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Where Notre Dame football ranks in ESPN’s 2023 preseason FPI

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•04/18/23•

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Notre Dame football
Notre Dame football.(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

ESPN released its 2023 preseason Football Power Index (FPI) on Tuesday. As has generally been the case in recent offseasons, Notre Dame is a top-10 team according to the worldwide leader’s metrics.

The Fighting Irish checked in at No. 9.

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Preseason FPI rankings rely on past performance on offense and defense, returning and transfer production and past recruiting data. Each team in the country is given a rating based on those focal points. Notre Dame received a rating of 18.4. Ohio State landed at No. 1 in the FPI with a rating of 31.5.

Here’s a look at the entire top 10.

ESPN 2023 preseason FPI

  1. Ohio State (31.5)
  2. Alabama (28.2)
  3. Georgia (27.4)
  4. LSU (22.1)
  5. Texas (21.9)
  6. Michigan (21.4)
  7. USC (19.9)
  8. Clemson (19.4)
  9. Notre Dame (18.4)
  10. Penn State (18.4)

The Irish play three of the teams in the top 10; Ohio State, USC and Clemson. Teams with ratings close to 0.0 are deemed to be among the most average in the country. Notre Dame plays three teams with negative ratings in 2023; Navy (-9.3), Central Michigan (-9.2) and Stanford (-2.6). The rest of the teams on the Irish schedule have a positive rating. Tennessee State did not factor into the rankings because the Tigers are not an FBS team.

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Notre Dame finished the 2022 season with a rating of 12.6. That slotted the Irish at No. 17 nationally. In Marcus Freeman’s second season as head coach, his team has the ninth-best odds to win the national championship. ESPN gives the Irish a 2 percent chance. Ohio State also sits atop that list at 37 percent. The Buckeyes have an 82 percent chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff. ESPN gives Notre Dame a 16 percent chance to reach the CFP.

Here are the teams with the best chances to be among the final four at the end of the upcoming season.

ESPN’s odds to reach the CFP in 2023

  1. Ohio State (82 percent)
  2. Georgia (63)
  3. Alabama (62)
  4. Texas (34)
  5. Michigan (26)
  6. USC (25)
  7. Clemson (24)
  8. LSU (24)
  9. Notre Dame (16)
  10. Penn State, Oklahoma (11)

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