Latest news with #SP+
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Wisconsin football ranks in Phil Steele's 2025 Big Ten power rankings
Phil Steele is not bullish on the Wisconsin Badgers entering the 2025 football season, to say the least. In his recently released 2025 college football preview magazine, Steele ranked the Badgers as the 13th-best team in the Big Ten. The team was slotted ahead of only UCLA, Michigan State, Maryland, Northwestern and Purdue. Steele's conference power rankings were unsurprisingly led by Ohio State, which enters the 2025 season as the defending national champion. Penn State, Oregon, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois then follow the Buckeyes, rounding out Steele's top group of Big Ten contenders. Wisconsin's preseason position at No. 13 is somewhat startling, given the program's long history of success. It shouldn't be entirely unexpected, however. The Badgers are No. 14 in our preseason power rankings, No. 9 in ESPN's FPI, No. 10 in Bill Connelly's SP+ and No. 15 in USA TODAY's rankings. Those season projections factor in the team's 12-13 record over the past two years under Luke Fickell and its apparent downward trajectory. The projections, other than individual team power ratings in the FPI and SP+, also factor in the Badgers' gauntlet schedule -- a slate that ranks as the toughest in the Big Ten and the second-toughest in the entire sport. The consensus surrounding the program is that the team will be much improved after a disappointing 5-7 finish to the 2024 season. That projected improvement is due to the program's impressive winter transfer cycle, which restocked important positions, including completely reshaping its defensive front seven and quarterback room. Better play from those two positions could alone redirect the team's current trajectory, as struggles at both spots were major factors in its five-game losing streak to close 2024. Either way, the Badgers will need to take significant steps forward on both sides of the football if they are to return to bowl eligibility. Steele can be added to the long list of college football analysts who project a significant distance between the Badgers and the Big Ten's best. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
‘Extremely frustrating': People still without answers or cars after JIA garage fire
Nearly one month after the parking garage fire that damaged 50 cars at the Jacksonville International Airport, people are still having issues getting information about their cars. Tracey Casteel says she was only told by the valet company SP+ that they were unable to get her car and that she had to take a Lyft or Uber. She only found out her car was melted from seeing her car on the news. 'It's like when I watch my cat chase her tail. It's just you're going in circles, only you're hitting brick walls everywhere you go,' said Casteel. That's how Casteel describes her experience dealing with Jacksonville International Airport and the Valet service SP+ since the fire. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] She hasn't been able to get access to the car since returning back to Jacksonville on May 19th. She says she contacted the airport when the fire first happened. 'I did the little online thing of putting in your car and everything, but everything tells you if you're valet parked that you have to talk to the valet folks,' Casteel says. 'I have attempted to reach the airport through social media and different things like that. I've gotten no response from the airport.' Because she can't get to the car, she can't get anything done through her insurance either. She's been paying for a rental while she tries to get some answers from the airport or the valet company. 'The airport has not necessarily talked to directly the folks that valet parked, because valet parking is managed by another company. They have spoken to us, and I actually was able to reach out to a couple of different folks, even at their corporate office in leadership roles, but they can only tell us what the airport tells them,' said Casteel. 'Just trying to get some answers has been extremely frustrating.' Action News Jax has reached out to both JIA and the valet company SP+ to get a response on this. JIA responded asking for names of the people who had not been contacted. We have yet to hear back from SP+. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Big Ten football 2025 win-loss record predictions, per ESPN's FPI
Big Ten football 2025 win-loss record predictions, per ESPN's FPI The 2025 Big Ten football season continues to draw closer. As of June 7, only 82 days remain until Rutgers, Minnesota and Wisconsin kick off their Week 1 games on Thursday, August 28. We continue to pass important offseason milestones as we count down the days until the season begins. The latest milestone is the release of season power rating metrics, specifically ESPN's SP+ and Football Power Index. Once those numbers are released and updated through the spring, the countdown to the upcoming season can truly begin. This topic is timely because ESPN released its FPI for the 2025 season earlier this week. With SP+ already out, we now have a full picture of what to expect when the games kick off. As a reminder, here is how ESPN describes the methodology behind its Football Power Index. The Football Power Index (FPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season. FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 20,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule. Ratings and projections update daily. FPI data from seasons prior to 2019 may not be complete. That picture is both sport-wide and conference-specific. While it's valuable to compare the Big Ten's best to the top teams in the SEC, Big 12 and ACC, it's also important to focus on how the 18 Big Ten members line up. For that specific lineup, here are ESPN's FPI's record predictions for every Big Ten football team in 2025, ordered from lowest to highest. They're also compared with our recent win-loss projections for each team after spring practice. Purdue Boilermakers FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.2 - 8.8 FPI Rating: -6.9 (No. 92 overall) Purdue enters 2025 with low expectations. New coach Barry Odom won't have much trouble improving on the team's 1-11 2024 campaign. But anything more than three wins would be surprising. The FPI gives the Boilermakers only a 6.3% chance to make a bowl game Northwestern Wildcats FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.1 - 7.9 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 3-9 FPI Rating: -3.6 (No. 74 overall) Northwestern forms the Big Ten's bottom tier with Purdue. David Braun was the conference's coach of the year just two years ago after leading the Wildcats to an 8-5 record in his first year in charge. 