As k9_r mentioned in another thread, we can probably get sub-30 in the RPI with a strong showing in Iowa City. If you're not familiar with Boyd Nation's RPI Needs Report--an estimate of the number of wins needed to reach a certain RPI threshold--here's what it currently says for Nebraska:
45 or better: 6-7 wins
32 or better: 9 wins
16 or better (dare to dream): 13-14 wins
8 or better (OMG!): 17 wins
Two things to consider:
1. Boyd's RPI rankings have consistently placed Nebraska 8-10 spots higher than both the Warren Nolan and official NCAA versions all season. At the moment, it's only a five-spot gap (28 vs. 33) so perhaps whatever anomaly is causing that is slowly getting smoothed out as the sample size increases.
2. Boyd lists 18 remaining games instead of 16, no doubt because the UNO and NDSU games from March are still officially postponed instead of canceled. But we know they won't be played based on Erstad's recent comments. And from what has been explained to me about the RPI formula, home wins against those two teams probably wouldn't help much. And losing one or more of them would be a killer. I'll let those more educated on the formula chime in if they like.
The bottom line is we have a remaining schedule that allows for upward mobility if we can perform. Getting 2+ wins this weekend would go a long way.
45 or better: 6-7 wins
32 or better: 9 wins
16 or better (dare to dream): 13-14 wins
8 or better (OMG!): 17 wins
Two things to consider:
1. Boyd's RPI rankings have consistently placed Nebraska 8-10 spots higher than both the Warren Nolan and official NCAA versions all season. At the moment, it's only a five-spot gap (28 vs. 33) so perhaps whatever anomaly is causing that is slowly getting smoothed out as the sample size increases.
2. Boyd lists 18 remaining games instead of 16, no doubt because the UNO and NDSU games from March are still officially postponed instead of canceled. But we know they won't be played based on Erstad's recent comments. And from what has been explained to me about the RPI formula, home wins against those two teams probably wouldn't help much. And losing one or more of them would be a killer. I'll let those more educated on the formula chime in if they like.
The bottom line is we have a remaining schedule that allows for upward mobility if we can perform. Getting 2+ wins this weekend would go a long way.
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