Putting Up Numbers· college football

UTEP’s points of margin with Tavorus Jones and without Tavorus Jones

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Against what the season’s ratings expected, UTEP was 3.3 points under with Tavorus Jones and 24.8 points under without Tavorus Jones in 2026, 5 games against 1. The plain averages are -17.9 and -54.0, a difference of 36.1. All 4 home games were with Tavorus Jones. All 3 night games were with Tavorus Jones. Both ranked opponents were with Tavorus Jones.

Tavorus Jones, running back: 276 rushing yards, 66 carries and 10 receptions in 7 games this season.

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

points of margin a game over expected

The games

with Tavorus Joneswithout Tavorus Jones
UTEP’s games, 2026, each marked with Tavorus Jones or without Tavorus Jones
SideDateGameResultpoints of marginExpected
Sep 4, 2026@OklahomaL-51-34.3
Sep 12, 2026vsTexas SouthernW41—
Sep 19, 2026@MichiganL-35-30.9
Sep 26, 2026vsOregon StateL-26-29.9
Oct 3, 2026@New MexicoL-54-29.2
Oct 10, 2026vsNevadaL-17-17.3
Oct 17, 2026vsSan Jose StateL-13-13.1
Oct 31, 2026@NNorth Dakota StateL-24—

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 3.7 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 79% of the difference the model predicts.
  • Texas Southern, North Dakota State have no other game in the table, so those games have no expected number and sit out the second figure.
  • Who played is read from the schools’ box scores’ participation lists, which name every player who entered the game.