Putting Up Numbers· college football

Western Michigan’s rushing 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 10.9 yards over with Lolo Mataele and 28.9 yards under since Lolo Mataele’s last game in 2026, 7 games against 1. The plain averages are 163.3 and 191.0, a difference of 27.8. Expected was 65.5 yards lower with Lolo Mataele than since Lolo Mataele’s last game. 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, 18% of Western Michigan’s rushing yards in those games.

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

rushing 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
SideDateGameResultrushing yardsExpected
Sep 5, 2026@MichiganL133124.2
Sep 12, 2026vsMMonmouthW149—
Sep 19, 2026@RiceW218159.1
Sep 26, 2026vsBoise StateL113130.8
Oct 3, 2026@BuffaloW115192.4
Oct 10, 2026vsKent StateW210154.1
Oct 17, 2026@Central MichiganW224168.4
Oct 24, 2026@ToledoL144151.6
Oct 31, 2026vsBowling GreenW191219.9

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 8.0 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 60% 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.