ESPN has re-released their preseason Football Power Index, or FPI, rankings for the 2015 season.
These rankings take a look at the team’s roster changes from past seasons, with the most previous season being taken into account the most. It is not surprising that the more prestigious schools in college football with bigger names top the new list.
The rankings by ESPN currently have defending national champions Ohio State coming in at number one. No one will really be surprised by that due to the team returning three starting-caliber quarterbacks from last season as well as Ezekiel Elliot in the backfield. The team also returns most of its defense, including sophomore linebacker Raekwon McMillan.
The SEC tops the Top 25 with nine teams on the list. The Alabama Crimson Tide are the highest SEC team ranked at number two. The conference has six teams in the top ten.
ESPN also released some big changes since the spring that saw a lot of moves being made. Two of those moves were former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Goldson transferring to Florida State and Georgia finding its new starter at QB in Virginia transfer Greyson Lambert. Here are some more statistics released by ESPN:
• Notre Dame fell from seventh to 18th after it lost a returning starter at quarterback.
• Baylor gained a defensive starter and jumped over TCU, now ranking third in preseason FPI.
• Ohio State remains first in preseason FPI, but the Buckeyes lost two offensive starters. Instead of being about four points better than any other team on a neutral field, it is now two points better.
• Georgia and Texas A&M each rose three spots after gaining a starter. Both teams now rank in the top 10.
The season is just sixty-three days away and I personally can’t wait for the season to begin. This summer has been interesting to say the least, but the sports world is pretty boring right now. It could use some college football.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