2024's 4-8 output created questions about the sustainability of that success. The FPI sees a repeat of that performance in 2025. Michigan State Spartans FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2 - 6.8 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 6-6 FPI Rating: 2.3 (No. 59 overall) Michigan State needs to build momentum somehow, whether on the field or the recruiting trail. Since the latter is not happening at the moment, Jonathan Smith will need to show significant improvement when the team takes the field for his second year in charge. The FPI gives the Spartans a 42.4% chance to reach a bowl game and quiet the outside noise. Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire UCLA Bruins FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.4 - 6.6 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 8-4 FPI Rating: 4.6 (No. 47 overall) UCLA is one of our breakthrough picks in 2025. The FPI disagrees, forecasting another fringe-bowl season for the program. Tennessee transfer QB Nico Iamaleava will have a significant say in the season's result. Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire Wisconsin Badgers FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.6 - 6.5 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 6-6 FPI Rating: 6.3 (No. 38 overall) Wisconsin is not far down this list due to a lack of quality -- the team holds a top-40 ranking entering the year. It is instead due to a gauntlet schedule that includes games against the FPI's No. 3 (Alabama), No. 4 (Ohio State), No. 6 (Oregon), No. 17 (Michigan), No. 27 (Washington), No. 31 (Indiana) and No. 39 (Iowa) teams. The Badgers would do extremely well to make a bowl game, something the FPI gives them a 51.1% chance to do. Rutgers Scarlet Knights FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.8 - 6.2 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 4-8 FPI Rating: 3.5 (No. 55 overall) The FPI gives Rutgers a 57.1% chance to extend its bowl streak to three seasons. We're less optimistic about the team's chances after it lost numerous defensive starters and contributors to the portal or graduation. Maryland Terrapins FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.9 - 6.1 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 5-7 FPI Rating: 1.9 (No. 61 overall) Mike Locksley might need a bowl-eligible season to keep his job. Maryland just hired a new athletic director, which only heightens questions surrounding the program after its 4-8 record last season. The FPI gives it a 59% chance to reach the postseason, thanks in part to an easy nonconference slate. Iowa Hawkeyes FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2 - 5.8 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 7-5 FPI Rating: 6.3 (No. 39 overall) Iowa can be projected as a fringe-six-win team entering 2025, but history matters. The Hawkeyes haven't won fewer than seven games in any non-COVID season since 2012, and only once since 2000. Given that trend, I'll comfortably predict another seven or eight-win campaign. Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire Illinois Fighting Illini FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.8 - 5.2 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 10-2 FPI Rating: 5.0 (No. 44 overall) Unlike most other metrics and ranking systems, the FPI is low on Illinois entering 2025. A mid-40s ranking leads to a 7-5 record projection. We see a breakthrough season for the program, potentially leading to a College Football Playoff appearance. Minnesota Golden Gophers FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.9 - 5.2 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 7-5 FPI Rating: 5.2 (No. 43 overall) Minnesota is beginning to enter the Iowa tier of the conference, where seven wins feels like an annual occurrence. The FPI gives the Golden Gophers a 79.2% chance to reach a bowl game and a longshot 4.3% chance to reach the CFP. Washington Huskies FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.1 - 4.9 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 8-4 FPI Rating: 8.8 (No. 27 overall) Washington is another of our breakthrough picks in 2025, especially if young quarterback Demond Williams Jr. pans out. The FPI agrees, slotting the Huskies as a fringe-top-25 team. The schedule is a challenge, but don't be surprised if Washington threatens a playoff spot this season. Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire Indiana Hoosiers FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.5 - 4.5 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 6-6 FPI Rating: 8.3 (No. 31 overall) Indiana is an interesting test case entering 2025. The team lost significant production off a stellar 2024 team. However, coach Curt Cignetti proved last year that he doesn't need years of continuity to win at a high level. The FPI gives the Hoosiers an 87.5% chance to reach a bowl game and an 8.9% shot to return to the CFP. Nebraska Cornhuskers FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.5 - 4.5 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 8-4 FPI Rating: 9.3 (No. 25 overall) Projections are high on Nebraska entering the season. The Cornhuskers are the FPI's sixth-highest-ranked Big Ten team, with a 1.5% chance to win the conference title. The team's success, or lack thereof, will come down to the development of sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola, who showed flashes during his true freshman season. Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire USC Trojans FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.3 - 3.9 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 8-4 FPI Rating: 13.0 (No. 19 overall) USC always finds itself near the top of the FPI. The metric gives the Trojans a whopping 21% chance to make the CFP and a 4.2% shot to win the Big Ten. Remember, those numbers are for a program that is just 15-11 over the last two seasons. Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire Michigan Wolverines FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.4 - 3.7 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 9-3 FPI Rating: 14.6 (No. 17 overall) The question surrounding Michigan entering 2025 isn't whether the team will be good. The question is whether it is good enough to contend for the Big Ten and reach the CFP. The FPI's prediction is a bit measured, giving the Wolverines a 25.3% chance to reach the CFP and 6% shot to win the conference. Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire Oregon Ducks FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.0 - 2.4 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 9-3 FPI Rating: 20.5 (No. 6 overall) Oregon begins the Big Ten's top tier entering 2025. That tier mirrors the 2024 standings, which doesn't come as a surprise. The Ducks are an odds-on favorite to return to the CFP (57.5%), with a 4.3% shot to win the national title. Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire Penn State Nittany Lions FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.2 - 2.2 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 11-1 FPI Rating: 21.5 (No. 5 overall) Penn State finally broke through in 2024. With it returning its starting quarterback and its two star running backs, expectations are even higher entering 2025. The FPI gives the Nittany Lions a 25.1% shot to win the Big Ten, a 63.8% chance to return to the CFP, a 14.4% chance to, unlike last season, reach the national title game and a 7% chance to win it. Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire Ohio State Buckeyes FPI Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.4 - 2.2 Badgers Wire Record Prediction: 10-2 FPI Rating: 23.8 (No. 4 overall) The only numbers that matter for Ohio State are its win-loss result against Michigan, which it hasn't defeated in a half-decade, and its chance to win the national title. The FPI has the latter at 10.8% entering the year, tied for the third-shortest with Alabama. Only Texas (24.1%) and Georgia (17.9%) have better odds. Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New company to provide bus travel around Purdue's campus starting in fall, replacing CityBus
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — After 25 years of using Lafayette-based CityBus to move students and staff around campus, Purdue trustees have approved a $7.8 million, three-year contract with a new campus transportation provider beginning in the fall. Jessica Robertson, associate vice president of auxiliary services for Purdue, told trustees at their meeting Friday morning that the new company, SP+, based out of Chicago, will offer more flexibility and be focused on campus needs. "SP+ brings decades of experience in bringing transit services to higher education and corporate clients and bring an elevated experience to our campus," she said, emphasizing the company's use of technology, including artificial intelligence and an app for students, staff and faculty to use in navigating campus. Several student groups were involved in narrowing the eight proposals, she said; SP+ is able to call on vehicles of various sizes, increase frequency and be more adaptable. Trustees approved the contract unanimously. Steven Poulsen, SP+ national director of transportation, said his company has operated not only on other college campuses, but also provided transportation for hospital campuses, the NFL and the last 23 Super Bowls. The company's fleet, which he said would be dedicated solely to the university's needs, can encompass 15 to an average of 65 vehicles. "We've had a lot of communication with different groups on campus. We've spent a lot of time literally driving around campus looking at what's going on," he said. "I'm not here to throw anyone literally under the proverbial bus, but things can be improved, and we're very excited about the opportunity." The company is looking at using technology to allow students to schedule their transportation, which would be free to anyone with a Purdue ID. The number of vehicles and routes can adjust based on need, Poulsen said. The company has two potential local sites in mind at which to store its fleet, ideally no more than 10 minutes from campus. Now that the contract has been approved, those decisions can be finalized between now and when service officially begins Aug. 25. "Hopefully, the difference is, 'Wow, it's on time!' 'Wow, it's comfy!' 'Wow, it looks great!'" Poulsen said of current bus service and what his company intends to offer. Students living off campus, though, would have free transportation on campus, but what the transportation options are for those forced to live off campus is murky. The SP+ contract does not include off-campus transportation. 'We appreciate the many years of collaboration with Purdue University and the opportunity to have served generations of students,' CityBus CEO Bryan Smith said in a release after Friday's meeting. 'CityBus will continue to provide reliable, safe, and accessible transit options for all members of our community, including those affiliated with Purdue University.' Campus Loop service routes 13C Silver Loop, 14C Black Loop, 15C Tower Acres and the 16C Bronze Loop will be discontinued, CityBus said, but the public transportation authority will continue providing "essential mobility options for Purdue affiliates" to provide connections between campus and the broader community. "CityBus' existing route network throughout West Lafayette will continue to serve key areas of campus, allowing Purdue affiliates to access residential areas, shopping centers, medical facilities, and employment hubs with ease," the release said. "Additionally, route 23 The Connector will remain a fare-free option for all connecting campus and the downtown districts, supporting local businesses and ensuring mobility." CityBus will remain open to future partnership opportunities with Purdue, the release said. "Transportation is usually the first thing someone interacts with," Poulsen told the trustees, "and it's the last." Reporter Jillian Ellison contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue trustees OK $7.8M contract for new campus bus company in fall
