Explore · Settle the Argument

Settle the Argument.

You've already had it. Now go settle it.

Every card here starts with something fans actually say — then runs it against the same canonical Verdict projection that ranks the board. Matchup Central predicts the game. This settles the argument.

The argument everybody has

“Put them through our schedule and see what happens.”

TRADE SCHEDULES

Swap two schedules, same venues, and run both seasons out. Who was carrying a schedule, and who was being carried by one.

Team
Trade with
DEL
Delaware

Forgiving schedule of their own · James Madison's is forgiving

Was
4-8
On James Madison's schedule
3-9
-0.6 wins
Expected wins now
3.1
Was
3.7
Where it lands
6+5%
JMU
James Madison

Forgiving schedule of their own · Delaware's is forgiving

Was
8-4
On Delaware's schedule
9-3
+0.3 wins
Expected wins now
8.5
Was
8.2
Where it lands
10+25%
11+7%
12-01%
Who benefits
James Madison
+0.3 expected wins

James Madison picks up about half a win on Delaware's slate.

Who gets hurt
Delaware
−0.6 expected wins

Delaware gives back about half a win on James Madison's slate.

The game that changes everything

Vs Coastal Carolina

Week 3 · Delaware's schedule
JMU
James Madison
74%
to win · favored by 12
DEL
Delaware
25%
to win · Coastal Carolina by 12
49-point probability gap

Same game. Same stadium. Verdict sees two very different problems.

Delaware · toughest games they inherit
At
SDSU
San Diego State
7%
At
ODU
Old Dominion
11%
At
USM
Southern Miss
14%
9 games on James Madison's slate they would not have played.
James Madison · toughest games they inherit
At
VAN
Vanderbilt
24%
At
UVA
Virginia
30%
At
WKU
Western Kentucky
65%
5 games on Delaware's slate they would not have played.
The record test
Delaware: Record and reality line up · No. 136 strength / No. 134 projected wins
James Madison: The record will flatter them · No. 71 strength / No. 16 projected wins
The verdict
It's closer than the argument sounds.

Neither schedule is worth a full win to the other team — Delaware -0.6, James Madison +0.3 — even where the likeliest record tips over.

Each team is run through the other's exact schedule, same venues. Head-to-head games between the two are set aside so both slates are the same size. All 12 games modeled, non-FBS opponents included.

More arguments to settle

2026 Preseason Model · Partial roster evidence · data as of 2026-07-11. QB continuity and verified personnel changes are included. Returning-production and updated coaching data are still pending. Projections are model estimates for analysis, not guarantees.

VerdictThe Courthouse of College Football

Every Team. Every Game. Follow the Evidence.

Verdict's better with more people to argue with.

Verdict is an independent college football analytics and editorial project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or operated by the NCAA, College Football Playoff, conferences, schools, teams, polls, broadcasters, or data providers. Team and organization names are used only for factual identification. All third-party trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.

© 2026 Verdict. All rights reserved.
HQ