Ben Kenney
June 2, 2024 10:04 am CT
ESPN released its College Football Power Index for the 2024 season on Saturday.
The release marks a significant milestone in the college football offseason. The summer is often dominated by the recruiting cycle, but the release of FPI is often the final metric released before the official preseason polls roll out. It along with Bill Connelly’s SP+ metric paints a clear picture of what to expect during the fall.
Related: Big Ten football class of 2025 recruiting rankings entering June
The ranking is unsurprisingly led by Georgia, who enters the 2024 season as the prohibitive favorite in the SEC after Nick Saban’s offseason retirement. After the Bulldogs in the top 10 are three Big Ten teams, five SEC teams and Notre Dame. To say the Big Ten and SEC dominate the sport would be putting it mildly.
As June’s recruiting sprint continues and the 2024 season nears, here is where FPI ranks every Big Ten team:
18
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on during the Indiana football spring game at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Credit: Bobby Goddin/Herald-Times-USA TODAY NETWORK
FPI Rating: -2.4
National Rank: No. 77
Projected Record: 5.3-6.7
SP+ Ranking: No. 85 overall
17
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State’s head coach Jonathan Smith looks on during the Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Credit: Nick King/Lansing State Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK
FPI Rating: -1.0
National Rank: No. 68
Projected Record: 4.8-7.2
SP+ Ranking: No. 82 overall
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions onSpartans Wire
16
Illinois Fighting Illini
Oct 29, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema greets linebacker Tarique Barnes (8) on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 0.2
National Rank: No. 62
Projected Record: 5.3-6.7
SP+ Ranking: No. 66 overall
15
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Oct 21, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck watches a replay against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 0.4
National Rank: No. 61
Projected Record: 5.3-6.7
SP+ Ranking: No. 45 overall
14
Purdue Boilermakers
Nov 18, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters watches his team play against the Northwestern Wildcats in the fourth quarter at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 0.5
National Rank: No. 60
Projected Record: 4.5-7.5
SP+ Ranking: No. 72 overall
13
Northwestern Wildcats
Nov 4, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach David Braun looks on during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 1.3
National Rank: No. 57
Projected Record: 5.5-6.5
SP+ Ranking: No. 74 overall
12
Maryland Terrapins
Oct 28, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley (center) on the sidelines during the second half at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 4.1
National Rank: No. 46
Projected Record: 6.6-5.4
SP+ Ranking: No. 44 overall
11
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Sep 3, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 4.1
National Rank: No. 45
Projected Record: 7.2-4.8
SP+ Ranking: No. 49 overall
Get more (Rutgers) news, analysis and opinions onRutgers Wire
10
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nov 11, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule during the third quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 4.8
National Rank: No. 41
Projected Record: 6.5-5.5
SP+ Ranking: No. 40 overall
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions onCornhuskers Wire
9
UCLA Bruins
Feb 13, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins athletic director Martin Jarmond, right, with new head football coach DeShaun Foster during a press conference at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 4.9
National Rank: No. 40
Projected Record: 5.5-6.5
SP+ Ranking: No. 26 overall
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions onUCLA Wire
8
Wisconsin Badgers
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell leads the football team onto the field for warmups prior to the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 5.0
National Rank: No. 39
Projected Record: 5.8-6.2
SP+ Ranking: No. 27 overall
7
Iowa Hawkeyes
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 5.6
National Rank: No. 37
Projected Record: 7.0-5.0
SP+ Ranking: No. 22 overall
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
6
Washington Huskies
Dec 1, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Huskies mascot Harry the Husky and cheerleaders pose after the Pac-12 Championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 6.7
National Rank: No. 31
Projected Record: 6.4-5.6
SP+ Ranking: No. 35 overall
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
5
USC Trojans
Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts after a penalty during the third quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamash*ta-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 11.1
National Rank: No. 18
Projected Record: 7.1-5.1
SP+ Ranking: No. 21 overall
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
4
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches a play during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK
FPI Rating: 14.9
National Rank: No. 12
Projected Record: 8.3-3.9
SP+ Ranking: No. 6 overall
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
3
Penn State Nittany Lions
Dec 30, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the sidelines against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 19.8
National Rank: No. 6
Projected Record: 10.1-2.3
SP+ Ranking: No. 7 overall
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
2
Ohio State Buckeyes
Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day walks off the field after losing 14-3 to Missouri Tigers in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
FPI Rating: 22.2
National Rank: No. 4
Projected Record: 10.2-2.2
SP+ Ranking: No. 2 overall
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
1
Oregon Ducks
Sep 30, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning walks on the field before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamash*ta-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 24.5
National Rank: No. 2
Projected Record: 10.8-1.8
SP+ Ranking: No. 3 overall
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
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