ESPN releases updated FPI Top 25 rankings after Week 10 of college football

Week 10 brought with it no shortage of high profile matchups and star-making performances. In the fallout of another exciting week of college football action, ESPN has overhauled its FPI rankings.

Keep in mind, the Football Power Index (FPI) is a tool ESPN uses to measure team strength as the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season. These rankings are the projected results based on 20,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, as well as results to date, and each team’s remaining schedule.

That being said, here’s how ESPN’s FPI shook up after Week 10. Did your team make the list?

1. Ohio State (-)

Ohio State cruised to a 38-14 win over Penn State on Saturday. They improved to 8-0 this season in the process. 

It’s almost been a full calendar year since the Buckeyes have lost on the gridiron. Relatedly, The Game looms over Ohio State’s regular season as they’re looking to beat Michigan for the first time in four tries.

2. Indiana (-)

Indiana showed no mercy on Maryland on Saturday, defeating the Terrapins 55-10 to remain undefeated this season. The Hoosiers have now won my multiple scores in all but one game (Iowa, 20-15).

All signs point toward a Big Ten Championship matchup between Indiana and Ohio State taking place in December. The winner would likely be the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff.

3. Oregon (-)

The Big Ten is 3-3 in ESPN’s FPI this week. The Buckeyes-Hoosiers-and now Oregon Ducks all figure to be the conference’s best bets as being a part of the CFP this year. 

Oregon’s one loss this season came to Indiana at home. Unfortunately for the Ducks, they don’t have the opportunity to get a similar win back since they don’t play Ohio State during the regular season. 
If the Buckeyes and Hoosiers remain undefeated, that leaves Oregon out of the Big Ten title game. However, many will argue that a one-loss Ducks squad should still earn a first-round bye.

4. Alabama (-)

Alabama was on its bye this week, and got their week of rest following a 29-22 win over South Carolina. That came off the heels of four straight wins over ranked opponents.

That being said, Alabama has completely turned its season around since the season opener. Kalen DeBoer’s squad is playing as well as any team in the country right now.

5. Notre Dame (-)

Notre Dame’s season, like Alabama’s, could have gone the complete opposite way after the start of the season. The Irish started its season 0-2.

However, Notre Dame has rattled off six-straight wins and will likely be favored in the rest of their games moving forward. A two-loss Irish team on a 10-game win streak would be hard to leave out of the 12-team field at the end of the day.

6. Georgia (-)

Georgia has recovered from its loss from Alabama and then some during the month of October. During that stretch, the Bulldogs were able to defeat a top-10 Ole Miss team at home. 

That makes Georgia 7-1 heading into the final stretch of the regular season. The Bulldogs still have matchups against Texas and a no longer undefeated Georgia Tech squad.

7. Utah (+4)

Utah played host to ESPN College GameDay, defeating Cincinnati 45-14 in convincing fashion during the top 25 matchup. The Utes stay alive in the Big 12 championship race, but don’t control their fate with two losses in conference play.

Still, Utah can win out and finished the regular season with 10 wins — the most for a Utes team since 2022. Two of their last three matchups will come on the road (Baylor, Kansas).

8. Texas (-1)

Texas ended Vanderbilt’s historic start to the season with a 31-34 win over the Commodores. Despite a 21-point effort by Vanderbilt in the fourth quarter — the Longhorns built up a lead large enough during the first three quarters to dispel the Vandy effort.

In a season that has fallen short of expectations so far, the Longhorns are very much in the College Football Playoff race heading into Week 11. They’re on a bye this weekend before traveling to Georgia for Week 12.

9. Texas A&M (-1)

Texas A&M did not play during Week 10. However, their resume this season speaks for itself as the only undefeated team left in the SEC.

The Aggies have wins over Notre Dame on the road and most recently defeated a previously-ranked LSU team in Baton Rouge. They’ll return to action this weekend against Missouri on the road.

10. USC (-1)

The Trojans have won two of its last three games after beginning this season with a 4-0 record. On Saturday, the defeated Nebraska on the road 21-17, improving the Trojans to 6-2 this season.

USC remains one of four one-loss teams in Big Ten play. That means there’s a possibility a two-loss Trojans squad could make it to Indianapolis, but they do not control their fate at this point in the season.

11. Texas Tech (+3)
12. Miami (-2)
13. Ole Miss (-1)
14. BYU (+2)
15. Tennessee (-2)
16. Oklahoma (+2)
17. Vanderbilt (-)
18. Missouri (+1)
19. Michigan (-4)
20. Iowa (-)
21. LSU (+1)
22. Penn State (-1)
23. Washington (-)
24. Florida State (+7)
25. Florida (+2)