2025-26 NET rankings thread

[Styre]

The first NET rankings of the season have dropped, so I will once again bring weekly updates of NU's placement. These rankings are the primary factor considered by the NCAA selection committee. Your resume is helped by any Quad 1 wins and hurt by any Quad 3 or Quad 4 losses. Quadrants can vary between locations, so NU might have a home game against one team in a different quadrant than a road game against that same team.

In the initial NET rankings, NU checks in at #48. Generally that number needs to be at least in the 30s to be a tournament lock.

The initial resume:

QUAD 1 (0-1)
N #31 Virginia - L

QUAD 2 (1-1)
N #53 Oklahoma State - L
N #99 South Carolina - W

QUAD 3 (1-0)
A #183 DePaul - W

QUAD 4 (3-0)
H #193 Boston University - W
H #268 Mercyhurst - W
H #331 Cleveland State - W

This week, NU has a Quad 1 road game at #69 Wisconsin and a Quad 2 home game against #63 Ohio State.

 

[Alvious]

Not too bad, actually. I think this team will get better as the year goes on.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

that SC win staying up in quad 2 is gonna be riding the lightning all year.

 

[Smolmania]

Not too bad, actually. I think this team will get better as the year goes on.

The question is will they rebound better? Watching the bullies from Ann Arbor, West Lafayette, East Lansing, and Champaign on television is a dread-producing exercise, at least for me. Especially Michigan with those three big guys in the lineup. . . man we'd better be shooting the threes well when we play them!

 

[macarthur31]

Love these updates! Based on current NET rankings (of course, these change weekly), here's what remains:

• Q1 Games: 13
• Q2 Games: 4
• Q3 Games: 4
• Q4 Games: 5
  • Of these, 3 are home Non-cons (Jackson State, Valpo, Howard)l; 2 are vs B1G oppo - Home vs ORE (net 192), Home vs MD (net 200)

Also, here are B1G teams per NET ranking:
1. Michigan
3. Purdue
10. MSU
11. Indiana
16. Iowa
20. USC
24. Illinois
28. Nebraska
-- (Note that home games v 1-30 are considered Q1 games)
48. Northwestern
63. OSU
69. Wisconsin
74. Washington
-- (Note that away games vs 1-75 are considered Q1 games; home games v 31-75 are considered Q2 games)
76. UCLA
83. PSU
-- (Note that away games vs 76-135 are considered Q2 games)
144. Minnesota
186. Rutgers
192. Oregon
200. Maryland

 

[EagerFan]

Wow, the bottom four seem really really bad for B1G teams, historically.

 

[CappyNU]

First release last year had:

10. Illinois
12. OSU
15. Oregon
16. UCLA
17. Wisconsin
21. Purdue
23. Maryland
-----------
34. PSU
35. Michigan
41. MSU
44. Nebraska
54. Iowa
71. Indiana
73. NU
-----------
86. Rutgers
116. Washington
-----------
155. Minnesota
169. USC

First release the previous season had:

5. Purdue
20. OSU
23. Illinois
25. Iowa
26. Wisconsin
-----------
48. NU
51. MSU
72. Rutgers
-----------
76. Nebraska
89. Michigan
-----------
137. Indiana
157. Minnesota
170. PSU
210. Maryland

 

[Hungry Jack]

Not too bad, actually. I think this team will get better as the year goes on.

I expect them to improve dramatically, though it may not manifest in conference wins

 

[Deeringfish]

I expect them to improve dramatically, though it may not manifest in conference wins

One fly in the ointment will be that the freshman, who NU is trying to develop, will not have the stamina late int he season of the upperclassmen. We have seen that before in individuals but this season they are a big % of the squad that NU needs to contribute.

 

[Hungry Jack]

One fly in the ointment will be that the freshman, who NU is trying to develop, will not have the stamina late int he season of the upperclassmen. We have seen that before in individuals but this season they are a big % of the squad that NU needs to contribute.

Depends on minutes. Tre will hit a wall at 25 mpg. The other guys will be much less exposed. I expect West to play a bit less when he goes up against Big Ten players. He’s not quite ready.

 

[TejasCat]

Iowa is #16, they are missing above. They will prob drop after a double digit loss to MSU.

