Wisconsin rises in the ESPN SP+ top 10 after its win at Purdue
No metric or ranking system loves the Wisconsin Badgers as much as Bill Connelly’s ESPN SP+.
Despite Wisconsin having lost three contests, all three against ranked teams, the metric has kept the team in its top 20 the entire season.
The Badgers sat at No. 7 after defeating Army and getting back to .500 on the season. They obviously do it on the strength of one of the nation’s best defenses, a unit that SP+ now lists as No. 1 in the country.
Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 8 — Hey, Wisconsin
So, with a decisive 30-13 win at Purdue where the Badger defense forced five turnovers and the running game was dominant, SP+ continues to move Wisconsin closer to the top five.
Here is where Wisconsin stands in this week’s SP+ Top 10:
Penn State (5-2)
Oct 9, 2021; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson (2) throws a pass as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Zach VanValkenburg (97) pursues while being blocked by offensive lineman Rasheed Walker (53) during the fourth quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Rating: 17.3
Offense: 31.4 (49th in the nation)
Defense: 14.2 (6th in the nation)
Special teams: 0.2 (32nd in the nation)
Pittsburgh (6-1)
Clemson safety Jalyn Phillips (25) misses tackling Pitt running back Vincent Davis (22) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Saturday, October 23, 2021. Credit: Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY Network-USA TODAY NETWORK
Overall Rating: 17.8
Offense: 35.7 (15th in the nation)
Defense: 18.2 (14th in the nation)
Special teams: 0.3 (22nd in the nation)
Texas A&M (6-2)
Oct 23, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Tyreek Chappell (7) is congratulated by teammates on his touchback in the fourth quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Rating: 18.4
Offense: 33.8 (31st in the nation)
Defense: 15.7 (7th in the nation)
Special teams: 0.4 (18th in the nation)
Michigan (7-0)
Oct 9, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara (12) hugs head coach Jim Harbaugh after a 32-29 win against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Rating: 19.6
Offense: 34.9 (22nd in the nation)
Defense: 15.9 (8th in the nation)
Special teams: 0.6 (3rd in the nation)
Wisconsin (4-3)
Oct 23, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) is congratulated by Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) after scoring a touchdown during the game at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Rating: 20.5
Offense: 29.7 (62.3 in the nation)
Defense: 9.7 (1st in the nation)
Special teams: 0.5 (10th in the nation)
Florida (4-3)
Oct 16, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) changes the play against LSU Tigers during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Rating: 20.9
Offense: 40.6 (5th in the nation)
Defense: 19.8 (21st in the nation)
Special teams: 0.1 (50th in the nation)
Clemson (4-3)
Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) runs for a first down during the first quarter on Saturday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Credit: Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY Network-USA TODAY NETWORK
Overall Rating: 21.6
Offense: 33.4 (35th in the nation)
Defense: 12.3 (3rd in the nation)
Special teams: 0.5 (7th in the nation)
Alabama (7-1)
Oct 23, 2021; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) rolls out to pass against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Rating: 25.5
Offense: 41.9 (3rd in the nation)
Defense: 16.7 (10th in the nation)
Special teams: 0.3 (23rd in the nation)
Georgia (7-0)
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) warms up while Georgia quarterback JT Daniels (18) looks on during warm ups before an NCAA college football game between Kentucky and Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.
Syndication Online Athens
Overall Rating: 27.9
Offense: 37.9 (9th in the nation)
Defense: 10.2 (2nd in the nation)
Special teams: 0.2 (30th in the nation)
Ohio State (6-1)
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a pass during the third quarter of the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.
Ohio State Buckeyes At Indiana Hoosiers
Overall Rating: 28.5
Offense: 47 (1st in the nation)
Defense: 19.1 (20th in the nation)
Special teams: 0.7 (2nd in the nation)
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