#86

Northwestern Wildcats

Big Ten · 7-6

Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium

Northwestern Wildcats rank #86 of 136 FBS teams in the Predictium ratings with an opponent-adjusted net rating of -0.007 points per play (Elo 1553), a 7-6 record in the Big Ten, and 33% of that rating still riding on preseason priors. They went 7-4 against the closing spread.

Ratings

Net rating
-0.007
#86 of 136
Elo
1553
Off EPA/play
+0.004
higher is better
Def EPA/play
+0.008
lower is better
Off success
+0.011
Def success
+0.007
Off explosive
0.000
Def explosive
-0.002
Rush EPA
+0.050
offense
Pass EPA
-0.035
offense
Pts / drive
2.05
9.6 drives/gm
Pts / opportunity
3.48
inside opp 40

All splits are opponent-adjusted, per play. Defensive numbers are from the defense's perspective: negative means opponents produced less than expected.

What drives our rating

No black box: these are the actual model inputs behind Northwestern's number, including exactly how much is still preseason prior versus observed play.

Preseason prior-0.014

Where our rating started before a snap was played

Prior remaining33%

How much of today's rating still rides on that prior — fades as real games arrive

Returning production68%

Share of last season's production (PPA) back on the roster

Recruiting talent+0.16σ

Recruiting talent, standard deviations above the FBS average

Transfer portal+1.6 pts

Net production gained or lost through the transfer portal

Coaching changeNo

First-year head coach adds uncertainty and resets some priors

Quarterback

Rating trajectory

Weekly net rating across the season — starts at the preseason prior and moves as real games replace it.

+0.00-0.02Wk 1Wk 17

Schedule & results

WkOpponentResultOur lineMarketATS
1@TulaneL 323-15.8-6.5L
2vsWestern IllinoisW 427-33.7-31.0W
3vsOregonL 1434+21.6+25.5W
5vsUCLAW 1714-2.1-6.0L
6vsUL MonroeW 427-4.7-12.5W
7@Penn StateW 2221-19.4-20.5W
8vsPurdueW 190-8.9-3.5W
9@NebraskaL 2128-10.5-7.0push
11@USCL 1738-19.4-14.5L
12NMichiganL 2224+17.7+10.0W
13NMinnesotaW 3835+2.7-4.0L
14@IllinoisL 1320-12.5-7.0push
17NCentral MichiganW 347-5.5-13.5W

Lines are from this team's perspective (negative = favored). ATS is against the consensus closing spread.

For analytical/entertainment purposes only. Not betting advice. · Model B13 · © 2026 Predictium · Follow @PredictiumAI