Western Kentucky
Conference USA · 3–6 · 2–3 in conference · MRI Classic #129
Who to root for this week
Nothing this weekend moves the needle.
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.
| Part | Value | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin counted | -9.4 avg | × 69% | -6.5 |
| Opponents faced | -9.1 avg | × 69% | -6.3 |
| Preseason prior | -1.6 | × 31% | -0.5 |
| Power | -13.3 | ||
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.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Expected | Perf | Adds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at | Nevada | L 14–49 | -3.1 | -31.9 | -3.7 |
| 2 | at | Georgia | L 20–70 | -49.0 | -1.0 | -0.8 |
| 3 | at | Indiana | L 0–38 | -36.7 | -1.3 | -1.3 |
| 4 | vs | Mercyhurst FCS | W 52–7 | +23.4 | +21.6 | +0.2 |
| 5 | at | New Mexico State | L 13–34 | +2.2 | -23.2 | -3.2 |
| 6 | vs | Missouri State | W 34–13 | +5.2 | +15.8 | +0.6 |
| 7 | at | Sam Houston | W 16–3 | +5.7 | +7.3 | -0.2 |
| 9 | vs | Delaware | L 21–35 | +0.2 | -14.2 | -2.4 |
| 10 | at | Middle Tennessee | L 42–51 | +0.8 | -9.8 | -2.0 |
| Preseason prior (31% of the rating) | -0.5 | |||||
| Power | -13.3 | |||||
Remaining schedule
| Wk | Opponent | Projected | Win prob | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | vs | Jacksonville State | -4.4 | 40% |
| 12 | at | Liberty | -19.2 | 12% |
| 13 | vs | Kennesaw State | +3.5 | 58% |
Coaches
| Coach | Years | Record | Mean added |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Elson | 2007–2009 | 9-27 | -3.9 |
| Willie Taggart | 2010–2012 | 16-20 | +0.3 |
| Bobby Petrino | 2013 | 8-4 | +0.7 |
| Jeff Brohm | 2014–2016 | 30-10 | +6.1 |
| Mike Sanford Jr. | 2017–2018 | 9-16 | -14.1 |
| Tyson Helton | 2019–2026 | 60-42 | +0.2 |
Season by season
Best finish: #9 in 2016. 19 seasons rated. The two columns' numbers are not comparable; the rank within each is. Season links open that year's game log.
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.
| Season | Rec | MRI 2.0 | MRI Classic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9–4 | #91 of 136 · -6.45 | – |
| 2024 | 8–6 | #96 of 134 · -7.09 | – |
| 2023 | 8–5 | #83 of 133 · -3.98 | – |
| 2022 | 9–5 | #61 of 131 · 2.53 | – |
| 2021 | 9–5 | #44 of 130 · 6.49 | – |
| 2020 | 5–7 | #108 of 128 · -11.72 | – |
| 2019 | 9–4 | #86 of 130 · -4.99 | #44 of 130 · 32.25 |
| 2018 | 3–9 | #110 of 130 · -15.65 | #105 of 130 · -23.94 |
| 2017 | 6–7 | #97 of 130 · -9.12 | #95 of 130 · 1.02 |
| 2016 | 11–3 | #16 of 128 · 13.69 | #9 of 128 · 78.42 |
| 2015 | 12–2 | #31 of 128 · 10.37 | #9 of 128 · 79.97 |
| 2014 | 8–5 | #69 of 128 · -1.49 | #48 of 128 · 34.93 |
| 2013 | 8–4 | #75 of 125 · -3.46 | #55 of 126 · 32.15 |
| 2012 | 7–6 | #81 of 124 · -6.04 | #59 of 124 · 27.59 |
| 2011 | 7–5 | #100 of 120 · -13.13 | #81 of 120 · 5.77 |
| 2010 | 2–10 | #112 of 120 · -20.68 | #104 of 120 · -29.66 |
| 2009 | 0–12 | #118 of 120 · -25.32 | #117 of 120 · -65.95 |
| 2008 | 2–10 | #110 of 120 · -16.55 | #111 of 120 · -38.68 |
| 2007 | 7–5 | – | #56 of 120 · 31.07 |