College Football Rankings 2020: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 12
By Zach Bigalke
Pick Analysis. Northwestern Wildcats. 20. player. Scouting Report. 4-0. won 27-20 at Purdue. 882
Northwestern remained at the top of the heap in the Big Ten West, improving to 4-0 with a 27-20 victory against Purdue on the road in Week 11. The Wildcats won the head-to-head showdown of teams at the top of the division, and as a result Pat Fitzgerald’s team locked in their position in the AP Top 25 for another week. At this point it appears the Wildcats have staying power in the conference battle after playing below expectations in 2019.
Patrick Ramsey was solid once again for Northwestern, as the graduate transfer from Indiana finished 23-of-36 for 212 yards and three scores through the air. Neither ground game accomplished much, but the Wildcats came out better with 80 total rushing yards as a team. Northwestern’s defense held the Boilermakers to only two net rushing yards, while Aidan O’Connell completed only 28 of his 51 passes for 283 yards and two scores.
The Wildcats head into Week 12 for a home game against Wisconsin. The ranked showdown in Evanston is between the last two undefeated teams standing in the Big Ten West, and it will likely serve as a de facto division title game. If Northwestern defeats the Badgers, look for them to vault much higher up the AP Top 25 heading into Thanksgiving week.