Tag: espn sp+

Where Wisconsin football stands in ESPN SP+ entering big game vs. No. 1 Oregon

Where Wisconsin football stands in ESPN SP+ entering big game vs. No. 1 Oregon

Wisconsin will enter Saturday’s matchup against the No. 1-ranked Oregon Ducks as sizable underdogs.

Aside from the Las Vegas spread, every metric system projects a big gap between the two teams — and understandably so. Oregon is 10-0 on the season, 7-0 in Big Ten play and has won each of its last four games by at least 21 points. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is 5-4 on the season and recently allowed 329 rushing yards in a blowout loss to Iowa.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin football entering big game vs. No. 1 Oregon

ESPN SP+ is one of those metrics. Wisconsin exits its bye week ranked No. 44 overall (No. 86 offense, No. 22 defense) with an overall rating of 5.9. Oregon is up at No. 3 overall (No. 2 offense, No. 10 defense) with a rating of 27.4.

Ignoring factors like home-field advantage, SP+ sees the Ducks as 21.5 points better than the Badgers at this stage of the season.

Wisconsin enters the matchup after consecutive the losses, including the mentioned blowout at Iowa. The team sits one win short of bowl eligibility. It could clinch a postseason berth and then some with an upset win over the Ducks.

The matchup is Wisconsin’s first home game against a No. 1-ranked team in the AP Poll since it famously defeated then-No. 1 Ohio State in 2010. Luke Fickell and company will look to repeat that well-known performance.

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Wisconsin falls behind Minnesota in ESPN SP+ after loss to Iowa

Wisconsin falls behind Minnesota in ESPN SP+ after loss to Iowa

Wisconsin continued its sharp fall in rating metrics after its 42-10 loss to Iowa on Saturday.

ESPN SP+ accurately depicts the Badgers’ current descent. The team was ranked No. 20 just two weeks ago entering the Penn State matchup. Now, the Badgers are down to No. 41 in the nation (No. 86 offense, No. 22 defense) after back-to-back losses.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 10: Ohio State returns to prominence

With that drop, Wisconsin is now down to the No. 10 team in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State at No. 1, Oregon at No. 5, Penn State at No. 9, Indiana at No. 11, Iowa at No. 17, USC at No. 23, Michigan at No. 30, Washington at No. 31 and Minnesota at No. 35.

The most notable on that list is Minnesota, which continued its steep ascent with a road victory over Illinois.

Wisconsin’s three remaining games are against Oregon (No. 5), Nebraska (No. 45), and Minnesota (No. 35). Given the Badgers’ current form and trajectory, none of those matchups look like clear victories. The team needs just one win in those final three games to extend its bowl streak to 23 seasons.

The Badgers are idle in Week 11 before a marquee matchup with No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 16. While Wisconsin’s outlook looks bleak after the blowout loss to Iowa, a win over Oregon would do a lot to turn the tide.

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Wisconsin plummets in ESPN SP+ after loss to Penn State

Wisconsin plummets in ESPN SP+ after loss to Penn State

Wisconsin dropped significantly in ESPN SP+ after its 28-13 loss to Penn State on Saturday.

The Badgers entered the week ranked No. 20 in the metric with a 12.0 overall rating, plus the nation’s No. 63-ranked offense and No. 11-ranked defense.

Those updated numbers: No. 30 overall ranking (9.7) with the nation’s No. 73-ranked offense and No. 14-ranked defense.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 9: Penn State makes a statement

The drop comes after Penn State outgained Wisconsin 419-298 in its Week 9 victory. The Nittany Lions held the Badgers to only 81 rushing yards on 27 carries (three yards per carry), plus tallied 173 rushing yards of their own.

The loss was a reality check for Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin program. While it has made clear forward steps after Fickell’s rocky debut season in 2023, it remains far from the Big Ten’s elite.

