These are the overall FEI ratings (ability to convert field position into points adjusted for opponent strength and location of game played combined with the defensive version) for all the teams on our schedule this year:

33. Nevada
35. Virginia
39. BYU
40. California
47. Boise State
49. Utah State
55. Central Florida
57. Houston
74. Texas
94. Middle Tennessee
97. Connecticut
111. UNLV

Keep in mind, we beat Houston and Virginia by only one score at home with Taysom, Jamal and our two leading tacklers in those games: Fua and Bills. How in the world would we expect to beat the toughest team on our schedule at converting field position into points (31st in FEI offense) without our two best defensive players on a side that has already been depleted of NFL talent over the past two years? We replaced those two senior defensive leaders with a true freshman (Warner) and true, non-RM sophomore (Nacua).

You might say that our offense did well considering we got 35 points, but keep in mind that we did that on 102 plays. Nearly 3 plays per point and 18 yards per point is not bad, but it's not that great either. In other words, to score a touchdown, it took us an average of 21 plays and 126 yards. Not surprising when we replace our two national award list nominee junior offensive leaders with a 4th string, walk-on, JC transfer QB and 4th-string, walk-on, JC transfer RB.

For some perspective, it took us an average of 10 plays and 60 yards to score a TD against Virginia - the next best team on our schedule.

Even Utah, who is actually ranked 8th in the FEI because of being 1st in FEI special teams and 8th in FEI defense (only 83rd in offense), lost to Washington State (ranked 37th overall) at home with all of their playmakers healthy.