Putting Up Numbers· college football

James Madison’s total yards with George Pettaway and since George Pettaway’s last game

, ,

Against what the season’s ratings expected, James Madison was 25.6 yards over with George Pettaway and 23.5 yards under since George Pettaway’s last game in 2026, 7 games against 1. The plain averages are 457.9 and 408.0, a difference of 49.9. All 4 away games were with George Pettaway. All 4 day games were with George Pettaway. All 3 nonconference games were with George Pettaway.

George Pettaway, running back: 812 rushing yards, 125 carries and 8 receptions in 8 games this season.

One game since George Pettaway’s last game is one game, not a sample, but maybe you can find something if you squint.

total yards a game over expected

The games

with George Pettawaysince George Pettaway’s last game
James Madison’s games, 2026, each marked with George Pettaway or since George Pettaway’s last game
SideDateGameResulttotal yardsExpected
Sep 5, 2026vsLibertyW291391.4
Sep 12, 2026vsWWagnerW588—
Sep 19, 2026@San Diego StateW421443.1
Sep 26, 2026@Old DominionW409389.0
Oct 3, 2026vsMarshallW573443.5
Oct 10, 2026@Georgia SouthernW442363.3
Oct 17, 2026vsGeorgia StateW516424.6
Oct 22, 2026@Appalachian StateL423441.0
Oct 29, 2026vsTroyL408431.5

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 12.1 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 67% 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.