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ESPN’s Bill Connelly explains why Texas is overvalued in season-opening FPI rankings
By Adam Spencer
Published:
ESPN recently released its first FPI (Football Power Index) rankings for the 2025 season.
The Texas Longhorns took the No. 1 spot, followed by Georgia at No. 2 and Alabama at No. 3. Defending champion Ohio State checked in at the No. 4 spot, with Penn State rounding out the top 5.
Should Texas have earned that top spot, thought?
ESPN’s Bill Connelly is skeptical. Here’s what he said about the Longhorns being overvalued in the initial FPI rankings (via ESPN.com):
Connelly: We can’t say for sure that FPI is overvaluing Texas because if Arch Manning lives up to his hype, the Longhorns really might be the best team in the country. However, if he’s merely very good instead of great, then holes elsewhere might become problematic. This is, after all, a team that lost four offensive line starters, its top four defensive linemen and two of the best DBs in the country in Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba. Steve Sarkisian has obviously recruited well, the replacements for those lost linemen could be excellent, and Texas will be very good regardless. But they’re only No. 1 if Arch is an All-American. No pressure.
Texas opens the 2025 regular season at Ohio State. So we’ll find out pretty quickly just how legitimate the Longhorns are this season.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
