Where every Pac-12 team ranks in the updated ESPN FPI

ESPN's updated Football Power Index is higher on certain Pac-12 teams than others while it may be underrating certain programs

Kevin Borba | Jul 5, 2022

Where every Pac-12 team ranks in the updated ESPN FPI /

ESPN has a whole database dedicated to predicting how every team in college football will do, which is called the Football Power Index (FPI). The FPI also generates updated rankings each week of the season. With the college football season just over 50 days until the first games kick off, they released an updated FPI ranking.

According to ESPN, the Football Power Index (FPI) 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. Ratings and projections update daily."

Similar to the last FPI rankings, the whole Pac-12 found themselves ranked in the top 100. Also reflective of the initial FPI rankings, Utah and Oregon were two highest ranked teams in the FPI, but are still not viewed as legitimate playoff threats.

Let's take a look at where each team in the Pac-12 ranks in the newly updated FPI, and how many wins they are projected to get in 2022.

91. Arizona

Arizona Wildcats defensive back Christian Roland-Wallace (4) tackles UCLA Bruins wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) during a third quarter running play at the Rose Bowl. — Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Projected wins: 3.5

Chance to win Pac-12: 0.0%

84. Colorado

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Brendon Lewis (12) throws a pass in the second half against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. — Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Projected wins: 3.5

Chance to win Pac-12: 0.1%

79. Washington State

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Projected wins: 5

Chance to win Pac-12: 0.2%

67. Cal

Projected wins: 5.6

Chance to win Pac-12: 0.4%

62. Stanford

Stanford Cardinal tight end Benjamin Yurosek (84) catches a pass over Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jack Kiser (24) during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. — Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Projected wins: 5

Chance to win Pac-12: 0.4%

57. Oregon State

Oregon State Beavers quarterback Chance Nolan (10) throws the ball against the Utah State Aggies in the first half of the 2021 LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium. — Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Projected wins: 6

Chance to win Pac-12: 0.8%

50. Arizona State

Projected wins: 6.8

Chance to win Pac-12: 2.2%

48. Washington

Projected wins: 7.5

Chance to win Pac-12: 2.8%

39. UCLA

UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) throws a pass against the Southern California Trojans in the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. — Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Projected wins: 8.3

Chance to win Pac-12: 5.5%

35. USC

Southern California Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) throws the ball during the spring game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. — Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Projected wins: 8.1

Chance to win Pac-12: 7.5%

23. Oregon

Yellow Team quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws out a pass during the Oregon Spring Game Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Autzen Stadium. — Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Projected wins: 8.6

Chance to win Pac-12: 19.2%

13. Utah

Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2022 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. — Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Projected wins: 9.4

Chance to win Pac-12: 25.2%

Published Jul 5, 2022

KEVIN BORBA

Managing Editor and Publisher of CardinalCountry.com, formerly a Pac-12 Network Production Assistant and a contributing writer for USA Today's Longhorns Wire. I am a proud graduate of Quinnipiac University's sports journalism master's program. Follow me on Twitter @Kevin__Borba