ESPN SP+ reflects that. The Badgers are now the eighth highest-ranked Big Ten team, behind Ohio State (No. 2), Oregon (No. 4), Penn State (No. 8), Indiana (No. 13), Iowa (No. 18), USC (No. 19) and Michigan (No. 27).

The Badgers still have remaining games against Iowa (No. 18), Oregon (No. 1), Nebraska (No. 41) and Minnesota (No. 35). They need one more win for bowl eligibility, and several more to maintain a strong standing in the conference.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Wisconsin vaults up latest ESPN SP+ power rankings after win over Northwestern

Wisconsin vaults up latest ESPN SP+ power rankings after win over Northwestern

Wisconsin took another significant jump in ESPN SP+ after its 23-3 win over Northwestern on Saturday.

The victory improved the Badgers to 5-2 on the season and 3-1 in Big Ten play. It also pushed the team up from No. 32 (No. 64 on offense, No. 16 on defense) in ESPN SP+ to No. 20 (12.0 overall rating — No. 63 on offense, No. 11 on defense).

Related: ESPN FPI updates Wisconsin football win chances for remaining 2024 schedule after win over Northwestern

The Badgers are now the metric’s 5th-highest-ranked Big Ten team, behind only Ohio State at No. 1 (29.1), Oregon at No. 5 (24.6), Penn State at No. 6 (24.4) and Indiana at No. 12 (18.8). SP+’s latest update sees the Badgers inch toward the tier of the elite teams of the conference.

Wisconsin moves forward to a primetime matchup with Penn State, a game that may define each team’s season. For the Badgers, it is a chance for a program-defining upset at home in front of a national audience. The Luke Fickell era would benefit greatly from a statement performance and a true announcement of arrival.

For Penn State, it’s close to a must-win with a showdown against Ohio State on the horizon.

The Badgers remaining games after Penn State are against SP+’s No. 23 team Iowa (11.4), No. 5 Oregon (24.6), No. 32 Nebraska (9.6) and No. 42 Minnesota (7.3).

Wisconsin’s combined margin of 117-16 over its three-game win streak over Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern signals clear improvement from Fickell’s team and program. Its improved SP+ ranking reflects that.

The Badgers now have a chance to take an even further step with wins over Penn State or Oregon. They could factor into what will be a down-to-the-wire Big Ten race.

For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Bill Connelly listed the Badgers among the teams significantly overachieving compared to SP+ projects as of late. One of those signature upset victories could make the team one of the surprises of the college football season.

The Badgers and Nittany Lions will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT at Camp Randall Stadium. The game will be broadcast on NBC — streaming on Peacock.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

How far did Clemson football rise in ESPN’s SP+ rankings after Week 7 dominance?

Here’s where Clemson ranks in ESPN’s post-Week 7 SP+ rankings after the Tigers soundly defeated Wake Forest.

ESPN’s updated SP+ rankings after Week 7 of the college football season saw the Clemson Tigers on the move again.

Clemson (5-1 overall, 4-0 ACC) rose one spot to No. 11 overall after their 49-14 victory over Wake Forest Saturday in Winston-Salem.

Clemson’s offense climbed six spots to No. 11 in the rankings with a 36.8 rating. The Tigers ran a season-high 85 plays in their win over the Demon Deacons and have now scored 40 or more points in four of their last five games.

The defense rose three spots to No. 20 with an 18.1 rating after holding Wake Forest to 233 yards and only 38 net yards in the second half. The Deacs had only one first down in the half until their final possession with the outcome of the game already well in hand.

Clemson’s overall SP+ rating improved to 18.5.

The Tigers are still three spots behind the Miami Hurricanes, who rose one spot to No. 8. Mario Cristobal’s team is now rated as the third-best offense with a 42.9 rating, while their defense checks in at No. 34 with a 21.0 rating. Miami’s overall SP+ rating is 22.1.

The Texas Longhorns (30.0 overall rating) remained No. 1 in this week’s SP+ rankings, followed by the Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 2. The Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 3), Ole Miss Rebels (No. 4) and Georgia Bulldogs (No. 5) rounded out the top five.

