2026 Week 11 - WIU vs Gardner-Webb

[wiu712]

 
 

[sealhall74]

Here is an interesting little chart which shows that WIU is the most statistically dominant team in the OVC this year.
It is on my Google Drive and you may or may not have permission to see it.  



The X axis contains all of these CONFERENCE ONLY boxscore stats averaged from week to week and normalized from 0 to 1 layed out from left to right along the axis.
The regression line for each team allows a fairly decent comparison of overall statistical strength.    
I hope to add a little interactivity to the chart so you can hover over a dot and see the specific stat info.  For now, the stats are arranged in the 
exact same order they appear on the NCAA game boxscore page.

1 Offense: First Downs
2 Offense: First Downs Passing
3 Offense: First Downs Penalty
4 Offense: First Downs Rushing
5 Offense: 3rd Down Efficiency
6 Offense: 4th Down Efficiency
7 Offense: Fumbles
8 Offense: Fumbles Lost
9 Offense: Penalties
10 Offense: Average Yards Per Play
11 Offense: Team Plays
12 Offense: Team Yards
13 Defense: Interceptions
14 Defense: Fumbles Forced
15 Defense: Fumbles Recovered
16 Defense: Tackles For Loss
17 Defense: Sacks
18 Defense: Solo Tackles
19 Defense: Total Tackles
20 Kick Returns: Average
21 Kick Returns: Returns
22 Kick Returns: Return Yards
23 Passing: Attempts
24 Passing: Completions
25 Passing: Interceptions
26 Passing: Long
27 Passing: Touchdowns
28 Passing: Yards
29 Punting: Average
30 Punting: Long
31 Punting: Punts
32 Punting: Yards
33 Punt Returns: Average
34 Punt Returns: Returns
35 Punt Returns: Yards
36 Receiving: Long
37 Receiving: Receptions
38 Receiving: Touchdowns
39 Receiving: Yards
40 Rushing: Attempts
41 Rushing: Long
42 Rushing: Touchdowns
43 Rushing: Yards

 
 
 
 
 

[meganeck]

The band is also bringing in some local HS kids to get a chance to see what college marching band is like. So in addition to my daughter in the color guard (as usual), my son will be hanging out with the drumline this time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

good idea, will bring some more people in the stands

[Leatherneck177]

I've done my homework on potential at-large candidates for the FCS playoffs. I completely agree, winning the OVC outright is the cleanest path to the playoffs BUT, WIU could make for an interesting candidate if they were to finish at 8-4. I don't see the other conferences as being ahead of the OVC this year, the NEC, CAA, Southland and Southern conferences are not impressive. Take a look at the current Sagarin conference rankings. I believe the OVC is ahead of all of them. If WIU finishes 8-4, 6-1 OVC....that will be with a 5-game winning streak. Sure they are lacking significant OOC wins, but the other teams they are competing for that spot with have the same challenge. There are going to be a LOT of 7-5 teams from those conferences I just listed with weak SOS and a resume comparable to WIU's.

S Lawson, its time to bang the drum over on AGS if WIU beats GW this weekend.

[leatherneckcountry]

I've done my homework on potential at-large candidates for the FCS playoffs. I completely agree, winning the OVC outright is the cleanest path to the playoffs BUT, WIU could make for an interesting candidate if they were to finish at 8-4. I don't see the other conferences as being ahead of the OVC this year, the NEC, CAA, Southland and Southern conferences are not impressive. Take a look at the current Sagarin conference rankings. I believe the OVC is ahead of all of them. If WIU finishes 8-4, 6-1 OVC....that will be with a 5-game winning streak. Sure they are lacking significant OOC wins, but the other teams they are competing for that spot with have the same challenge. There are going to be a LOT of 7-5 teams from those conferences I just listed with weak SOS and a resume comparable to WIU's.

S Lawson, its time to bang the drum over on AGS if WIU beats GW this weekend.

 

I think that loss to UNA is going to kill there shot at an at large
 

[sealhall74]

I've done my homework on potential at-large candidates for the FCS playoffs. I completely agree, winning the OVC outright is the cleanest path to the playoffs BUT, WIU could make for an interesting candidate if they were to finish at 8-4. I don't see the other conferences as being ahead of the OVC this year, the NEC, CAA, Southland and Southern conferences are not impressive. Take a look at the current Sagarin conference rankings. I believe the OVC is ahead of all of them. If WIU finishes 8-4, 6-1 OVC....that will be with a 5-game winning streak. Sure they are lacking significant OOC wins, but the other teams they are competing for that spot with have the same challenge. There are going to be a LOT of 7-5 teams from those conferences I just listed with weak SOS and a resume comparable to WIU's.

S Lawson, its time to bang the drum over on AGS if WIU beats GW this weekend.



 

I think that loss to UNA is going to kill there shot at an at large
 


 

A couple of very convincing (25+ points) wins could go along way in swaying the committee.  I have always heard they want the best 24 teams in the playoffs.  The "What have you done for me lately?" factor does come into play.  I think.
 
 

[Leatherneck177]

I agree, if they had beaten NAU things would have looked better. I wouldn't be surprised at all that if WIU beats GW this weekend, they start appearing on the bubble team list. Lots of currently ranked teams will pick up their 4th and 5th, possibly 6th losses this weekend. 

[wiu712]