Say what? LSU finished No. 3 in ESPN's Football Power Index final top 25
It might be about time for ESPN to tweak its Football Power Index algorithm, because the LSU Tigers didn’t finish No. 1 or No. 2 in the final rankings.
The Tigers beat Clemson 42-25 for the College Football Playoff final Monday night, capping off arguably the greatest season in college football history; however, despite that, LSU is ranked behind both one-loss Ohio State and one-loss Clemson in the FPI’s final top 25.
15-0 LSU ranked No. 3 just ahead of Alabama and Georgia.
ESPN defines its Football Power Index as the following on its website:
The Football Power Index (FPI) 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 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule. Ratings and projections update daily.
Based on the final Associated Press top 25, LSU beat No. 2 Clemson, No. 4 Georgia, No. 6 Florida, No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 8 Alabama, No. 14 Auburn and No. 25 Texas.
While it’s arguable that LSU isn’t the best overall team in college football history, it had the greatest season in history defeating that many ranked opponents along the way.
Everyone still think ESPM is biased towards the SEC? Wouldn’t appear so.
This LSU team was one of the best offensive teams I’ve ever watched. They are by far the best team this year. This FPI can’t take away what they accomplished.
ESPN^
and for as great as the LSU offense was this season, the defense held Clemson to 25 points and proved that by the end of the season, with players healthy, the LSU defense is also elite and well compliments that unprecedented offense.
They definitely pulled it together. Delpit kind of was forgotten as that Stingley kid emerged. That kid will be dangerous over the next two seasons. Honey Badger scary.
I’ll say this though. Trevor Lawrence isn’t the same QB he was last year. He came in like a wrecking ball as a Freshman. He seemed lost at times this season, especially against LSU. Amazing win for LSU.
Lawrence was the highest rated QB in the country the second half of the season. He didn’t appear lost until the LSU game.
Second highest rated at his school, in his conference, yes. You are right. That isw a fact. Put it into context though. Tell the whole story.
He had a decent game against OSU. But most of his passing yards were to his safety valve, behind the line of scrimmage. Lawrence was simply not the same QB this year.
Tout your defense if you want. They did enough to win this season, but without that high powered offense next year, you better tighten up that D.
It’s the biggest piece of garbage ESPN has ever put out. They can’t even explain or rationalize it. Then they, along with the playoff committee, use it as part of the analysis for the playoffs. It’s a predictive model that ignores every stat and result on the field.
I’ve said all along that is a complete joke. ESPN just continues to embarrass itself by putting that nonsense out.
ESPN? LSU #3???
Now that’s some funny stuff!!!!!!
LSU beat five teams that were in the final top 10 ranking and three in the final top 6.
Clemson beat the 3rd ranked team in the final ranking but did not play a single top 25 opponent during the regular season.
ESPN’s FPI is laughable. It also has four loss Wisconsin ahead of two loss Florida and four loss Michigan ahead of two loss Oklahoma.
I have some question whether it is intended to reflect a team’s relative strength moving into NEXT season, which might make some sense. Even if that’s the case, it’s still whacked.
To the extent that the algorithm factors in roster talent, it’s always going to be off because star ratings and rating scores are going to be heavily modified by years of experience in college and –in the case of more than a few lower rated players– college diet and training. For example, Joe Burrow has a low end 4-star and JaMarr Chase was a mid-range 4-star. Both are clearly playing as 5-stars.
ive said it before and ill say it again. the fpi is the dumbest metric out there.