ESPN updated its Football Power Index (FPI) Top 25 after a busy college football Saturday in Week 2.
Although there weren’t many surprise upsets, several top teams found themselves in much closer games than expected, something the FPI took note of. There’s finally a new No. 1 team after Alabama struggled against South Florida and many other clubs saw big jumps or dips due to some surprising final results.
Below you can see where everyone landed in the full FPI Top 25 as we turn the corner and head into Week 4.
(Movement in the rankings compared to last week)
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Beat the Buckeyes Indiana and Youngstown State in Weeks 1 and 2 with a combined score of 58-10. Then, this week, they surpassed that total and triumphed Western Kentucky thanks to a great day with a score of 63-10 Kyle McCord.
He passed for 318 yards on just 23 total passes, completing 19 of them and throwing three touchdowns the day before he was fired. To no one’s surprise, Marvin Harrison Jr. was once again McCord’s favorite target, making 126 yards worth of catches and reaching the end zone for a score. This 53-point win against the Hilltoppers puts OSU atop the FPI.
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Through three games in 2023, Sooner QB Dillon Gabriel puts up some very respectable statistics. The super senior already has more than 900 passing yards and takes care of the football with 11 touchdowns and just one interception so far.
Defensively, OU has not yet faced a power conference challenge and will certainly face higher-octane units in Big 12 play. But for now, just 28 total points allowed in three games is a step in the right direction for Brent Venables on this side of the football.
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South Carolina just isn’t afraid of the hedges like many other SEC opponents because the Gamecocks always give Georgia a real game in Athens. This Saturday, Shane Beamer’s group caused little more than a scare by taking a 14-3 halftime lead.
However, according to Beamers drove his mouth It was a little too much to end the second quarter, but the reigning two-time champions came back and put South Carolina back in its place. Kirby Smart’s group managed three second-half touchdowns to the Gamecock’s zero and came home with the win.
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The Crimson Tide controversially remained at No. 1 in the FPI after last week’s loss to Texas. But now they’ve finally fallen off the top thanks to a lackluster road performance and a two-possession win over USF.
The Bulls really battled and were there until the bitter end, as their defense shut down ‘Bama’s offense all afternoon. Nick Saban announced his transfer to Notre Dame Tyler Buchner He didn’t do much with it in the beginning, completing 5/14 passes for 34 yards. Ouch. Luckily, the Tide’s running game was just strong enough to give them a score late in the fourth quarter and seal the deal.
5. USC (-1)
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After playing in Weeks 0, 1 and 2 respectively, USC had last Saturday off before entering Pac-12 play with road games against Arizona State and Colorado over the next two weeks.
But how is the Trojans offense looking so far? This USC unit may even be stronger than last year’s, which featured a Heisman winner and a former Biletnikoff winner. In their three contests, USC scored 56 points, 66 points and another 56 points against Stanford last Saturday.
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If you want to watch some nice football on Saturday, the game is Penn State vs. Illinois The game wasn’t right for you. The Nittany Lions’ defense gave the Illini fits all day, forcing a missed field goal, a fumble and then two interceptions on Illinois’ first four possessions. The fun didn’t end there, as Illini QB Luke Altmyer also threw another pair of picks in the second half.
Thanks to this defensive performance, the offense was neither able to put up eye-catching numbers nor was it necessary to do so. Instead, Drew Allar and the great line-up of running backs capitalized on six forced turnovers to secure a 30-13 Big Ten road win.
Xavier Worthy. (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)
If they don’t face Alabama, Texas doesn’t look like a complete juggernaut. The Longhorns kept local challenger Rice waiting for a while in the first half of their Week 1 win, then took them into the fourth quarter of Saturday’s matchup Wyoming The score was tied at 10-10 before he gave up three touchdowns to make it 31-10.
A performance in which Texas didn’t completely dominate a smaller opponent likely explains the one-place drop from last week. But UT fans all know it’s hard to justify them continuing to be behind Bama in these FPI rankings.
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The Ducks gained 560 yards of offense in their late-night win Hawaiiand Dan Lanning really spread with the wealth. Bo Nix thew managed a smidge under 250 yards and scored three touchdowns before bowing out to make this happen Ty Thompson to get a run where he completed 4/6 passes for 85 yards and a TD.
Meanwhile, the running game was strong against 50th State, but no ball carrier broke 100 yards Noah Whittingham led with 80 during Jordan James And Bucky Irving both totaled about 60 yards. Additionally, the Duck D held the Rainbow Warrior offense to just 201 total yards. An all around fantastic performance.
9. LSU (+4)
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LSU let the country know that Florida State’s loss is now far in the background as the Tigers silenced the bell cows in dominant fashion with a resounding win at Mississippi State. The defense contained a talented offense, but it was LSU’s playmakers who stole the show.
Jayden Daniels was truly exceptional and certainly played his best college game. He completed 30 of 34 passes for 361 yards and two great touchdown throws of 25 yards to the back shoulder of Malik Nabers. He also added 64 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
10. Florida State (-5)
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FSU is in a similar boat to Texas, right behind an SEC team they’ve already beaten. LSU came out on top with their impressive win over Mississippi State, while the Seminoles fell behind thanks to a close matchup against Mississippi State. Boston College.
BC outscored the FSU defense and outscored the Noles 457-340 at quarterback on the day Thomas Castellanos Passing for 305 yards while running for 95 more, giving him an offensive total of 400 yards that day – a greater number than the entire Florida State team! FSU was lucky to get out alive.
FPI rankings 11-25
11. Washington (+3)
12. Notre Dame (-3)
13. Ole Miss (-1)
14. Michigan (-4)
15. Miami, Florida
16. Syracuse (+2)
17. Clemson (+3)
18. Texas A&M (+1)
19. Utah (-3)
20. Oregon State (-3)
21. UCF (+2)
22. Kansas State (-1)
23. North Carolina (NEW)
24. Tennessee (-2)
25. Florida (NEW)
There you have it. North Carolina and Florida were also there this week. The Gators secured one of the better wins of the weekend when they defeated a top-15 Tennessee squad by two points in The Swamp. Meanwhile, North Carolina moved to 3-0 with a win over South Carolina that looked pretty good as the Gamecocks gave Georgia a challenge on Saturday.