According to ESPN: “SP+ is intended to be predictive and forward-pacing. It is not a résumé ranking that gives credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling — no good predictive system is. It is simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football. If you’re lucky or unimpressive in a win, your rating will probably fall. If you’re strong and unlucky in a loss, it will probably rise.”

Next Up

Clemson hosts the Virginia Cavaliers in a noon ET kickoff Saturday in Death Valley. The game will be televised on ACC Network.

Contact/Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. 

Wisconsin continues rise in ESPN SP+ after big win over Rutgers

Wisconsin continues rise in ESPN SP+ after big win over Rutgers

Wisconsin continued to rise in ESPN SP+ after its big 42-7 win over Rutgers on Saturday.

The win improved the Badgers to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in Big Ten play. It jumped Luke Fickell’s group from SP+’s No. 39 overall team (No. 80 on offense, No. 19 on defense) to No. 32 overall (No. 64 on offense, No. 16 on defense).

Related: ESPN FPI updates Wisconsin football win chances for remaining 2024 schedule after Week 7 win over Rutgers

The Badgers are now the metric’s 10th-highest-ranked Big Ten team, behind Ohio State at No. 2, Penn State at No. 6, Oregon at No. 7, Indiana at No. 15, Iowa at No. 19, Michigan at No. 21, Nebraska at No. 22, USC at No. 27 and Washington at No. 28.

They now proceed with games against Northwestern (No. 71 in SP+), Penn State (No. 6), Iowa (No. 19), Oregon (No. 7), Nebraska (No. 22) and Minnesota (No. 41) to close the season.

Bowl eligibility looks likely for the Badgers after the back-to-back blowout wins over Purdue and Rutgers. The team could still accomplish much more, however, if those big-time home matchups against Penn State and Oregon turn into wins.

https://twitter.com/ESPN_BillC/status/1845492367429701703

Wisconsin’s combined 94-13 margin over Purdue and Rutgers signals a possible ‘turning of the corner’ for Fickell’s group, and possibly the program as a whole. SP+ agrees, as Wisconsin has risen from No. 66 in the nation to No. 32 after the two wins.

A strong showing on Saturday at Rutgers would continue that forward momentum and enter the Badgers into the national conversation.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Where Clemson football appears in ESPN’s SP+ rankings after Week 6

Here’s where Clemson ranks in ESPN’s post-Week 6 SP+ rankings after the Tigers defeated Florida State.

ESPN’s updated SP+ rankings after Week 6 of the college football season saw the Clemson Tigers move up once again.

The Tigers (4-1 overall, 3-0 ACC) rose one spot to No. 12 overall after their 29-13 victory over the Florida State Seminoles Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.

While Clemson’s offense stayed at No. 17 in the rankings with a 36.2 rating, its defense rose five spots to No. 23 with an 18.3 rating after limiting Florida State to less than 200 yards of total offense until the Seminoles’ final possession with the outcome well in hand. The Tigers’ defense dominated FSU in all aspects.

Clemson’s overall SP+ rating is 17.7. The Tigers are three spots behind the Miami Hurricanes at No. 9. Mario Cristobal’s team is rated as the fourth-best offense and a 43.1 rating, but their defense fell three spots to No. 36 with a 21.2 rating.

The Texas Longhorns took the top spot in this week’s SP+ rankings, followed by the Ohio State Buckeyes, Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels rounding out the top five.

According to ESPN: “SP+ is intended to be predictive and forward-pacing. It is not a résumé ranking that gives credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling — no good predictive system is. It is simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football. If you’re lucky or unimpressive in a win, your rating will probably fall. If you’re strong and unlucky in a loss, it will probably rise.”

Next up for Clemson

The Tigers will head to Winston-Salem this weekend for its annual ACC showdown against Wake Forest. Kickoff is set for noon ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Contact/Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. 

