It’s that time of year again when we all laugh again at the ESPN FPI. This year’s edition keeps things as hilarious as ever.
Let’s recap how many times the ESPN FPI has left us doubled over.
2015 – ESPN’s preseason Football Power Index is good for a hearty laugh.
2016 – A laugh, I mean look at ESPN’s Final College Football FPI Rankings.
2017 – The @ESPN FPI continues to be good for some laughs.
2019 – The 2019 Version of the ESPN FPI is good for another set of laughs.
2021 – ESPN FPI with more laughably bad rankings
Let’s take a look at this year’s rankings, that I just can’t wrap my head around.
The rankings get off to a reasonable start with Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, and Clemson ranked 1-4. You could argue with a straight face those four. Notre Dame at #5 starts to go sideways, but I can live with that.
Here’s where it gets whacky – Texas #6. #6?! Last season Texas went 5-7, including getting beat by KANSAS!
#6 in the nation? Texas finished seventh in the Big 12. The last time Texas finished 6 or higher was in 2009. How can any model have Texas this high? It must be the future SEC bump.
Auburn at #10 blows my mind. Did I miss Auburn losing its last 5 games last year? Athlon’s early SEC preview has them last in the SEC West. I guess the ESPN FPI thinks Bo Jackson is going to suit up again for Auburn.
It gets better. Ask just about any ACC observer, and they’ll tell you NC State and Wake Forest will be two of the top returning teams in the ACC. They are coming off Top 25 years. North Carolina went 6-7 as one of the most disappointing teams of 2021. QB Sam Howell is gone.
The FPI ranks North Carolina at #22 ahead of Wake Forest and North Carolina State. I simply can’t comprehend that one.
Can an FPI expert explain that to me? I doubt it, but I know if I need some laughs where to turn to.
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