Northwestern
Big Ten · 1–0 · MRI Classic #59
Power+1.9#60 of 138
Résumé+0.02#65 · wins above average
Movement+6up from #66 last week
Best winSouth Dakota State (34–18)
Schedule faced-34.7 avg opponent
Schedule ahead+9.8 avg opponent
Results
Expected is the margin the model's ratings imply for that matchup and site. Perf is how far the actual margin beat it — the number that moves a rating, rather than the win or loss alone.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Expected | Perf | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vs | South Dakota State FCS | W 34–18 | +40.8 | -24.8 |
Remaining schedule
| Wk | Opponent | Projected | Win prob | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | vs | Colorado | +4.4 | 60% |
| 4 | at | Indiana | -36.9 | 1% |
| 5 | vs | Penn State | -16.0 | 17% |
| 6 | vs | Ball State | +26.6 | 95% |
| 7 | at | Michigan State | -4.2 | 40% |
| 8 | vs | Rutgers | +15.0 | 82% |
| 9 | at | Oregon | -22.5 | 9% |
| 10 | vs | Iowa | -11.3 | 25% |
Season by season
Best finish: #21 in 2020. 23 rated seasons. Two ratings appear here and their numbers are not comparable; the rank is. Season links open that year's game log.
Finishing rank, best at the top, on an axis running to 150 — this team's own range, not the size of the field. Each row below says what its rank was out of. Hover a point for the season.
| Season | Rank | Rec | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 56 of 136 | 7–6 | 4.04 | Power |
| 2024 | 75 of 134 | 4–8 | -2.16 | Power |
| 2023 | 70 of 133 | 8–5 | -0.70 | Power |
| 2022 | 102 of 131 | 1–11 | -8.96 | Power |
| 2021 | 90 of 130 | 3–9 | -5.52 | Power |
| 2020 | 21 of 128 | 7–2 | 11.36 | Power |
| 2019 | 89 of 130 | 3–9 | 1.22 | MRI |
| 2018 | 40 of 130 | 9–5 | 41.01 | MRI |
| 2017 | 29 of 130 | 9–3 | 57.68 | MRI |
| 2016 | 48 of 128 | 7–6 | 33.55 | MRI |
| 2015 | 44 of 128 | 10–3 | 45.15 | MRI |
| 2014 | 77 of 128 | 5–7 | 8.83 | MRI |
| 2013 | 75 of 126 | 5–7 | 15.81 | MRI |
| 2012 | 35 of 124 | 10–3 | 50.08 | MRI |
| 2011 | 68 of 120 | 6–7 | 18.70 | MRI |
| 2010 | 77 of 120 | 7–6 | 9.05 | MRI |
| 2009 | 56 of 120 | 8–5 | 27.51 | MRI |
| 2008 | 51 of 120 | 9–4 | 32.89 | MRI |
| 2007 | 81 of 120 | 6–6 | 10.03 | MRI |
| 2006 | 95 of 119 | 4–8 | -6.74 | MRI |
| 2005 | 42 of 119 | 7–5 | 40.88 | MRI |
| 2004 | 62 of 117 | 6–6 | 25.43 | MRI |
| 2003 | 70 of 117 | 6–7 | 21.73 | MRI |