2026-27 Outlook
LangIndex projects Northwestern at #62 nationally for the 2026-27 college basketball season with a projected efficiency margin of +6.1 points per 100 possessions. The model projects a step back from last season's #54 finish. The model slots this team in the NCAA-tournament conversation.
About 44% of last season's production returns, a middle-of-the-road continuity number. The incoming class is headlined by 4-star Jayden Hodge, part of a 2-commit group.
Last Season (2025-26)
Northwestern finished 2025-26 at 15-19, ranked #54 in the final LangIndex ratings with adjusted offense of 115.8 and adjusted defense of 103.0 points per 100 possessions.
How LangIndex Rates Northwestern
Northwestern's power rating of +6.1 is an adjusted efficiency margin: the points per 100 possessions the model expects them to outscore an average Division I team by, once you strip out schedule strength. It combines adjusted offensive efficiency, adjusted defensive efficiency, and pace into one number, so a rating of +6.1 means Northwestern projects to beat a neutral-court average team by about 4 points on a typical night. The full live version updates every morning during the season.
Northwestern Rating History
Season-by-season LangIndex power rating and national rank. Northwestern has trended upward over the last few seasons. Their best finish in this window was #52 in 2025-26.
| Season | Power Rating | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | +10.1 | #52 |
| 2024-25 | +5.3 | #91 |
| 2023-24 | +6.2 | #87 |
| 2022-23 | +8.8 | #66 |
| 2021-22 | -0.2 | #169 |
| 2020-21 | -7.2 | #257 |