ESPN FPI top 25 updated after chaotic Week 12 of college football

Jonathan Wagner

Week 12 was a memorable one in college football that will have great impacts on the rest of the season. Four ranked teams lost over the weekend, and the losses will seriously shake up the College Football Playoff picture. Following all of the Week 12 action, ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index) top 25 has been updated.

Updated ESPN FPI after Week 12

Georgia Bulldogs
Ohio State Buckeyes
Alabama Crimson Tide
Michigan Wolverines
Oklahoma Sooners
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Cincinnati Bearcats
Iowa State Cyclones
Clemson Tigers
Wisconsin Badgers
Pittsburgh Panthers
Utah Utes
Texas A&M Aggies
Penn State Nittany Lions
NC State Wolfpack
Baylor Bears
Ole Miss Rebels
Oregon Ducks
Auburn Tigers
Appalachian State Mountaineers
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Tennessee Volunteers
Michigan State Spartans
Florida Gators

FPI top ten is shaken up following the chaotic weekend

There were four previously ranked teams that lost in Week 12, shaking up ESPN’s FPI rankings. Arkansas hung with Alabama, but a historic performance from Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was enough to hold on and clinch the Crimson Tide a spot in the SEC Championship. Ohio State completely dominated Michigan State, winning 56-7. The loss ends any hopes for the College Football Playoff for Michigan State, while Ohio State is now in an even better position.

Clemson also had no issues against Wake Forest, coming away with a 48-27 win. For all of the talk about Clemson’s struggles this season, the Tigers are now 8-3 on the season and find themselves in the top ten of ESPN’s post Week 12 FPI top 25. The biggest result of the weekend was undoubtedly Utah taking down Oregon 38-7. The loss eliminated Oregon from College Football Playoff talks, which opens up the rest of the field tremendously.

With Cincinnati, Michigan, and even teams like Notre Dame and Oklahoma State winning again in Week 12, the path to a spot in the playoff is as wide open as it ever has been.

Texas and Wake Forest were the two teams that dropped out of the ESPN FPI top 25 following Week 12. Appalachian State was the biggest riser of the weekend, jumping ten spots to join the top 25 at 21.