The MRI
2026 · Week 11

North Dakota State

Mountain West · 7–2 · 4–2 in conference · MRI Classic #16

Power-3.1#80 of 138
Résumé+0.16#67 · wins above average
Playoff chance0.1%#48 most likely
Trendrating by week

Who to root for this week

Nothing this weekend moves the needle.

Nothing this weekend moves the needle.

Best winAir Force (38–32)
Worst lossUNLV (7–13)
Schedule faced-14.4 avg opponent
Schedule ahead-16.5 avg opponent
Roster talent#124 of 127 · worth -8.9, rated -3.1: beating it

How this rating is built

Power = w × (average margin counted + average opponent rating) + (1 − w) × preseason prior, where w = games ÷ (games + 4). After 9 games, w is 69%, so the preseason prior is 31% of this rating. Every game played shrinks that share.

PartValueWeightAdds
Margin counted+18.6 avg× 69%+12.9
Opponents faced-14.4 avg× 69%-10.0
Preseason prior-19.6× 31%-6.0
Power-3.1

This explains how the model reached the number. The opponent ratings come out of the same fitted model, so it is not independent proof that the rating is right.

Results

Expected is the margin the model's ratings imply for that matchup and site. Perf is how far the actual margin beat it — the result against expectation. Adds is a different question: how many points of Power the game contributes, counting its margin and the strength of the opponent together. A game can beat expectation and still add little, or the reverse. Adds, plus the preseason prior, sum to Power (figures are rounded so the column adds up). Hover an Adds figure for its arithmetic.

WkOpponentResult ExpectedPerfAdds
1 vs Jacksonville State W 33–7 +5.8 +20.2 +1.7
1 vs Fordham FCS W 38–0 +33.6 +4.4 -0.5
2 at Air Force W 38–32 -2.1 +8.1 +0.5
3 at Sacramento State W 31–10 +17.3 +3.7 +0.4
5 vs Wyoming W 28–0 +13.2 +14.8 +1.3
6 at UNLV L 7–13 +0.0 -6.0 -0.9
7 vs Nevada W 31–17 +13.1 +0.9 +0.2
8 at New Mexico L 16–21 -11.8 +6.8 +0.2
9 vs UTEP W 31–7 +25.6 -1.6 +0.0
Preseason prior (31% of the rating)-6.0
Power-3.1

Remaining schedule

WkOpponent ProjectedWin prob
11 at Hawaii +5.5 63%
12 vs Northern Illinois +25.0 94%
13 at San Jose State +6.5 65%

Coaches

CoachYearsRecordMean added
Tim Polasek20267-2+9.8