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Wildcats Outshine Big Ten Rivals in Surprise Ranking
16 Aug
Summary
- Northwestern ranked 55th in Fox analyst's "Ultimate 136" list
- Outranked 5 other Big Ten teams, including Rutgers, Minnesota, and Purdue
- Wildcats face tough schedule with 4 ranked conference opponents
As of August 16th, 2025, the Northwestern Wildcats football team has earned a relatively unexpected ranking in a prominent national analysis. According to Fox Sports analyst RJ Young's "Ultimate 136" list, the Wildcats have been placed at number 55, outranking five of their Big Ten conference opponents.
The Wildcats, led by head coach David Braun, were previously considered underdogs in the conference race. However, Young's assessment suggests that the team may have more potential than initially anticipated. The analyst highlighted the addition of former SMU quarterback Preston Stone, who will be partnering with ex-South Dakota State wide receiver Griffin Wilde to potentially improve the Wildcats' struggling offense from last season.
Despite the surprising ranking, Northwestern still faces a daunting schedule this fall. The team is set to take on four ranked Big Ten opponents: No. 7 Oregon, No. 2 Penn State, No. 14 Michigan, and No. 12 Illinois. Overcoming these challenges will be crucial if the Wildcats hope to exceed their current projected finish of 17th out of 18 Big Ten teams.
