Putting Up Numbers· college football

UConn’s third-down conversion rate with Kenji Christian and without Kenji Christian

, ,

Against what the season’s ratings expected, UConn was 1.3 percentage points over with Kenji Christian and 11.2 percentage points under without Kenji Christian in 2026, 6 games against 1. The plain averages are 41.8% and 27.3%, a difference of 14.5%. All 4 away games were with Kenji Christian. Both night games were with Kenji Christian. All 4 first-half games were with Kenji Christian.

Kenji Christian, running back: 306 rushing yards, 55 carries and 12 receptions in 7 games this season.

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

third-down conversion rate a game over expected

The games

with Kenji Christianwithout Kenji Christian
UConn’s games, 2026, each marked with Kenji Christian or without Kenji Christian
SideDateGameResult3rd downsExpected
Sep 5, 2026vsLafayetteW50.0%—
Sep 12, 2026vsMarylandL27.3%37.7%
Sep 19, 2026@Southern MissW57.1%35.1%
Sep 26, 2026@Miami (OH)L42.9%39.6%
Oct 3, 2026vsSyracuseL27.3%38.5%
Oct 10, 2026@TempleW41.7%44.8%
Oct 23, 2026vsUMassW33.3%41.4%
Oct 31, 2026@Air ForceL40.0%35.7%

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 1.4% 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.
  • Lafayette 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.