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
SHSU
Sam Houston

Forgiving schedule of their own · Jacksonville State's is forgiving

Was
3-8
On Jacksonville State's schedule
3-8
+0.2 wins
Expected wins now
3.6
Was
3.4
Where it lands
6+10%
JXST
Jacksonville State

Forgiving schedule of their own · Sam Houston's is forgiving

Was
5-6
On Sam Houston's schedule
5-6
-0.3 wins
Expected wins now
4.6
Was
4.9
Where it lands
6+26%
Who benefits

Nobody, meaningfully. Trade these two slates and neither projection moves enough to call it a difference.

The game that changes everything

Vs New Mexico State

Week 8 · Sam Houston's schedule
JXST
Jacksonville State
65%
to win · favored by 7
SHSU
Sam Houston
51%
to win · a coin flip on the number
14-point probability gap

Same opponent, same venue — and 14 points of win probability between Jacksonville State and Sam Houston.

Sam Houston · toughest games they inherit
At
OHIO
Ohio
12%
Vs
GASO
Georgia Southern
26%
At
NDSU
North Dakota State
27%
4 games on Jacksonville State's slate they would not have played.
Jacksonville State · toughest games they inherit
At
TTU
Texas Tech
2%
At
TROY
Troy
26%
At
LIB
Liberty
28%
4 games on Sam Houston's slate they would not have played.
The record test
Sam Houston: Record and reality line up · No. 137 strength / No. 135 projected wins
Jacksonville State: The record will flatter them · No. 131 strength / No. 98 projected wins
The verdict
Maybe it wasn't the schedule.

Swap them and almost nothing moves. Sam Houston and Jacksonville State are what they are.

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. 11 of 12 games modeled. Sam Houston and Jacksonville State play each other, so that game is set aside — neither team can inherit itself.

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.

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