ESPN's FPI ranking moves Ohio State to No. 1 after historic collapse. Huh?

After Ohio State's shocking loss to Texas on September 12, ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) has ranked the Buckeyes as the No. 1 team in college football. This surprising shift comes after the Ohio State football team's disastrous second half, where they were outscored 21-3 and 21-0 in the final quarter, resulting in a 24-23 defeat.

The FPI is not merely a reflection of a team's resume or record; rather, it serves as the best predictor of a team's future performance for the remainder of the season. ESPN defines it as "a measure of team strength meant to be the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season." The FPI is calculated as a net points scale, against an expected point margin against an average opponent on a neutral field.

Despite Texas's 1.5-point favorite status at the time, they only won by one point. According to the FPI, Ohio State has a 25% chance of winning out the rest of the season, placing it second-highest in the country. Their potential to win the national championship is also strong, with only Texas trailing behind at 19.7%. The Buckeyes face challenging opponents in their remaining schedule, including No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Oregon, No. 14 Southern California, No. 21 Iowa, and No. 24 Michigan.