ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index) rankings are out after Week 13’s college football chaos. Week 13 featured several upsets, so there were some big changes made to the rankings.
According to ESPN, FPI is defined as “a predictive rating system designed to measure team strength and project performance going forward.” In the FPI, nine of the top 25 teams are in the SEC, including five of the top 10.
The Bulldogs avoided being upset this week, defeating the UMass Minutemen 59-21. UMass played Georgia tough and took advantage of the Bulldogs’ lax tackling, but the Bulldog offense dominated in this game.
Carson Beck had one of his best games in 2024 and Nate Frazier had a potential coming out party as an elite RB1. Despite the Bulldogs’ dominance, Georgia still rank No. 5 in ESPN’s FPI rankings. However, Georgia fans aren’t sweating it because the Bulldogs officially clinched their fourth-straight SEC championship berth.
They clinched it due to the Alabama Crimson Tide stunningly losing to the Oklahoma Sooners 24-3. The Sooners’ defense forced Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to throw three interceptions to win the game. Alabama dropped two spots to No. 4 on the FPI rankings, and Oklahoma emerged into the rankings at No. 23.
The biggest matchup of the week was Indiana-Ohio State, which was not competitive. The Buckeyes whooped the Hoosiers 38-15. The Ohio State defense only allowed 68 passing yards and sacked Kurtis Rourke five times. Ohio State will be Oregon’s opponent in the Big Ten championship unless the Buckeyes lose to Michigan.
The SMU Mustangs are the highest risers in FPI. The Mustangs climb up three spots to No. 12 following their 33-7 win against Virginia, which gave SMU a spot in the ACC championship. The Boise State Broncos, another potential playoff team, fell six spots to No. 27 after squeaking by against Wyoming in a 17-13 win.
Week 14 is rivalry weekend, so tons of upsets are bound to take place in each matchup. The Texas-Texas A&M matchup has the most at stake. Whichever team wins that matchup will play Georgia in the SEC championship game in Atlanta.
ESPN’s FPI Top 25 after Week 13
- Texas (26.5 FPI)
- Ohio State (26.2 FPI)
- Notre Dame (24.7 FPI)
- Alabama (24.3 FPI)
- Georgia (22.5 FPI)
- Ole Miss (21.3 FPI)
- Oregon (20.8 FPI)
- Tennessee (20.5cFPI)
- Penn State (20.3 FPI)
- Miami (18.2 FPI)
- Indiana (17.3 FPI)
- SMU (15.4 FPI)
- Louisville (15.1 FPI)
- Clemson (14.8 FPI)
- Texas A&M (14.4 FPI)
- South Carolina (14.3 FPI)
- Tulane (13.8 FPI)
- USC (13.4 FPI)
- LSU (12.8 FPI)
- Iowa (12.2 FPI)
- Missouri (12 FPI)
- Kansas State (12 FPI)
- Oklahoma (12.0 FPI)
- Colorado (11.7 FPI)
- Florida (11.6 FPI)
