CFB Power Rankings

Independent power rankings, predictions, win probabilities, and game results.

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#63

Northwestern

Big Ten · Conf Rank #11 ·
Net Rating +0.4
Strength of Schedule #54
Strength of Record #51
Controlled Pace Run-Heavy OffenseSound DefenseAbove-Average Roster
Passing & Rushing Breakdown
Passing
Att 380
Comp % 58.9%#101
Yards 2,452
YPA 6.5
ADOT 9.5
INT 12
Success 43.2%#74
PPA 0.13#109
Color = success rate vs FBS average
Deep Left
22.2%
2 / 9 completionssmall sample
Yards 60
YPC 30.0
Success 33.3%#54
PPA -0.20#98
Deep Middle
66.7%
2 / 3 completionssmall sample
Yards 55
YPC 27.5
Success 66.7%#12
PPA 1.17#33
Deep Right
40.0%
6 / 15 completions
Yards 157
YPC 26.2
Success 40.0%#35
PPA 0.48#53
Short Left
70.6%
48 / 68 completions
Yards 414
YPC 8.6
Success 48.5%#41
PPA 0.40#27
Short Middle
57.7%
15 / 26 completions
Yards 219
YPC 14.6
Success 46.2%#88
PPA 0.21#120
Short Right
63.9%
39 / 61 completions
Yards 292
YPC 7.5
Success 37.7%#92
PPA 0.10#92
No recorded location 112 / 198 completions
Yards 1,255
YPA 6.3
Comp % 56.6%
Success 42.9%
PPA 0.00

182 of 380 pass attempts have a recorded zone; the rest are in the row above.

What do these stats mean?
Success rate
Share of plays that gained enough to keep the offense on schedule (roughly half the needed yards on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, all of it on 3rd/4th).
PPA
Predicted points added per play: how much each play changed the offense's expected points.
ADOT
Average depth of target: how far downfield the average throw travels in the air.
YAC
Yards gained after the catch.
Explosiveness
How big the successful plays are, on average.
Stuff rate
Share of carries stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Line yards
Rushing yards credited to the offensive line rather than the runner.
Second level / open field
Yards gained beyond the line: the second level is roughly 5-10 yards past the line of scrimmage, open field is farther. The bar under each rushing tile shows each source as a share of the three combined.
#12 (rank)
Season rank among FBS teams with meaningful volume in that spot. #1 is best; on Defense Allowed, #1 allowed the least. Ranks are hidden in single-game views.
Small sample
Fewer than 10 plays in a season (3 in a single game). These tiles are dimmed and not colored.
Defense Allowed
Same stats, but for what opponents did against this team. Lower is better there.

Schedule & Results

Week Opponent Result / Prediction vs Prediction
Wk 1
@ Tulane L 3–23
-6.3
Wk 2
vs Western Illinois W 42–7
-5.6
Wk 3
vs Oregon L 14–34
+5.6
Wk 4
Bye — —
Wk 5
vs UCLA W 17–14
-4.6
Wk 6
vs UL Monroe W 42–7
+19.4
Wk 7
@ Penn State W 22–21
+27.9
Wk 8
vs Purdue W 19–0
+11.0
Wk 9
@ Nebraska L 21–28
+2.8
Wk 10
Bye — —
Wk 11
@ USC L 17–38
-3.5
Wk 12
vs Michigan L 22–24
+10.3
Wk 13
vs Minnesota W 38–35
+1.5
Wk 14
@ Illinois L 13–20
+1.3
Gameabove Sports Bowl
vs Central Michigan W 34–7
+16.8