Another week of college football brought another shake-up in ESPN’s FPI ratings, and the computers delivered the kind of list that always gets people talking. Some teams climbed sharply after statement wins, while others took a real hit after rough Saturdays.
Boston College was one of the biggest movers. The Eagles, who had been sputtering, suddenly exploded for 49 points in a 49-27 thumping of Georgia Tech. At 4-3, BC now has a puncher’s chance of reaching six wins and bowl eligibility, with a 30.8% shot at getting there.
Arizona also got a major boost. The Wildcats cracked the AP top 25 and backed it up with a 39-3 drubbing of Iowa State. With the Big 12 still chaotic at the top, Arizona now has a 19.7% chance to earn a College Football Playoff berth.
Cincinnati picked up a useful spike too after upsetting No. 8 Texas Tech. The Bearcats are 5-2, and while their Playoff odds remain slim at 0.6%, the win likely kept their season on track for bowl eligibility.
Arizona State added another positive note to the week by beating Kansas State 28-17. The Sun Devils are still next to last in the Big 12, but their chances of getting to six wins and a bowl berth jumped to 44.3%, just shy of a coin toss.
On the other side of the ledger, Texas Tech took a serious tumble. Not only did the Red Raiders lose to Cincinnati by three scores, but they are now the least likely team in the ACC to reach a bowl, sitting at 0.2% to get to six wins. For a team that entered the year with big preseason hopes, it has become a nightmare.
Colorado’s season keeps sliding as well. After a 57-24 beatdown from Oklahoma State, the Buffaloes dropped to the basement of the Big 12. At 2-5, Coach Prime’s team has just a 3.0% chance of reaching six wins and making a bowl game.
Iowa also watched its outlook fade after a 13-10 loss to Minnesota. The Hawkeyes are now 5-2, but their Playoff chances fell to 4.0%, and they dropped into the middle of the Big Ten pack in the FPI, behind teams like Penn State and Michigan.
In Other News...
Cardae Mack Just Put Himself At Center Of ASUs Backfield
Cardae Macks breakout against Kansas State did more than help Arizona State bank a 28-17 win. The true freshman running back handled 26 carries for 159 yards and four touchdowns, a performance that instantly changed the conversation around the Sun Devils backfield and gave the offense a young option it can keep leaning on.
Kenny Dillingham did not sound surprised by the way Mack delivered, praising both the performance and the work that has put him in position to matter this early. What makes the outing even more notable is the history attached to it, as Mack became the first ASU true freshman since 1955 to run for at least four touchdowns in a game, a mark that hints at just how quickly he may be carving out a larger role. [Read more 🡒]
ASU Freshmen Gave The Sun Devils A Spark Fans Were Craving
When Arizona State needed a jolt in a pivotal Big 12 game, its freshmen answered the call. After sixth-year quarterback Mikey Keene exited with an injury, Jake Fette stepped in and helped guide a key touchdown drive, while Cardae Mack kept hammering away on the ground in a 28-17 win over Kansas State that gave the Sun Devils exactly the kind of lift fans had been waiting to see.
Macks night stood out in a big way, with the freshman running back rushing for four touchdowns and becoming the first ASU freshman to do that since 1955. For a team looking for signs of depth and resilience beyond its veteran core, the performance from Fette and Mack offered a glimpse of how quickly the younger players can change the feel of a game. [Read more 🡒]