ESPN updates FPI Top 25 after Week 9
Even with heavyweights Michigan and Ohio State on a bye, Week 9 proved to pack a punch in the Big Ten Conference.
Most notably, Northwestern (5-3, 5-1) secured its 12th B1G win in 13 games with a dominant 31-17 win at home against Wisconsin. With Iowa losing a close thriller at Penn State and Purdue sputtering at Michigan State, the Wildcats sit atop the West division alone in first place and controls its own destiny with a clear path to the conference championship game in December.
But apparently it’s not enough to make an appearance in ESPN’s updated FPI top 25 rankings. Here’s how the conference looks heading into Week 10:
5. Michigan (7-1; LW: No. 4)
6. Ohio State (7-1; LW: No. 6)
7. Penn State (6-2; LW: No. 7)
14. Iowa (6-2; LW: No. 12)
20. Wisconsin (5-3; LW: No. 16)
21. Michigan State (5-3; LW: unranked)
Despite the four-game winning streak, the FPI formula is still unimpressed with Northwestern, placing it No. 43 and giving the ‘Cats a less than 20 percent chance to beat Notre Dame and Iowa the next few weeks.
Minnesota, Nebraska and Maryland also enjoyed wins over the weekend, rounding out Big Ten action.