Where ESPN’s Football Power Index Ranks Texas

 The Longhorns are just days away from their SEC opener against Florida, and it’s going to be a big one. As they prepare for a showdown in The Swamp, ESPN has given Texas a slight bump in the Football Power Index (FPI) after its bye.

After making a one-spot jump to No. 5 in the FPI last week after a win over Sam Houston, ESPN analytics have bumped the Longhorns up by one after a chaotic weekend of college football.

Although the Longhorns did not play, the analytics now give Texas a 4.3% chance to win the rest of their remaining games, a 0.9% increase, even though Texas’ remaining games are still the same as they were last week.

Even though Texas now has a slightly better chance to win out, its chance to win the Southeastern Conference barely rose. The Football Power Index now lists Texas with a 16.5% chance to win out, a 0.1% rise.

However, the one area that the Longhorns did see a decent rise in was their chance to make the playoffs. Last week, their odds sat just under 50%, and now, their odds sit at just over 51%.

But just like every other area, Texas’ odds to make and win the national championship barely saw an increase, as they now sit at 11.9% and 6.3%, respectively. That’s just a 0.1% and 0.2% increase from the week prior.

The Longhorns will now enter conference play on Saturday, with their destiny in their own hands. The game will take place at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 2:30 p.m. CT and air on ESPN.

For now, here are the top 10 in ESPN’s FPI:

1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Alabama
4. Texas
5. Indiana
6. Notre Dame
7. Georgia
8. Ole Miss
9. Miami
10. USC

For comparison, here are the top 10 in the AP Poll:

1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Miami
4. Ole Miss
5. Oklahoma
6. Texas A&M
7. Penn State
8. Indiana
9. Texas
10. Alabama