With a 5-0 team, many Georgia Tech fans are buzzing about being left out of the FPI top 25. Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Updated post-Week 5 ESPN college football rankings leave fans in disbelief

Originally posted on CFB-HQ on SI | By Joe Cox | Last updated Sep 28, 2025 2:10 PM ET

It's a tale as old as time. ESPN released another version of its FPI rankings and college football fans tee off. Yes, the wonky numbers-based rankings offer some hard-to-explain conclusions. From there, it's time for the fans to weigh in, with everything from sarcasm to frustration to anger about the latest round of rankings. Here's the Post-Week 5 fan reaction.

SEC Bias

An eternally discussed point of the FPI is a perceived SEC bias. Admittedly, 11 of the currently top 25 in the FPI play in the SEC. Even 3-2 Auburn is adjudged worthy of the top 25, and that brought up the usual chorus of anti-SEC voices.

function calculateFPIRanking(team) {
let ranking;

if (team.conference === "SEC") {
ranking = team.baseRank + 10;
}
— unburdened (@bywhathasbeen) September 28, 2025

A hugh freeze coach team over FSU ?
— BuffBoy (@skobuffss) September 28, 2025

Poll loses all credibility with Auburn in it. I (a huge Auburn fan) saw us on there and didn't bother to look any further. Laughable
— Ron Dorriety (@RDorriety) September 28, 2025

Tech troubles

Another point of concern is that 5-0 Georgia Tech took a massive FPI drop to No. 43. That was despite another win to keep the Yellowjackets in the ACC race. There are actually five undefeated power conference teams outside of FPI's top 25. But Tech seemed to draw more notice than most.

5-0 GT not here. 3-2 Notre Dame with a signature win over Purdue is 6 lmao
— AshtonGM (@AshtonScouting) September 28, 2025

As a Vandy fan, how does GT get bumped off after a W lol
— P (@sh0ulders22) September 28, 2025

Where are all the undefeated teams?
— BrianM (@brianm853) September 28, 2025

Highly-ranked Irish

Another eye-popping point of the latest round of FPI rankings was the placement of Notre Dame. The Irish opened the season with close losses to Miami and Texas A&M. The last two weeks have had a pair of palate-cleansing beatdowns of Purdue (56-30) and Arkansas (56-13). But the Irish are No. 6 in the current FPI, ahead of, for instance, Ole Miss and Miami. That has drawn some notice.

By the way, you know who’s No. 6 in FPI?The Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Computers are funny old things. (Notre Dame is 37th in SOR, for what it’s worth).
— Dylan Sinn (@DylanSinn) September 28, 2025

Did you go to nd? They will play only 2 ranked teams all season and have lost to both.
— tom in salem (@tominsalem) September 28, 2025

How’s ND 6 with 2 losses and 1 of those being to undefeated hurricanes team that they’re ranked over
— Gerry D (@Gerry305fins) September 28, 2025

But on the whole, the best criticsm is always the broadest.

Ah, yes.

The good ol espn “Fools Perspective Index”
— Brady (@Slix_og_onttv) September 28, 2025

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Are they mainlining fent over there now?
— Chris "Big Kief" Johnson PhD (@Eckenmonster) September 28, 2025

Is this a football ranking? Surely this is someone's uniform ranking or coed talent score? No way this is based on actual football games and evaluation right?
— DollarYo3000 (@TheRealDollarYo) September 28, 2025

This article first appeared on CFB-HQ on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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