The last release of the ESPN SP+ rankings just dropped and there’s a bit of a surprise when it comes to Ohio State. Routinely sitting at No. 2, just behind Alabama throughout the preseason, ESPN resident analytics expert Bill Connelly reportedly tweaked his formula a bit and the Buckeyes have fallen.
Understandably so, there is some secrecy surrounding the special sauce that goes into these rankings since it is a proprietary thing developed and managed by Connelly, so we’ll never know why OSU dropped.
However, according to ESPN’s website, “the SP+ Rankings are based on three primary factors: returning production (final rankings for which you can find at the bottom of this piece), recent recruiting and recent history.”
The rest of the rankings have some modest changes from the last one we saw, but in totality, things look right about what you’d expect with a few surprises. Alabama remains No. 1, but there’s now a new No. 2 with Ohio State slipping.
Here is the latest top 25 of the ESPN SP+ Rankings (subscription required) and where the Buckeyes land as we get ready to ramp things up for the 2022 season.
25
BYU Cougars (Independent)
SP+ Score
13.9
24
Oregon Ducks (Pac-12)
SP+ Score
14.3
23
Pittsburgh Panthers (ACC)
SP+ Score
14.4
22
Texas Longhorns (Big 12)
SP+ Score
14.4
21
Auburn Tigers (SEC)
SP+ Score
14.4
20
Mississippi State Bulldogs (SEC)
SP+ Score
14.7
19
Oklahoma State Cowboys (Big 12)
SP+ Score
14.9
18
NC State Wolfpack (ACC)
SP+ Score
15.4
17
Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten)
SP+ Score
15.6
16
Cincinnati Bearcats (AAC)
SP+ Score
16.1
15
Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten)
SP+ Score
16.1
14
Arkansas Razorbacks (SEC)
SP+ Score
16.3
13
Penn State Nittany Lions (Big Ten)
SP+ Score
16.5
12
Utah Utes (Pac-12)
SP+ Score
16.5
11
Kentucky Wildcats (SEC)
SP+ Score
16.8
10
Tennessee Volunteers (SEC)
SP+ Score
17.3
9
Ole Miss Rebels (SEC)
SP+ Score
17.9
8
Texas A&M Aggies (SEC)
SP+ Score
19.5
7
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Independent)
SP+ Score
21.0
6
Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten)
SP+ Score
21.4
5
Clemson Tigers (ACC)
SP+ Score
21.4
4
Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12)
SP+ Score
22.5
3
Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten)
SP+ Score
29.7
2
Georgia Bulldogs (SEC)
SP+ Score
30.5
1
Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC)
SP+ Score
32.2
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