ESPN updates SEC football rankings

ESPN has updated its Football Power Index rankings ahead of the 2021 college football season. The FPI is a metric designed to measure a team’s overall strength, calculating their ability to win games against an average college team on a neutral field. With this metric, the pecking order of the SEC football rankings is becoming more clear.

SEC football rankings

No. 14 Vanderbilt (FPI 104): New head coach Clark Lea has 14 returning starters to work with, and quarterback Ken Seals is expected to improve on his freshman campaign.

No. 13 South Carolina (FPI 65): Another team with a big change at head coach, the Gamecocks are looking to improve on their 2-8 season last year. Coach Shane Beamer will have his hands full with concerns about team talent.

No. 12 Tennessee (FPI 47): The third team out of four in the conference with a new head coach. Tennessee has been hit hard by players entering the transfer portal. Linebacker Henry To’o To’o and running back Eric Gray are two of the most notable.

No. 11 Missouri (FPI 46): Coming in at one position better than Tennessee, even their problems are similar. They have a second-year head coach in Eli Drinkwitz and multiple starting players lost to other schools.

No. 10 Kentucky (FPI 40): Ranked outside the top 100 in offensive metrics like points and yards per game hurt them last season. But with a new quarterback situation comes potential big upside; ESPN has them with an outside chance to win the SEC East at 4%. Early season games against Missouri and South Carolina will be a big indicator of their season’s path.

No. 9 Arkansas (FPI 36): The Razorbacks seem pleased with the job head coach Sam Pittman has done already despite the 3-7 record last year. ESPN agrees, having them ranked above other teams with more wins. Early games against Texas A&M and Georgia will define their ranking as early as October.

No. 8 Mississippi State (FPI 24): Sophomore seasons for both head coach Mike Leach and quarterback Will Rogers mean a chance to see a big improvement. Closing last season with a bowl win will help them in their fight to win games this season.

No. 7 Ole Miss (FPI 20): The Rebels are way up on the SEC football rankings this year, and the high-powered offense scoring 39.4 points a game last season could be why. Unfortunately, the 38.3 points per game given up by their defense neutralize that advantage.

No. 6 LSU (FPI 18): In the rapid turnaround from 2019, Ed Orgeron feels the seat getting warm, if not already hot. They’ve faced plenty of problems both on and off the field, but what matters for the Tigers this season is how can they fix last season. Despite finishing with an even 5-5 record, Coach O expects to compete for a playoff position.

No. 5 Auburn (FPI 15): Bryan Harsin is the fourth new head coach to the SEC, but his team’s expectations eclipse the others. A standout defense already, they’re looking to help Bo Nix improve in the passing game. Whether they can topple Texas A&M to play for the SEC West title is the question.

No. 4 Florida (FPI 11): Quarterback Kyle Trask is no longer leading them, along with Kyle Pitts and most of the 2020 team. Only ten returning starters will make it difficult to win the SEC East with the strength of Georgia closing in on them.

No. 3 Texas A&M (FPI 6): The Aggies only lost one game last season, and that was to Alabama. A friendly schedule for a top 10 national team may help their season in 2021. ESPN ranks their strength of schedule currently at 29, the easiest of the SEC top five.

No. 2 Georgia (FPI 5): While the Aggies have high expectations, those facing the Bulldogs are even tougher. This season is a chance at a national title, and they’re projected to win the SEC east. ESPN has them at a 72% chance to win the east. The best rushing defense of last season looks to pair with their top 50 offense for a serious title run.

No. 1 Alabama (FPI 1): The Crimson Tide has a problem that should be crushing to their chances this year. They keep losing Heisman finalists to the NFL. Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith are gone, but the Alabama football machine keeps moving with Nick Saban. With great odds to win the championship, ESPN even has them at a 15.6% chance to go undefeated.