Here’s a breakdown of the updated ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) after Week 3 of the college football season — who moved up, who fell, and what the rankings suggest as we head into Week 4
Top of the Board: New Leaders & Key Slides
Texas has overtaken the top spot in the FPI. Their strong performances, including a convincing road win over Michigan, pushed them past Georgia.
Alabama now sits at No. 2, nudging up after beating Wisconsin handily. Their stock rose in part because other top teams had less convincing wins.
Ohio State emerges at No. 3, maintaining momentum and gaining ground as others faltered.
Tennessee moves into the top 4, largely thanks to dominant wins; they now look like a serious contender.
On the flip side, Georgia dropped after a tighter-than-expected win over Kentucky. That result damaged their margin of strength in the eyes of the FPI algorithm, pushing them down to No. 5.
Other Notable Movements
Ole Miss, Notre Dame, and Miami each saw upward movement. For example, Miami (FL) made a noticeable jump.
Missouri cracks the top 10 (No. 10), gaining respectability.
Teams like Michigan and LSU are lower down than some might expect, either because their wins weren’t convincing or because their opponents didn’t have strong FPI metrics themselves.
Conference Representation & Depth Insights
The SEC remains deeply strong in the FPI: 9 teams are in the top 25. Four of the top five ranked teams are from the SEC.
The Big Ten also has good representation: Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan are in the mix among the top, though some Big Ten squads are still proving themselves.
Other conferences have a few standout teams, but there’s a clearer gap forming between conference depth in the SEC and Big Ten versus many others. The schedule quality and margins matter a lot for how FPI sees you.
Implications: What This Might Mean Going Forward
Texas being No. 1 is meaningful — both for national title talk and SEC race projections. To stay there, they’ll need to keep winning convincingly, especially in tougher matchups.
Alabama is close behind; a big game against good competition could shift things again.
Georgia’s slip is a reminder: even wins can hurt you in metrics if they come by narrow margins, especially against lower-tier teams. Consistency remains key.
Teams like Missouri, Ole Miss, Miami have momentum; if they keep performing, they could break into contention for bigger bowls or even playoff discussions.
