Putting Up Numbers· college football

Florida International’s points with Sterling Joseph and without Sterling Joseph

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Against what the season’s ratings expected, Florida International was 4.3 points under with Sterling Joseph and 8.0 points over without Sterling Joseph in 2026, 6 games against 1. The plain averages are 18.1 and 24.0, a difference of 5.9. Expected was 6.1 points higher with Sterling Joseph than without Sterling Joseph. All 4 home games were with Sterling Joseph. All 6 night games were with Sterling Joseph. All 4 nonconference games were with Sterling Joseph.

Sterling Joseph, running back: 88 rushing yards, 23 carries and 3 receptions in 7 games this season.

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

points a game over expected

The games

with Sterling Josephwithout Sterling Joseph
Florida International’s games, 2026, each marked with Sterling Joseph or without Sterling Joseph
SideDateGameResultpointsExpected
Sep 5, 2026@South FloridaL914.3
Sep 12, 2026vsBuffaloW3321.7
Sep 19, 2026@Florida AtlanticL1031.2
Sep 26, 2026vsLLong Island UniversityW20—
Oct 7, 2026vsNew Mexico StateW2224.8
Oct 13, 2026@Jacksonville StateL2416.0
Oct 20, 2026vsMiddle TennesseeL2328.3
Oct 31, 2026@LibertyL1012.3

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 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.
  • Long Island University 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.