Indiana Football Snubbed in updated ESPN's FPI Rankings

We are only exactly one week away from the start of the 2025 college football season and with that come more preseason polls, hot takes and rankings.

The preseason Coaches Poll and preseason AP Poll were revealed recently and the Texas Longhorns are atop of each ranking, holding down the No. 1 spot. On Saturday afternoon, ESPN updated its FPI rankings ahead of the 2025 season ranking the Indiana Hoosiers football program at No. 25, just barley making the cut.

ESPN’s FPI rankings differ a bit from other polls. It takes into account team strength and predicts future performance based on a variety of metrics.

SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee slamed ESPN’s FPI: saying ‘Whole thing is rigged’

“When other leagues beat each other up internally, they’re considered a deep, solid league, but when we beat up internally, we’re considered a weak league,” Lashlee said before the second set of rankings were released.

“The same 6 schools from the SEC have done all the winning,” Lashlee said. “It’s hard to argue parity if only 6 teams are successful.”

ESPN's FPI has Indiana lower than most polls released this off-season including the AP, Coaches ESPN, CBS and On3 Sports rankings.

The Hoosiers return three All-Americans on the defensive side of the ball that are expected to be some of the top players in the entire country again in 2025. Mikial Kamara, Aiden Fisher and D'Angelo Ponds all return to Bloomington after a stellar first season with Indiana.

On offense, Indiana brings in one of the most highly touted transfers at the quarterback position in Fernando Mendoza. Productive wide receivers Elijah Saratt and Omar Cooper are back, in addition to former Maryland All-Big Ten running back Roman Hemby and a much improved offensive line featuring Notre Dame transfer Pat Coogan.

Indiana once again has a favorable schedule this fall and winter but a tad more challenging that last season's 11-2 record that earned them a berth in the 2024-25 College Football Playoff.

Here’s a look at Indiana’s full schedule for 2025

• Aug. 30 (Saturday) vs. Old Dominion at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.
• Sept. 6 (Saturday) vs. Kennesaw State at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. 
• Sept. 13 (Saturday) vs. Indiana State at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. 
• Sept. 20 (Saturday) vs. Illinois at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.
• Sept. 27 (Saturday) vs. Iowa at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
• Bye week
• Oct. 11 (Saturday) vs. Oregon at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
• Oct. 18 (Saturday) vs. Michigan State at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.
• Oct. 25 (Saturday) vs. UCLA at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.
• Nov. 1 (Saturday) vs. Maryland at SECU Stadium in College Park, Md.
• Nov. 8 (Saturday) vs. Penn State at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa.
• Nov. 15 (Saturday) vs. Wisconsin at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.
• Bye week
• Nov. 29 (Saturday) vs. Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.