SEC's Preseason Rankings Implicate Potential Bias from ESPN Given Latest Release
The cozy alliance between the SEC and ESPN carries some intriguing implications for college football rankings, and there's a hint of favoritism towards the SEC in ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) ratings. Let's dive into the crucial aspects of this partnership:
Power Play
The SEC and ESPN share a beneficial tie that sees the broadcast network profit immensely from airing crucial SEC games and basking in the limelight of the conference's best performances. Meanwhile, the SEC revels in increased media attention and unwavering promotion of its interests, forging a powerful influence in conversations surrounding the College Football Playoff (CFP).
SEC Dominance
When the preseason FPI rankings were unveiled, it came as no shock to find the top three teams hailing from the SEC. Five of the top 10 and nine of the top 15 teams in the 2025 rankings were SEC squads. It's fair to question how these rankings could be biased, as they're generated by computers, but there's a trickle-down effect in play. ESPN's recruiting rankings are often adjusted based on where an individual commit, and SEC schools often see their recruits ranked higher due to their perceived talent pool. These rankings trickle into the computer models that create the rankings, favoring schools with high-rated recruits before the season even starts.
Unjustified Advantage
Teams like Auburn, which have struggled to perform competitively for years, Oklahoma with its dismal 6-6 record in the previous season, and Florida's unranked finish make the top 10 ranking for Texas A&M look highly questionable. While USC and Michigan may also be overrated, the preseason rankings set the stage for an SEC season, and the conference will eagerly use this as evidence of its tough regular-season challenge, despite doubts about the merits of some of its rankings.
Even if these rankings are undeserved, they have far-reaching impact throughout the season, playing a crucial role in shaping the narrative for SEC teams and affecting playoff chances.
*Read more about the SEC's relentless attempts to bolster their superiority claims at SEC Embarrassingly Hands Out Analytics Research To Support Superiority Arguments
- SEC dominates ESPN's FPI rankings. (2025 Preseason Rankings)
- Strength of schedule analysis of SEC teams (ESPN metric)
- Greg Sankey's statements about the College Football Playoff format (SEC commissioner)
- Despite the controversy surrounding potential favoritism, SEC teams continue to dominate ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) rankings, with five of the top 10 and nine of the top 15 teams staunchly representing the conference in the 2025 preseason rankings.
- The strength of schedule analysis used by ESPN could potentially be manipulated, as the SEC's recruiting rankings often dictate higher evaluations for SEC schools, indirectly influencing the FPI rankings and the computer models that generate them.
