ESPN shakes up FPI Top 25 rankings after wild Week 3 of college football

ESPN updated its FPI Top 25 rankings following a wild Week 3 of college football featuring some must-see games. Surprising results, upsets and domination?

That’s right, college football had it all, again. Just think of it this way, we’re only a quarter into the regular season!

Without further ado, let’s dive into ESPN’s latest FPI rankings following Week 3. We start at the top with a familiar No. 1.

1. Oregon

Oregon had a slower first half, but ended up beating Northwestern 34-14 to stay undefeated in the early part of the season. The Ducks top the FPI once again.

Dante Moore was 16-of-20 passing for 178 yards, one touchdown and one interception in this one. Next up is rival Oregon State at home.

2. Ohio State (+1)

Ohio State got a little bit of a scare from the Ohio Bobcats in the first half but then all was right with the world. The Buckeyes won 37-9 to improve to 3-0 on the season.

With the win, Ohio State moved up a spot in the FPI this week. Next week is a road trip to Washington for the Big Ten opener.

3. Alabama (+1)

It’s like that season opening loss for Alabama didn’t happen. Okay, let’s get serious now. Alabama dominated Wisconsin 38-14 at home and moved up one spot in the FPI this week.

How about Ty Simpson? He was 24-of-29 passing for 382 yards and four touchdowns. It seems like the Crimson Tide have fixed things, for now.

4. Georgia (+2)

The Bulldogs beat Tennessee in a thriller in Knoxville. It took overtime, but Kirby Smart and Georgia kept the winning streak against the Vols going.

With the win, Georgia moved up two spots in the FPI rankings from ESPN. This win could prove to be high quality, especially when we look back at it in November.

5. USC

USC won its Big Ten opener 33-17 at Purdue to improve to 3-0 on the season. Jayden Maiava had another solid performance, going 17-of-28 for 282 yards and a rushing touchdown.

The Trojans are pretty high in the FPI, something some might’ve not expected in the preseason. They remained top five going into Week 4.

6. Texas (-4)

Even with a 27-10 win over UTEP, the Longhorns dropped four spots in the FPI this weekend. Arch Manning was responsible for three touchdowns, but even he was booed by the fans.

Well, it was him and the Texas offense. While the defense remains elite, questions remain about Steve Sarkisian’s side of the ball.

7. Penn State

Another no nonsense non-conference game for Penn State, winning 52-6 over Villanova. The Nittany Lions stood pat in the FPI this weekend too.

Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for 30 carries, 190 yards and three touchdowns. That can lead them a long way this year for sure.

8. Ole Miss

You know what’s good about Ole Miss this season? The Rebels offense is so fun to watch, again. With a 41-35 win over Arkansas, Ole Miss stayed in the top 10 of the FPI.

However, the defense is still suspect. It remains to be seen how Lane Kiffin’s crew manages the rest of the SEC schedule while trying to simply just outscore opponents.

9. Tennessee

Tennessee didn’t budge in the FPI despite the loss to Georgia at home. With the game in overtime, the Vols had a 41-38 lead, but couldn’t limit the Bulldogs offense during UGA’s OT possession.

Still, Joey Aguilar played really well with 371 yards, four touchdowns, but two interceptions. Tennessee hosts UAB before playing Mississippi State to resume SEC play.

10. Michigan (+19)

No Sherrone Moore? No problem. The Wolverines took down Central Michigan 63-3 with Biff Poggi roaming the sidelines.

Michigan actually vaulted nearly 20 spots in the FPI with this win, even after last week’s loss to Oklahoma. By the way, the Sooners are just outside the top 10. Michigan heads to Nebraska next week for must-see-TV.

ESPN updates Top 25 FPI after Week 3

11. Miami (+11)
12. Missouri (+1)
13. Oklahoma (+10)
14. Notre Dame (-4)
15. Texas A&M
16. Indiana (+1)
17. Nebraska (-5)
18. Utah (-4)
19. LSU (-3)
20. Auburn (-9)
21. Vanderbilt (+7)
22. BYU (-4)
23. Illinois (+2)
24. Arkansas (-5)
25. TCU (-5)