 

[NUcats92]

I know it’s early, but it amazes me that OSU Wisconsin and Oregon are currently in Lunardi’s bracketokgy where Northwestern doesn’t even get mentioned this **** doesn’t make any sense….

 

[Hungry Jack]

I know it’s early, but it amazes me that OSU Wisconsin and Oregon are currently in Lunardi’s bracketokgy where Northwestern doesn’t even get mentioned this **** doesn’t make any sense….

I think it probably changes if we beat either Virginia or OSU.

 

[CappyNU]

I know it’s early, but it amazes me that OSU Wisconsin and Oregon are currently in Lunardi’s bracketokgy where Northwestern doesn’t even get mentioned this **** doesn’t make any sense….

There's also no reason to pay attention to what the 125th-best bracketologist has to say.

The Bracket Project - Ranking the Bracketologists

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I know it’s early, but it amazes me that OSU Wisconsin and Oregon are currently in Lunardi’s bracketokgy where Northwestern doesn’t even get mentioned this **** doesn’t make any sense….

Oregon is a ton higher in other rankings too, it sure what’s going on there

edit: I stand corrected, they’ve dropped like a rock

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

What will losing by 50 to Wisconsin do to the NET ranking?

 

[AdamOnFirst]

What will losing by 50 to Wisconsin do to the NET ranking?

No joke, playing better in the second half and keeping this to like 15-20 would be a big rankings win

 

[BosCat]

I know it’s early, but it amazes me that OSU Wisconsin and Oregon are currently in Lunardi’s bracketokgy where Northwestern doesn’t even get mentioned this **** doesn’t make any sense….

Ummmmmm.........

 

[Hungry Jack]

No joke, playing better in the second half and keeping this to like 15-20 would be a big rankings win

It was a close game. We only lost by 12.

 

[Styre]

Forgot to update this last week, sorry! NU has plummeted to #74 in the rankings and will need to improve drastically if they want to position themselves for the postseason. The South Carolina win has dropped to Quad 3, meaning NU does not have any Q1 or Q2 wins.

OVERALL: 6-4 (0-2 B1G)

QUAD 1 (0-2)
N #21 Virginia - L
A #70 Wisconsin - L

QUAD 2 (0-2)
H #49 Ohio State - L
N #72 Oklahoma State - L

QUAD 3 (2-0)
N #114 South Carolina - W
A #147 DePaul - W

QUAD 4 (4-0)
H #293 Boston University - W
H #320 Mercyhurst - W
H #345 Cleveland State - W
H #351 Jackson State - W

This week features a Quad 4 home game against #224 Valparaiso and a Quad 1 neutral site game against #43 Butler.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

58 in the KenPom. TBH not sure how that happened, probably because DePaul, SC, and Wisconson have all slipped like 15 spots from when we played them, though Virginia is up 15. Well, to be fair, I don't think our actual rating of a little over +14 has changed much but there are so many teams clustered in that area that a point either way prompts a big movement.

Anyway, no surprise, team needs to be better or it's gonna be a competitive but ultimately low-win season in conference.

 

[MCC_Cat]

Forgot to update this last week, sorry! NU has plummeted to #74 in the rankings and will need to improve drastically if they want to position themselves for the postseason. The South Carolina win has dropped to Quad 3, meaning NU does not have any Q1 or Q2 wins.

OVERALL: 6-4 (0-2 B1G)

QUAD 1 (0-2)
N #21 Virginia - L
A #70 Wisconsin - L

QUAD 2 (0-2)
H #49 Ohio State - L
N #72 Oklahoma State - L

QUAD 3 (2-0)
N #114 South Carolina - W
A #147 DePaul - W

QUAD 4 (4-0)
H #293 Boston University - W
H #320 Mercyhurst - W
H #345 Cleveland State - W
H #351 Jackson State - W

This week features a Quad 4 home game against #224 Valparaiso and a Quad 1 neutral site game against #43 Butler.

Yeah we better get it figured out and fast. Just keep winning and things will take care of itself.

 

[MCC_Cat]

Note my use of "keep winning" is pretty loose but technically correct given we won Saturday.

