2026 Florida International vs 2026 Buffalo

Florida International
3–2 · −5.4 (95th of 138)
vs
Buffalo
3–3 · SP+ −13.9 (123rd of 138)

Hypothetical

Florida International by 2.1

56% to win

High confidence — 4 games in — see our accuracy

Hypothetical forecast · SBR sbr-2r

Why this number

Florida InternationalPreseason baseline −4.6In-season results +1.9
BuffaloPreseason baseline −7.5In-season results +0.2
Buffalo home field +2.5

How they're built

0–100 percentile · higher is stronger

Compare the whole profile, then explore each dimension.

2026 Florida International Offense · SP+ 2026: 16.9, 12th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Florida International Defense · SP+ 2026: 22.1, 70th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Florida International Special teams · SP+ 2026: −0.2, 20th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Florida International Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 176.6 pts, 26th percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Florida International Experience · returning production 2026: 32% returning, 37th percentile (2026 roster)2026 Buffalo Offense · SP+ 2026: 14.7, 6th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Buffalo Defense · SP+ 2026: 28.9, 32nd percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Buffalo Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.3, 80th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Buffalo Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 176.6 pts, 27th percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Buffalo Experience · returning production 2026: 0% returning, 0th percentile (2026 roster)0100Offense · SP+ 2026Defense · SP+ 2026Special teams · SP+ 2026Recruiting · 2026 signing classExperience · returning production 2026
  • 2026 Florida International Offense · SP+ 2026: 16.9, 12th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Buffalo Offense · SP+ 2026: 14.7, 6th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Florida International Defense · SP+ 2026: 22.1, 70th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Buffalo Defense · SP+ 2026: 28.9, 32nd percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Florida International Special teams · SP+ 2026: −0.2, 20th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Buffalo Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.3, 80th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Florida International Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 176.6 pts, 26th percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Buffalo Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 176.6 pts, 27th percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Florida International Experience · returning production 2026: 32% returning, 37th percentile (2026 roster)
  • 2026 Buffalo Experience · returning production 2026: 0% returning, 0th percentile (2026 roster)
Emphasize a team

Offensive production relative to that season’s field. Compare an offense with the opposing defense in the scouting report.

Recruiting and experience add context; the five axes aren't equal weights in the forecast.

The numbers behind the profiles

Measure2026 Florida International2026 Buffalo
Offensive / play−0.019th percentile0.0318th percentile
PPA allowed / play−0.0790th percentile0.1134th percentile
Points per game18.812th percentile5 games20.817th percentile6 games
per game12.296th percentile5 games26.828th percentile6 games

Programs don't stand still

SP+ percentile among FBS teams, by season. The marked point is each compared season.

2026 Florida International2026 Buffalo
Florida International 2026: 31st percentileBuffalo 2026: 11th percentile2000200520102015202020250255075100

Momentum

Florida International↗ rising (+15 pctl over 3 seasons)
Buffalo↘ falling (−24 pctl over 3 seasons)

Talent in, results out

Recruiting-class percentile feeding each roster, compared with its SP+ result.

2026 Florida International
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
27th percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
31st percentile
Matching its talent (+4)
2026 Buffalo
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
29th percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
11th percentile
Underperforming its talent (−18)

Campus distance

1195 miles apart

There's more to the matchup.

Supporting context, ready when you want it.

In the trenches · both directions
MatchupO-lineD-line
2026 Florida International OL vs 2026 Buffalo DL303.4 lbs254.4 lbs
2026 Buffalo OL vs 2026 Florida International DL298.1 lbs266.0 lbs

2026 Florida International line yards 2.53 · 2026 Buffalo stuff rate 16.4%

2026 Buffalo line yards 2.72 · 2026 Florida International stuff rate 20.0%

Fans swear big lines win games. They're half right — big-line teams do win more, but only because good programs recruit big linemen. Once we account for talent and last season, line size adds nothing to the prediction. Across 11 seasons, no measurable effect on margin.

Roster size is context. It isn't a forecast advantage.

Backtested effect: 0.42 pts at 1σ.

Head-to-head · Florida International leads 1–0 since 2000

Florida International has won 1 straight

SeasonScoreVenue
2026Florida International 33–20 BuffaloPitbull Stadium · Florida International home
Coaching & program context
2026 Florida International

HC

  • Willie Simmons

OC: no staff data on file

Style: Pass-heavy, up-tempo (threw on 49% of its run–pass plays, 69th percentile of 2026 FBS; 72.4 plays a game, 85th percentile)

DC: no staff data on file

2026 Buffalo

HC

  • Pete Lembo

OC

  • Tony Tokarz

no career track record on file

Scheme: no scheme listed

Style: Run-heavy, up-tempo (threw on 43% of its run–pass plays, 31st percentile of 2026 FBS; 75.7 plays a game, 94th percentile)

DC

  • Brian Dougherty

no career track record on file

Scheme: no scheme listed

A new coordinator feels like it should swing a game. Across 11 seasons, the change doesn't move the final margin beyond what the roster already tells us. Shown as context, not a factor in our number.

Run-heavy team meets a defense that can't stop the run — feels like extra points waiting. Across 7 seasons the matchup adds nothing beyond what the two ratings already say; if anything the point estimate leans the other way.

Scouting reports

No upcoming game between these teams is on the schedule.

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