Ben Kenney
June 4, 2024 7:30 am CT
The college football offseason reached an important date on Saturday, June 1 as ESPN released its college football power index for the 2024 season.
The metric ranks every program from No. 1 (Georgia) to No. 132 (Kent State) and establishes their value on a uniform point system. For example, a team with an FPI ranking of 7.0 would be approximately 7-point favorites on a neutral field over a team with a ranking of 0.0. It is not exact, but it is an important piece of information entering any college football season.
Related: Big Ten football class of 2025 recruiting rankings entering June
The story of the 2024 season, as confirmed by FPI, will be the battle of supremacy between the Big Ten and SEC. The SEC boasts six of the metric’s top-10 teams and 11 of the top 20. The Big Ten, meanwhile, has three teams in the top 10 and five in the top 20. The two conferences comprise of nearly every top contender in the sport.
The winner of the 2024 Big Ten Championship will have a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff and an inside track at a national championship. Here is how ESPN FPI projects the conference, with each team’s percent chance to win its title game:
(Note: this is different from FPI’s Big Ten Power Rankings which only evaluate the quality of each team. The conference forecast considers each team’s schedule and potential path to a title).
18
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on during the Indiana football spring game at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Credit: Bobby Goddin/Herald-Times-USA TODAY NETWORK
FPI Rating: -2.4
National Rank: No. 77
Projected Record: 5.3-6.7
Big Ten Title %: 0.0
17
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State’s head coach Jonathan Smith looks on during the Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Credit: Nick King/Lansing State Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK
FPI Rating: -1.0
National Rank: No. 68
Projected Record: 4.8-7.2
Big Ten Title %: 0.0
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions onSpartans Wire
16
Illinois Fighting Illini
Oct 29, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema greets linebacker Tarique Barnes (8) on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 0.2
National Rank: No. 62
Projected Record: 5.3-6.7
Big Ten Title %: 0.1
15
Purdue Boilermakers
Nov 18, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters watches his team play against the Northwestern Wildcats in the fourth quarter at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 0.5
National Rank: No. 60
Projected Record: 4.5-7.5
Big Ten Title %: 0.1
14
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Oct 21, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck watches a replay against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 0.4
National Rank: No. 61
Projected Record: 5.3-6.7
Big Ten Title %: 0.1
13
Northwestern Wildcats
Nov 4, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach David Braun looks on during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 1.3
National Rank: No. 57
Projected Record: 5.5-6.5
Big Ten Title %: 0.1
12
UCLA Bruins
Feb 13, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins athletic director Martin Jarmond, right, with new head football coach DeShaun Foster during a press conference at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 4.9
National Rank: No. 40
Projected Record: 5.5-6.5
Big Ten Title %: 0.3
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions onUCLA Wire
11
Maryland Terrapins
Oct 28, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley (center) on the sidelines during the second half at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 4.1
National Rank: No. 46
Projected Record: 6.6-5.4
Big Ten Title %: 0.4
10
Washington Huskies
Dec 1, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Huskies mascot Harry the Husky and cheerleaders pose after the Pac-12 Championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 6.7
National Rank: No. 31
Projected Record: 6.4-5.6
Big Ten Title %: 0.5
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
9
Wisconsin Badgers
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell leads the football team onto the field for warmups prior to the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 5.0
National Rank: No. 39
Projected Record: 5.8-6.2
Big Ten Title %: 0.5
8
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nov 11, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule during the third quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 4.8
National Rank: No. 41
Projected Record: 6.5-5.5
Big Ten Title %: 0.6
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions onCornhuskers Wire
7
Iowa Hawkeyes
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 5.6
National Rank: No. 37
Projected Record: 7.0-5.0
Big Ten Title %: 0.9
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
6
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Sep 3, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 4.1
National Rank: No. 45
Projected Record: 7.2-4.8
Big Ten Title %: 1.0
Get more (Rutgers) news, analysis and opinions onRutgers Wire
5
USC Trojans
Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts after a penalty during the third quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamash*ta-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 11.1
National Rank: No. 18
Projected Record: 7.1-5.1
Big Ten Title %: 2.9
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
4
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches a play during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK
FPI Rating: 14.9
National Rank: No. 12
Projected Record: 8.3-3.9
Big Ten Title %: 7.3
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
3
Penn State Nittany Lions
Dec 30, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the sidelines against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 19.8
National Rank: No. 6
Projected Record: 10.1-2.3
Big Ten Title %: 22.2
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
2
Ohio State Buckeyes
Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day walks off the field after losing 14-3 to Missouri Tigers in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
FPI Rating: 22.2
National Rank: No. 4
Projected Record: 10.2-2.2
Big Ten Title %: 25.7
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
1
Oregon Ducks
Sep 30, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning walks on the field before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamash*ta-USA TODAY Sports
FPI Rating: 24.5
National Rank: No. 2
Projected Record: 10.8-1.8
Big Ten Title %: 37.5
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
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