 

[Catreporter]

This is a rebuilding year. Would love to just finish with a winning record. which will be a great challenge now.

 

[macarthur31]

58 in the KenPom. TBH not sure how that happened, probably because DePaul, SC, and Wisconson have all slipped like 15 spots from when we played them, though Virginia is up 15. Well, to be fair, I don't think our actual rating of a little over +14 has changed much but there are so many teams clustered in that area that a point either way prompts a big movement.

Anyway, no surprise, team needs to be better or it's gonna be a competitive but ultimately low-win season in conference.

 

[Deeringfish]

This is a rebuilding year. Would love to just finish with a winning record. which will be a great challenge now.

I agree that it is a rebuilding year. I have this fantasy though that some of our young players grow as the season progresses, CCC keeps them from hitting a wall by playing a deep bench (not his style, I know) and NU has a strong finish to eek into the big dance.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I agree that it is a rebuilding year. I have this fantasy though that some of our young players grow as the season progresses, CCC keeps them from hitting a wall by playing a deep bench (not his style, I know) and NU has a strong finish to eek into the big dance.

I think any shot at the dance disappeared when they lost those games to Virginia and Oklahoma State

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I think any shot at the dance disappeared when they lost those games to Virginia and Oklahoma State

Virginia has moved up and up and that one was okay. Ok St hurt, but Ohio State t home hurt more. Just glancing at our schedule that we really one of our 6-7 easiest games in-conference to win, and there is frankly a bigass gap between the top 7-8 chances for a win and all the rest, which basically all would qualify as pretty notable upsets. That one really hurt in terms of hitting our numbers.

 

[Styre]

NU holds steady, dropping 3 spots to #77. No significant movement in the resume.

OVERALL: 7-5 (0-2 B1G)

QUAD 1 (0-3)
N #30 Virginia - L
N #46 Butler - L
A #75 Wisconsin - L

QUAD 2 (0-2)
H #49 Ohio State - L
N #74 Oklahoma State - L

QUAD 3 (2-0)
N #108 South Carolina - W
A #150 DePaul - W

QUAD 4 (5-0)
H #238 Valparaiso - W
H #285 Boston University - W
H #312 Mercyhurst - W
H #349 Cleveland State - W
H #353 Jackson State - W

NU is off this week.

 

[Styre]

Very light week of games so not a ton of movement, but NU moved up 7 spots to #70 without playing so that's cool.

OVERALL: 7-5 (0-2 B1G)

QUAD 1 (0-3)
N #24 Virginia - L
N #41 Butler - L
A #68 Wisconsin - L

QUAD 2 (0-2)
H #43 Ohio State - L
N #73 Oklahoma State - L

QUAD 3 (2-0)
N #113 South Carolina - W
A #151 DePaul - W

QUAD 4 (5-0)
H #237 Valparaiso - W
H #286 Boston University - W
H #313 Mercyhurst - W
H #349 Cleveland State - W
H #354 Jackson State - W

This week, NU faces a Quad 4 home game against #247 Howard and a Quad 3 home game against #102 Minnesota.

 

[Styre]

Feeling like this thread might be pointless, but we roll on. NU has plummeted to #83. DePaul jumped up to a Quad 2 win, but Minnesota checks in as our first bad loss.

OVERALL: 8-6 (0-3 B1G)

QUAD 1 (0-3)
N #25 Virginia - L
N #46 Butler - L
A #63 Wisconsin - L

QUAD 2 (1-2)
H #43 Ohio State - L
N #82 Oklahoma State - L
A #125 DePaul - W

QUAD 3 (1-1)
H #94 Minnesota - L
N #107 South Carolina - W

QUAD 4 (6-0)
H #216 Valparaiso - W
H #266 Howard - W
H #293 Boston University - W
H #314 Mercyhurst - W
H #337 Cleveland State - W
H #356 Jackson State - W

This week features a Quad 1 road game at #16 Michigan State and a Quad 3 road game at #195 Rutgers.

 

[Styre]

Somehow NU went up to #77 after last week despite taking their second bad loss of the season. The South Carolina game is back to a Quad 2 win.

