ESPN’s FPI predicts every game on Northwestern’s 2021 schedule

Northwestern had an excellent season in 2020, getting all the way to the Big Ten Championship Game.

ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) is bullish on the Wildcats again, favoring them to win all but two games on their schedule. On average, FPI predicts 7.9 wins this season for Northwestern.

Here’s a game-by-game projection from FPI:

• Sept. 3: Vs. Michigan State — 65.4% (W)
• Sept. 11: Vs. Indiana State — 98.7% (W)
• Sept. 18: at Duke — 70.6% (W)
• Sept. 25: Vs. Ohio — 89.3% (W)
• Oct. 2: at Nebraska — 51.3% (W)
• Oct. 16: Vs. Rutgers — 84% (W)
• Oct. 23: at Michigan — 36.6% (L)
• Oct. 30: Vs. Minnesota — 69.5% (W)
• Nov. 6: Vs. Iowa — 52.4% (W)
• Nov. 13: at Wisconsin — 31.2% (L)
• Nov. 20: Vs. Purdue — 60.4% (W)
• Nov. 27: at Illinois — 74.3% (W)

FPI’s only projected losses for Northwestern are a pair of tough road games — at Michigan and at Wisconsin. The Wildcats don’t have to play Ohio State or Penn State this season.

The projections also include relative toss-up games at Nebraska and vs. Purdue.

Northwestern’s 2021 campaign begins on Sept. 3 vs. Michigan State.

Spenser Davis

Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.