, and situational command decide whether that tool actually helps you win.