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ESPN Names New National Championship Prediction In College Football FPI

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Spencer Ostrow | Last updated Nov 24, 2024 12:23 PM ET

Week 13 of the college football season delivered some notable outcomes, shaking up ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) odds for which team has the best shot at winning the national championship.

ESPN uses a computer algorithm that considers many factors when determining its weekly rankings. Some of those factors include on-field performance, strength of schedule, strength of record, offensive and defensive efficiency, and more.

Alongside those rankings, it provides each team's odds to win the national championship.

Although the Texas Longhorns were ranked No. 3 by the College Football Playoff committee in Weeks 11 and 12, they were the FPI's pick to win it all during that time frame. Now, after beating Kentucky 31-14 on Saturday, their odds rose (21.1% from 19.2%) but have been overtaken for top spot.

The Oregon Ducks, on the other hand, have been the committee's top team in each of their rankings' releases. They are the only Power Four conference team still undefeated but are given the fifth-best odds at 7.5%.

ESPN picks the Ohio State Buckeyes to claim the first championship in the 12-team playoff era. Ranked No. 2 by the College Football Playoff selection committee, the Buckeyes top ESPN’s FPI with the highest odds to win it all at 22.1%.

Here are the Top 5 teams with the best chance of winning the national championship, according to ESPN's FPI:

Ohio State Buckeyes - 22.1%
Texas Longhorns - 21.1%
Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 11.8%
Georgia Bulldogs - 10.7%
Oregon Ducks - 7.5%

Ohio State delivered a statement win on Saturday against the No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers. After trailing 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Buckeyes scored 31 unanswered points and dominated the rest of the way.

They have playmakers all over the field and are led by veteran, fifth-year senior quarterback Will Howard.

This season, Ohio State's lone loss came in Week 7 to Oregon (32-31). If the Buckeyes take down their arch-rival, the Michigan Wolverines, in the Week 14 regular-season finale, they’ll set up a rematch with Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Even with Ohio State having to win another game before reaching the conference title game, ESPN's FPI gives it a much better chance to win the Big Ten than Oregon. The Buckeyes are at 64.7%, while the Ducks are at 31.1%.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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