Throughout the 2024 college football season, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) has remained high on the Alabama Crimson Tide. That did not change after the Crimson Tide’s Week 9 victory over Missouri either, as Alabama did not move from their FPI ranking of No. 3 nationally in Sunday’s update.
According to ESPN’s FPI, Alabama now has a 45.2% chance to win out over the remainder of the regular season, as well as a 6.2% chance to win the SEC. The Crimson Tide also have a 53.2% chance to make the College Football Playoff, a 13.9% chance to make the national championship game, and an 8.2% chance to win the title.
Ranking at No. 3, it’s clear that ESPN’s FPI is high on Alabama, as it has been nearly all season. However, where do Alabama’s upcoming opponents rank in the statistic?
Beginning with the LSU Tigers, Alabama’s long-time SEC foe is currently sitting at No. 14 nationally after dropping two spots due to their Week 9 defeat at Texas A&M. The Tigers are Alabama’s highest-ranked opponent remaining by far, sitting 15 spots above the next highest.
After LSU, Mercer is not included in ESPN’s FPI as they are a FCS team, which means that the Oklahoma Sooners are next on the schedule. The Sooners are currently ranked No. 29 nationally, as they did not change after their road loss at Ole Miss.
After the trip to Norman, Alabama will return home for “The Iron Bowl” against the rival Auburn Tigers. Auburn currently ranks directly behind Oklahoma in ESPN’s FPI at No. 30 overall, jumping two spots after their road win at Kentucky.
Likely the favorite in all of their remaining regular season matchups, can Alabama win out to make the College Football Playoff? Time will only tell.