2016 — The Ten-Win Year

Youngstown State's 2016 season (12-4) is a middle chapter: table-stakes progress, no crown in the ledger, the program still writing the book.

Record 12-4
Final Result 12-win season
AP Final — post-bowls
SP+ -2.7 last-week
Era —
The Shape — week-by-week · cumulative W–L below
W vs Duquesne 45-10 L @ West Vir 21-38 W vs Robe Mor 38-6 W vs Sout Dak 30-20 W @ Illi Sta 20-6 W vs Nort Iow 14-10 L @ Sout Sta 10-24 W vs Indi Sta 13-10 L @ Nort Sta 3-24 W vs Sout Ill 21-14 W @ Miss Sta 65-20 W vs Samford 38-24 W @ Jack Sta 40-24 W vs Wofford 30-23 W @ East Was 40-38 CFP L @ Jame Mad 14-28 CFP
Defining Moments
The Statement

The 2016 season's largest margin: Youngstown State 65, Missouri State 20. A 45-point win — the year's high-water mark.

The Setback

The season's deepest loss: Youngstown State 3, North Dakota State 24. A 21-point margin the season is remembered by.

The Postseason

The season's last act: Youngstown State fell to James Madison 14-28 in the postseason.

"Go Penguins!"
— Youngstown State fanbase voice · 2016· synthesized
What It Meant

2016 is a middle chapter for Youngstown State — neither a crown year nor a crisis. It is the kind of season that fills the ledger between the named ones and gives the arc its shape.