9 SEC teams ranked in top 25 of ESPN's FPI after Rivalry Week
Kentucky has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2018 season. ESPN’s Football Power Index is finally recognizing the Wildcats as a top 25 team with the regular season in the books.
UK checks in at No. 25 in the World Wide Leader’s updated FPI after a wild Rivalry Week. Kentucky’s 56-10 win over Louisville moved the Wildcats up from No. 37 in the post-Week 12 FPI.
Here are the eight other SEC teams:
- No. 1 – Alabama
- No. 3 – Georgia
- No. 9 – Mississippi State
- No. 12 – Missouri
- No. 13 – Florida
- No. 16 – LSU
- No. 18 – Texas A&M
- No. 19 – Auburn
- No. 25 – Kentucky
As demonstrated above, the FPI is not resume based. ESPN defines the FPI as 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.” The rankings are based on a team’s FPI (e.g. Alabama, 30.9) which “represents how many points above or below average a team is.”
Not only is LSU ahead of Texas A&M in the FPI rankings despite the Aggies winning 74-72 Saturday night, but the Aggies actually moved down while the Bayou Bengals moved up. After Week 12, Texas A&M was No. 16 and LSU No. 18. We all know, however, that will do little to the change the mood of either fan base after Saturday’s new classic.