Penn State’s third-down conversion rate with James Peoples and since James Peoples’ last game
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Against what the season’s ratings expected, Penn State was 2.2 percentage points under with James Peoples and 2.6 percentage points under since James Peoples’ last game in 2026, 7 games against 1. The plain averages are 34.9% and 38.5%, a difference of 3.5%. Expected was 3.9 percentage points lower with James Peoples than since James Peoples’ last game. All 3 away games were with James Peoples. All 4 games while ranked were with James Peoples. All 3 nonconference games were with James Peoples.
James Peoples, running back: 246 rushing yards, 57 carries and 3 receptions in 7 games this season.
One game since James Peoples’ last game is one game, not a sample, but maybe you can find something if you squint.
third-down conversion rate a game over expected
with James Peoples
−2.2%
since James Peoples’ last game
−2.6%
-20%-10%0%10%
plain
34.9%
38.5%
20%30%40%50%
The games
with James Peoplessince James Peoples’ last game
| Side | Date | Game | Result | 3rd downs | Expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | vs Marshall | W | 50.0% | 34.6% | |
| Sep 12, 2026 | @ Temple | W | 50.0% | 42.4% | |
| Sep 19, 2026 | vs Buffalo | W | 20.0% | 40.1% | |
| Sep 26, 2026 | vs Wisconsin | L | 38.9% | 36.1% | |
| Oct 2, 2026 | @ Northwestern | L | 35.7% | 35.6% | |
| Oct 10, 2026 | vs USC | L | 16.7% | 38.0% | |
| Oct 17, 2026 | @ Michigan | L | 33.3% | 33.3% | |
| Oct 31, 2026 | vs Purdue | W | 38.5% | 41.1% |
Method
- 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 1.4% 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 40% of the difference the model predicts.
- Who played is read from the schools’ box scores’ participation lists for 6 of these 8 games; in the other 2 a player is counted as in them when the box score has a stat for him.