Putting Up Numbers· college football

California’s points allowed with Ian Strong and without Ian Strong

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Against what the season’s ratings expected, California was 2.5 points over with Ian Strong and 4.9 points over without Ian Strong in 2026, 7 games against 1. The plain averages are 30.4 and 41.0, a difference of 10.6. All 4 away games were with Ian Strong. All 6 day games were with Ian Strong. All 7 unranked opponents were with Ian Strong.

Ian Strong, receiver: 478 receiving yards, 35 receptions and 1 receiving touchdown in 8 games this season.

One game without Ian Strong is one game, not a sample, but maybe you can find something if you squint.

points allowed a game over expected

The games

with Ian Strongwithout Ian Strong
California’s games, 2026, each marked with Ian Strong or without Ian Strong
SideDateGameResultpoints allowedExpected
Sep 5, 2026vsUCLAL4532.9
Sep 12, 2026@SyracuseW1836.8
Sep 19, 2026vsWWagnerW7—
Sep 25, 2026vsClemsonL2429.0
Oct 3, 2026@UNLVL3924.8
Oct 10, 2026vsVirginia TechW2033.5
Oct 17, 2026vsWake ForestL4136.1
Oct 24, 2026@SMUL5929.3
Oct 31, 2026@NC StateL3131.9

Method

Read against .

  • Expected is an offense and a defense a team, fit over every 2026 game between two teams in the table with the game being read left out, minus 1.9 for the home team (the edge the fit finds once strength is in), nothing at a neutral site.
  • Each expected number is then fit to the season’s games: a game bears out about 66% of the difference the model predicts.
  • Wagner has no other game in the table, so that game has no expected number and sits out the second figure.
  • Who played is read from the schools’ box scores’ participation lists, which name every player who entered the game.