Putting Up Numbers· college football

Western Michigan’s penalty yards with Lolo Mataele and since Lolo Mataele’s last game

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Against what the season’s ratings expected, Western Michigan was 8.5 yards under with Lolo Mataele and 32.7 yards under since Lolo Mataele’s last game in 2026, 7 games against 1. The plain averages are 46.5 and 20.0, a difference of 26.5. All 5 away games were with Lolo Mataele. All 3 night games were with Lolo Mataele. All 4 nonconference games were with Lolo Mataele.

Lolo Mataele, running back: 231 rushing yards, 53 carries and 7 receptions in 8 games this season.

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

penalty yards a game over expected

The games

with Lolo Mataelesince Lolo Mataele’s last game
Western Michigan’s games, 2026, each marked with Lolo Mataele or since Lolo Mataele’s last game
SideDateGameResultpenalty yardsExpected
Sep 5, 2026@MichiganL4050.0
Sep 12, 2026vsMMonmouthW68—
Sep 19, 2026@RiceW4546.8
Sep 26, 2026vsBoise StateL3552.9
Oct 3, 2026@BuffaloW4955.5
Oct 10, 2026vsKent StateW5256.0
Oct 17, 2026@Central MichiganW3152.8
Oct 24, 2026@ToledoL5249.7
Oct 31, 2026vsBowling GreenW2052.7

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, minus 1.3 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 27% of the difference the model predicts.
  • Monmouth 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.