The MRI
2026 · Week 11

South Alabama

Sun Belt · 4–5 · 2–3 in conference · MRI Classic #76

Power-8.7#99 of 138
Résumé-2.12#205 · wins above average
Playoff chance<0.1%out of the picture
Trendrating by week

Who to root for this week

Nothing this weekend moves the needle.

Nothing this weekend moves the needle.

Best winOhio (41–36)
Worst lossMarshall (13–20)
Schedule faced-10.1 avg opponent
Schedule ahead-13.1 avg opponent
Roster talent#103 of 127 · worth -5.9, rated -8.7: in line with it
Returning production79% of last year's · #14 of 128
Home field+2.4 pts · 112th of 131

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+0.5 avg× 69%+0.4
Opponents faced-10.1 avg× 69%-7.0
Preseason prior-7.0× 31%-2.1
Power-8.7

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 SE Louisiana FCS W 39–14 +28.0 -3.0 -0.7
2 at Tulane L 24–28 -3.5 -0.5 -0.8
3 vs Ohio W 41–36 +1.0 +4.0 -0.2
4 at Kentucky L 21–45 -23.0 -1.0 -1.2
5 vs Louisiana-Monroe W 52–35 +18.2 -1.2 -0.4
6 at Arkansas State W 56–49 -0.8 +7.8 +0.1
8 at Marshall L 13–20 +1.1 -8.1 -1.5
9 vs Louisiana Tech L 20–35 -6.0 -9.0 -1.7
10 at Louisiana L 26–28 -9.1 +7.1 -0.2
Preseason prior (31% of the rating)-2.1
Power-8.7

Remaining schedule

WkOpponent ProjectedWin prob
11 vs Troy +6.6 66%
12 at Southern Miss +3.8 59%
13 vs Appalachian State +5.8 64%

Coaches

CoachYearsRecordMean added
Joey Jones2012–201729-46-3.7
Steve Campbell2018–20219-26-5.5
Kane Wommack2022–202317-9+4.5
Major Applewhite2024–202615-19-1.6

Season by season

Best finish: #54 in 2013. 14 seasons rated. The two columns' numbers are not comparable; the rank within each is. Season links open that year's game log.

25 1 150 2012 (MRI Classic): #114 of 124 (2-11)2013 (MRI Classic): #54 of 126 (6-6)2014 (MRI Classic): #90 of 128 (6-7)2015 (MRI Classic): #109 of 128 (5-7)2016 (MRI Classic): #81 of 128 (6-7)2017 (MRI Classic): #111 of 130 (4-8)2018 (MRI Classic): #117 of 130 (3-9)2019 (MRI Classic): #114 of 130 (2-10)2012 (MRI 2.0): #118 of 124 (2-11)2013 (MRI 2.0): #89 of 125 (6-6)2014 (MRI 2.0): #96 of 128 (6-7)2015 (MRI 2.0): #109 of 128 (5-7)2016 (MRI 2.0): #107 of 128 (6-7)2017 (MRI 2.0): #111 of 130 (4-8)2018 (MRI 2.0): #120 of 130 (3-9)2019 (MRI 2.0): #120 of 130 (2-10)2020 (MRI 2.0): #112 of 128 (4-7)2021 (MRI 2.0): #103 of 130 (5-7)2022 (MRI 2.0): #70 of 131 (10-3)2023 (MRI 2.0): #56 of 133 (7-6)2024 (MRI 2.0): #71 of 134 (7-6)2025 (MRI 2.0): #104 of 136 (4-8) MRI 2.0Classic 2012 2025

Finishing rank, best at the top, on an axis running to 150 — this team's own range, not the size of the field. Two lines where both ratings cover a season - MRI 2.0 in red, Classic in grey. Hover a point for the season.

SeasonRec MRI 2.0MRI Classic
2025 4–8 #104 of 136 · -11.77 –
2024 7–6 #71 of 134 · -1.75 –
2023 7–6 #56 of 133 · 2.29 –
2022 10–3 #70 of 131 · -0.75 –
2021 5–7 #103 of 130 · -10.76 –
2020 4–7 #112 of 128 · -14.62 –
2019 2–10 #120 of 130 · -19.89 #114 of 130 · -32.51
2018 3–9 #120 of 130 · -20.25 #117 of 130 · -40.20
2017 4–8 #111 of 130 · -14.91 #111 of 130 · -24.41
2016 6–7 #107 of 128 · -13.54 #81 of 128 · 7.18
2015 5–7 #109 of 128 · -17.32 #109 of 128 · -25.39
2014 6–7 #96 of 128 · -10.71 #90 of 128 · -3.19
2013 6–6 #89 of 125 · -7.91 #54 of 126 · 32.34
2012 2–11 #118 of 124 · -21.42 #114 of 124 · -37.71