OVERALL: 8-8 (0-5 B1G)

QUAD 1 (0-3)
A #14 Michigan State - L
N #16 Virginia - L
A #40 Wisconsin - L

QUAD 2 (2-3)
H #39 Ohio State - L
N #54 Butler - L
N #62 Oklahoma State - L
N #90 South Carolina - W
A #115 DePaul - W

QUAD 3 (0-2)
H #83 Minnesota - L
A #168 Rutgers - L

QUAD 4 (6-0)
H #193 Valparaiso - W
H #256 Boston University - W
H #275 Howard - W
H #295 Mercyhurst - W
H #336 Cleveland State - W
H #351 Jackson State - W

This week features two Quad 1 home games against #10 Illinois and #11 Nebraska.

 

[Styre]

NU drops to #82.

OVERALL: 8-10 (0-7 B1G)

QUAD 1 (0-5)
H #6 Nebraska - L
H #7 Illinois - L
A #12 Michigan State - L
N #14 Virginia - L
A #39 Wisconsin - L

QUAD 2 (2-3)
H #37 Ohio State - L
N #53 Butler - L
N #73 Oklahoma State - L
N #92 South Carolina - W
A #113 DePaul - W

QUAD 3 (0-2)
H #86 Minnesota - L
A #159 Rutgers - L

QUAD 4 (6-0)
H #175 Valparaiso - W
H #258 Howard - W
H #289 Boston University - W
H #312 Mercyhurst - W
H #337 Cleveland State - W
H #348 Jackson State - W

This week features two Quad 1 road games at #50 USC and #45 UCLA.

 

[Styre]

Hey, a Quad 1 win! NU jumps all the way up to #70.

OVERALL: 9-11 (1-8 B1G)

QUAD 1 (1-7)
H #5 Nebraska - L
H #6 Illinois - L
A #9 Michigan State - L
N #14 Virginia - L
A #41 Wisconsin - L
A #42 UCLA - L
N #50 Butler - L
A #51 USC - W

QUAD 2 (2-2)
H #36 Ohio State - L
N #73 Oklahoma State - L
N #91 South Carolina - W
A #105 DePaul - W

QUAD 3 (0-2)
H #87 Minnesota - L
A #169 Rutgers - L

QUAD 4 (6-0)
H #165 Valparaiso - W
H #265 Howard - W
H #290 Boston University - W
H #291 Mercyhurst - W
H #320 Cleveland State - W
H #350 Jackson State - W

This week features a Quad 3 home game against Penn State and a Quad 2 home game against Washington.

 

[Styre]

NU treads water at #71. The South Carolina win drops into Quad 3 while the Valparaiso win climbs into Quad 3.

OVERALL: 10-12 (2-9 B1G)

QUAD 1 (1-7)
H #6 Illinois - L
H #10 Nebraska - L
A #11 Michigan State - L
N #18 Virginia - L
A #41 Wisconsin - L
A #44 UCLA - L
A #48 USC - W
N #64 Butler - L

QUAD 2 (1-3)
H #40 Ohio State - L
H #47 Washington - L
N #67 Oklahoma State - L
A #107 DePaul - W

QUAD 3 (3-2)
H #83 Minnesota - L
N #105 South Carolina - W
H #130 Penn State - W
A #159 Rutgers - L
H #160 Valparaiso - W

QUAD 4 (5-0)
H #250 Howard - W
H #285 Mercyhurst - W
H #297 Boston University - W
H #302 Cleveland State - W
H #348 Jackson State - W

This week features two brutal Quad 1 road games at Illinois and Iowa.

 

[Styre]

NU tumbles to #79 thanks mostly to the beating in Champaign. The Valparaiso win drops back down to Quad 4.

OVERALL: 10-14 (2-11 B1G)

QUAD 1 (1-9)
H #4 Illinois - L
A #4 Illinois - L
H #11 Nebraska - L
A #12 Michigan State - L
N #16 Virginia - L
A #20 Iowa - L
A #38 UCLA - L
A #43 Wisconsin - L
A #48 USC - W
N #73 Butler - L

QUAD 2 (1-3)
H #40 Ohio State - L
H #51 Washington - L
N #66 Oklahoma State - L
A #112 DePaul - W

QUAD 3 (2-2)
H #86 Minnesota - L
N #113 South Carolina - W
H #131 Penn State - W
A #169 Rutgers - L

QUAD 4 (6-0)
H #162 Valparaiso - W
H #243 Howard - W
H #287 Mercyhurst - W
H #290 Boston University - W
H #294 Cleveland State - W
H #350 Jackson State - W

This week features two more brutal Quad 1 games, home against #1 Michigan and at #11 Nebraska.

