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ESPN computer predicts the Final 4 for the college football season

Posted on 6/29/25 at 8:28 pm
Posted by skrayper
21-0 Asterisk Drive
Member since Nov 2012
34065 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 8:28 pm
Article

quote:

Last year's College Football Playoff final four featured Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Penn State. What will this year's College Football Playoff semifinals feature?

ESPN's computer model, the Football Power Index, has released its projections for the upcoming 2025 college football regular season. The Football Power Index is "a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season. FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 20,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule," according to ESPN.

Who does the Football Power Index have making it to the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2025-26?

ESPN's computer model has made its picks:

Texas
Georgia
Ohio State
Alabama

The College Football Playoff semifinals are projected to be SEC-heavy, with three teams from the conference in Texas, Georgia and Alabama. Meanwhile, Ohio State is expected to be the Big Ten's lone representative.

ESPN's computer model, is giving Texas the best chance to win the national championship. The Longhorns, armed by quarterback Arch Manning, are projected to be the country's No. 1 team this fall.

Who do you have making the College Football Playoff semifinals this fall?



I can only imagine the absolute implosion if the SEC had 3 out of the 4.
Posted by TigerScorpion
Mississippi
Member since Aug 2018
1600 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 8:30 pm to
quote:

ESPN's computer model, the Football Power Index,


Posted by ArmyHogs
Your mom's house
Member since Feb 2012
10023 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 8:30 pm to
No Arkansas? ESPN is garbage
Posted by Hyena531
Member since Jan 2025
449 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 8:31 pm to
Texas, Ohio St, Clemson, Penn St
Posted by AtticusOSullivan
Member since Mar 2016
2865 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 8:40 pm to
Should replace Texas with Texas Schedule.
Posted by Zgeo
Baja Oklahoma
Member since Jul 2021
2917 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 11:15 pm to
With the transfers we have now of players and coaches, going with chalk is safe but not accurate. You wont look too stupid but you wont get it right. It is also the lazy method….
Posted by Hyena531
Member since Jan 2025
449 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 11:29 pm to
I want Ohio State, Bama, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee at Tennessee, Florida at Florida, and all top ranked SEC teams on my schedule this year with free beer for all opponents fans in all night games

Also Clemson, Ohio State., Georgia and Penn St. in playoffs the same way

Theres only one catch.
I wanna play the whole season the old school way with no face masks
See if any of the other teams are even brave enough to step on the field with these Texas longhorn down south Cowboys
I bet Penn St. and Bama are the only ones even brave enough to stomach it

So please tell SEC board to stop giving me these weak teams so he can get us in playoffs and bring home more national championships for his conference
I dont want a handicap like he did for Georgia, LSU and Bama

Posted by Hyena531
Member since Jan 2025
449 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 11:50 pm to
Arizona St probly has more heart then your team
And i know cuz they scratched scraped and clawed when we beat them in playoffs last year
Posted by LSU Patrick
Member since Jan 2009
76614 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 6:22 am to
quote:

Football Power Index


This is one of the worst metrics available. It had 2019 LSU losing several games during even the second half of that season and didn’t have them #1 until after the natty. Only idiots pay it any attention.
Posted by caliegeaux
Booo Cheeeen
Member since Aug 2004
12204 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 6:38 am to
quote:

I wanna play the whole season the old school way with no face masks
See if any of the other teams are even brave enough to step on the field with these Texas longhorn down south Cowboys


because like 99.9% of your roster is truly made up of some down south cowboys, right?
Posted by MrGumshoes
I see you
Member since Dec 2024
804 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 7:03 am to
Texass will not be there. Book it! Alabama probably won't be there either.
Posted by skrayper
21-0 Asterisk Drive
Member since Nov 2012
34065 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 7:46 am to
quote:

This is one of the worst metrics available. It had 2019 LSU losing several games during even the second half of that season and didn’t have them #1 until after the natty.


This seems like a very specific outlier to base your entire opinion on.

FPI isn't perfect, nor did I ever claim it was - that said, it was #8 out of 55 services that attempt to make such predictions:

LINK

In 2019, it was 15th out of 63. It usually gets about 75% of games correct.

During the 2019 regular season, the only "miss" was the Alabama game that it predicted you to lose. It predicted LSU to win every other game it played, meaning it predicted your 2019 regular season with 91.7% accuracy.
Posted by Simple Solution
Member since Dec 2024
196 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 8:26 am to
2019 LSU had a fairly easy regular season schedule. You barely beat an Alabama team that was limping going into that game, and everyone else was subpar.
Posted by Landmass
Premium Member
Member since Jun 2013
23466 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 8:27 am to
quote:

Texas
Georgia
Ohio State
Alabama


They really went out on a limb there.
Posted by RebelTheBear
Saban's spare bedroom
Member since Aug 2016
5937 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 8:30 am to
quote:

Texas
Georgia
Ohio State
Alabama

Good to see ESPN really pushing the envelope and not going chalk with their predictions
Posted by jchamil
Member since Nov 2009
18663 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 8:37 am to
quote:


I want Ohio State, Bama, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee at Tennessee, Florida at Florida, and all top ranked SEC teams on my schedule this year with free beer for all opponents fans in all night games

Also Clemson, Ohio State., Georgia and Penn St. in playoffs the same way

Theres only one catch.
I wanna play the whole season the old school way with no face masks
See if any of the other teams are even brave enough to step on the field with these Texas longhorn down south Cowboys
I bet Penn St. and Bama are the only ones even brave enough to stomach it

So please tell SEC board to stop giving me these weak teams so he can get us in playoffs and bring home more national championships for his conference
I dont want a handicap like he did for Georgia, LSU and Bama



You need to be more subtle here.
Posted by skrayper
21-0 Asterisk Drive
Member since Nov 2012
34065 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 8:39 am to
quote:

They really went out on a limb there.


I'm curious who they predict to be in the field of 12, and which path each of these 4 are predicted to make.

The top 12 are the following:

1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Alabama
4. Ohio State
5. Penn State
6. Oregon
7. Notre Dame
8. Texas A&M
9. Miami
10. Tennessee
11. Clemson
12. LSU


It's possible this article is just taking the top 4 and implying they're the favorites to win; if so, that would also imply the SEC will have 6 teams in the playoffs next year.
Posted by SEC Doctor
Member since Aug 2024
9571 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 8:40 am to
quote:

2019 LSU had a fairly easy regular season schedule.


7 wins against top 10 teams, 4 came in the regular season. Not to mention LSU faced the toughest gauntlet of opposing quarterbacks in NCAA history.
Posted by Dawgs2122
Member since Dec 2024
1069 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 8:41 am to
quote:

I dont want a handicap like he did for Georgia, LSU and Bama


Maybe you should notch a win against Georgia before you go bumping your gums
Posted by Bigdawgb
Member since Oct 2023
3197 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 8:56 am to
quote:

ESPN's computer model has made its picks:

Texas
Georgia
Ohio State
Alabama


It's like the English Premier League, really going out on a limb here

Also this would mean Penn State blows it AGAIN after going all on on the 2025 season.
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