Putting Up Numbers· college football

East Carolina’s rushing yards with Michael Allen and without Michael Allen

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Against what the season’s ratings expected, East Carolina was 13.2 yards over with Michael Allen and 27.3 yards under without Michael Allen in 2026, 6 games against 1. The plain averages are 169.9 and 161.0, a difference of 8.9. Expected was 28.0 yards lower with Michael Allen than without Michael Allen. All 4 home games were with Michael Allen. All 5 day games were with Michael Allen. All 4 nonconference games were with Michael Allen.

Michael Allen, running back: 117 rushing yards, 37 carries and 9 receptions in 7 games this season, 10% of East Carolina’s rushing yards in those games.

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

rushing yards a game over expected

The games

with Michael Allenwithout Michael Allen
East Carolina’s games, 2026, each marked with Michael Allen or without Michael Allen
SideDateGameResultrushing yardsExpected
Sep 5, 2026@AlabamaL29109.7
Sep 12, 2026vsAppalachian StateL187174.7
Sep 19, 2026@Old DominionW177157.7
Sep 26, 2026vsNNorth Carolina CentralW148—
Oct 10, 2026vsRiceW234169.1
Oct 15, 2026@UABL191179.9
Oct 22, 2026@MemphisL161188.3
Oct 31, 2026vsTempleW223170.5

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, plus 8.0 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 60% of the difference the model predicts.
  • North Carolina Central 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.