Wisconsin rises dramatically in ESPN SP+ after blowout win over Purdue

Wisconsin rises dramatically in ESPN SP+ after blowout win over Purdue

There are Wisconsin Badgers fans who think the team is ‘back’ after its dominant 52-6 victory over Purdue on Saturday.

While the long-term projection is still a challenge, it’s impossible not to be impressed by the dominant showing. The Badgers controlled the game throughout, dominated the Boilermakers in every facet and, overall, put forth arguably the most complete performance of the Luke Fickell era to date.

Related: ESPN FPI updates Wisconsin football win chances for remaining 2024 schedule after Week 6 win over Purdue

For those who believe the Badgers are ‘back,’ ESPN SP+ might agree. Wisconsin entered the week ranked No. 66 in the nation — No. 92 on offense and No. 27 on defense.

After the blowout win over Purdue, Wisconsin rose a whopping 27 spots up to No. 39 in the nation — specifically up to No. 80 on offense and No. 19 on defense.

That steep rise has the Badgers now ranked as the No. 10 team in the Big Ten in SP+, ranked behind Ohio State (No. 2), Penn State (No. 6), Oregon (No. 7), Indiana (No. 17), Washington (No. 19), USC (No. 25), Nebraska (No. 26), Michigan (No. 27) and Iowa (No. 29).

They are ranked ahead of next week’s opponent Rutgers (No. 44), plus rival Minnesota (No. 41)

The key to Wisconsin’s rest-of-season chances and push to bowl eligibility won’t be to replicate its performance against Purdue — that is a tall ask. It will be, instead, to take the momentum from the win and build on it. Strong performances strung together will help the team build an identity and maintain clear areas of strength.

Right now, the win streak is at one. Saturday’s road trip to Rutgers presents a critical moment in the season — one where the win streak must be extended.

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Wisconsin falling in both ESPN FPI and SP+ entering big game at USC

Wisconsin steady in both ESPN FPI and SP+ entering big game at USC

Wisconsin fell slightly in both ESPN FPI and SP+ after its Week 4 bye.

The Badgers fell one spot in FPI, from No. 65 to No. 66. It also dropped three spots in SP+ from No. 50 to No. 53.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 4: Michigan is alive

Neither standings are near where the Badgers began the season. They were a consensus top-30 team, at the least, with significant improvement expected in the second year under Luke Fickell.

Mild struggles in nonconference matchups against Western Michigan and South Dakota began the downward trend. A 42-10 home blowout loss to No. 4 Alabama only accelerated it.

The bad news: SP+ works to be predictive and forward-looking. So Wisconsin’s current standing predicts some upcoming struggles against a challenging Big Ten schedule.

The good news: plenty of opportunities remain for the Badgers to improve their standing.

The first opportunity for a statement victory comes this weekend at USC. Wisconsin finding an upset road win with improved play on both sides of the football would instantly alter the narrative surrounding its season.

Importantly, it would start to return the team to where many expected it to be in year two under Fickell. A middling ranking from No. 50 to No. 65 in the nation is far from that expected mark.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

ESPN SP+ predicts narrow loss for MSU at Boston College this week

The computers like Boston College this week in a narrow victory over the Spartans

The computers like Boston College this week in a narrow victory over the Spartans.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly has released his SP+ predictions for each week four game, and his rating metrics have Michigan State coming up short this weekend. SP+ predicts a Boston College victory over the Spartans by the score of 25-19.

Michigan State is currently listed as a 6.5-point underdog on FanDuel so SP+ essentially aligns with that betting line. Last week, SP+ was spot on with in the Spartans’ game — predicting a 40-0 victory for Michigan State which was the actual final score on Saturday.

Kickoff between the Spartans and Eagles is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on the ACC Network. Michigan State comes into this matchup 3-0 on the year, while Boston College is 2-1 following a narrow loss at top 10 Missouri this past weekend.

Click on the post below to see all of the SP+ predictions for week four action:

https://twitter.com/ESPN_BillC/status/1835487348957573204

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.