There are a few things we like to keep tabs on here at Buckeyes Wire, and one of those is the ESPN Football Power Index. If you’ve followed us at all — or ESPN for that matter — the FPI needs no introduction.
However, for those of you that are new to the metric the “worldwide leader” likes to use, or if you simply need a refresher, the FPI, according to ESPN’s website is “a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season. FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 20,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule. Ratings and projections update daily. FPI data from seasons prior to 2019 may not be complete.”
Advertisement
In other words, unless you have an advanced mathematics degree, step aside and don’t ask how the sausage is made, just consume its savory goodness, or something like that. Of course, no metric is perfect because games and championships thankfully are played on the field, but it’s still interesting to get an idea of what these mad scientist formulas spit out.
It’s all great timing because ESPN updated the FPI this week, and you’re probably wondering where Ohio State landed. After all, that’s why you’re here, right? If so, we’ll spill the Scarlet and Gray beans now and let you know that the Buckeyes checked in at No. 4 with an FPI overall score of 23.8.
If that’s a bit of a surprise to you because OSU is the defending College Football Playoff national champion and is seemingly No. 1 or No. 2 in other preseason opinions, then you might have a problem with the three teams ahead of Ohio State. Texas, OSU’s first opponent this fall, topped everyone at No. 1 (28.5), followed by Georgia (26.6). and Alabama (24.2). Behind the Buckeyes and rounding out the top ten are Penn State (21.5), Oregon (20.5), Notre Dame 18.1), Texas A&M (17.9), Miami (FL) (17.5), and Tennessee (17.4).
All of this can be taken with a grain of salt because rarely does the No. 1 team win the national championship, but it does speak for which teams have the most talented rosters and could make a run at some pretty special things this fall. And … as we all know, this formula and the rankings will change drastically when the games begin to come to a high definition television or streaming device near you soon.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State lands high in the latest ESPN FPI college football rankings
