CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

1978 William & Mary

5–⁠5–⁠1, coached by Jim Root.

Schedule and results

William & Mary in 1978, game by game: won vs. VMI 10–3; won at UConn 27–3; won at Villanova 21–17; lost at Virginia Tech 19–22; tied vs. Temple 22–22; won vs. James Madison 32–7; lost at No. 17 Navy 0–9; lost at Louisville 21–33; won vs. The Citadel 12–8; lost at East Carolina 3–20; lost at Richmond 3–17+25−17Won 10–3 vs. VMI+7VMIWon 27–3 at UConn+24UConnWon 21–17 at Villanova+4VillanovaLost 19–22 at Virginia Tech-3Virginia TechTied 22–22 vs. Temple0TempleWon 32–7 vs. James Madison+25James MadisonLost 0–9 at No. 17 Navy-9No. 17 NavyLost 21–33 at Louisville-12LouisvilleWon 12–8 vs. The Citadel+4The CitadelLost 3–20 at East Carolina-17East CarolinaLost 3–17 at Richmond-14Richmond
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 9vsVMIW 10–⁠361%
Sep 16atUConnW 27–⁠378%
Sep 23atVillanovaW 21–⁠1750%
Sep 30atVirginia TechL 19–⁠2253%
Oct 7vsTempleT 22–⁠2261%
Oct 14vsJames MadisonW 32–⁠797%
Oct 21at17NavyL 0–⁠935%
Oct 28atLouisvilleL 21–⁠3343%
Nov 4vsThe CitadelW 12–⁠873%
Nov 11atEast CarolinaL 3–⁠2026%
Nov 18atRichmondL 3–⁠1757%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to Richmond 17–⁠3; unranked in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 33rd-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 119 on file).

Record
5–⁠5–⁠1
Conference
—
AP final
Unranked
Points
170–⁠161
Coach
Jim Root
Elo
1453 −45 this season
SP+ rating
-7.9 No. 95 of 133; offense No. 130, defense No. 46
SRS
−6.2 No. 95 of 138 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
—
Defensive coordinator
Ralph Kirchenheiter
Captains
Melvin Martin, Jim Ryan and Tom Rozantz