 

[Styre]

NU rises slightly to #77.

OVERALL: 10-16 (2-13 B1G)

QUAD 1 (1-11)
H #1 Michigan - L
H #5 Illinois - L
A #5 Illinois - L
H #11 Nebraska - L
A #11 Nebraska - L
A #15 Michigan State - L
N #19 Virginia - L
A #27 Iowa - L
A #33 Wisconsin - L
A #40 UCLA - L
A #48 USC - W
N #80 Butler - L

QUAD 2 (1-3)
H #38 Ohio State - L
H #52 Washington - L
N #72 Oklahoma State - L
A #108 DePaul - W

QUAD 3 (2-2)
H #86 Minnesota - L
N #112 South Carolina - W
H #122 Penn State - W
A #155 Rutgers - L

QUAD 4 (6-0)
H #163 Valparaiso - W
H #230 Howard - W
H #277 Boston University - W
H #283 Mercyhurst - W
H #305 Cleveland State - W
H #347 Jackson State - W

Only one game this week, a Quad 3 home game against #151 Maryland.

 

[Styre]

NU drops a bit to #79. One bad loss has dropped off for now as the home loss to Minnesota is now Quad 2. The home win over Valparaiso is now Quad 3.

OVERALL: 11-16 (3-13 B1G)

QUAD 1 (1-11)
H #1 Michigan - L
H #4 Illinois - L
A #4 Illinois - L
H #11 Nebraska - L
A #11 Nebraska - L
A #12 Michigan State - L
N #15 Virginia - L
A #28 Iowa - L
A #32 Wisconsin - L
A #41 UCLA - L
A #58 USC - W
N #80 Butler - L

QUAD 2 (1-4)
H #37 Ohio State - L
H #56 Washington - L
H #73 Minnesota - L
N #83 Oklahoma State - L
A #103 DePaul - W

QUAD 3 (4-1)
N #105 South Carolina - W
H #132 Penn State - W
H #142 Maryland - W
H #150 Valparaiso - W
A #157 Rutgers - L

QUAD 4 (5-0)
H #209 Howard - W
H #270 Boston University - W
H #282 Mercyhurst - W
H #313 Cleveland State - W
H #344 Jackson State - W

Two games this week: a Quad 1 road game at #36 Indiana and a Quad 3 home game against #113 Oregon.

 

[Styre]

NU's first undefeated week in conference play gives them another Quad 1 win and bumps them up to #72.

OVERALL: 13-16 (5-13 B1G)

QUAD 1 (2-10)
H #2 Michigan - L
H #5 Illinois - L
A #5 Illinois - L
A #11 Michigan State - L
H #12 Nebraska - L
A #12 Nebraska - L
N #14 Virginia - L
A #28 Iowa - L
A #32 Wisconsin - L
A #39 UCLA - L
A #41 Indiana - W
A #63 USC - W

QUAD 2 (1-5)
H #34 Ohio State - L
H #61 Washington - L
H #68 Minnesota - L
N #80 Butler - L
N #84 Oklahoma State - L
A #97 DePaul - W

QUAD 3 (5-1)
H #107 Oregon - W
N #108 South Carolina - W
H #125 Penn State - W
H #146 Maryland - W
H #155 Valparaiso - W
A #158 Rutgers - L

QUAD 4 (5-0)
H #202 Howard - W
H #265 Boston University - W
H #278 Mercyhurst - W
H #316 Cleveland State - W
H #351 Jackson State - W

The final week of the regular season features a Quad 1 home game against #9 Purdue and a Quad 1 road game at #68 Minnesota.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Funny how NU is going to finish only a little worse than projected but it feels like an epic disaster due to how brutal the conference is. Standards, expectations, and commitments have to be raised or we're gonna have a rough time.