🔮 Big 12 Showdown: ESPN FPI Projects BYU Ahead of Utah in 2025 with Lofty Expectations
ESPN’s latest Football Power Index (FPI) offers an early look at how the Big 12’s new rivals, BYU and Utah, stack up heading into the 2025 college football season—and the results are striking.
📊 FPI Standings & Projections
BYU (FPI: 8.4) ranks 29th nationally and third in the Big 12 behind Kansas State and Arizona State .
Utah (FPI: 4.8) sits at 46th nationally and tenth in the conference, per ESPN’s current data .
🏈 Estimated Records
BYU is projected at 8.0–4.2, with nearly a 90% chance to reach six wins and secure bowl eligibility .
Utah is forecast to go 6.4–5.6, with about a 67% chance to hit the six-win mark .
🎯 Title & Playoff Chances
BYU stands at roughly 10.4% to win the Big 12, 12.6% to make the College Football Playoff, 0.6% to reach the title game, and 0.1% to win it all .
Utah lags behind with 3.1% Big 12 title odds, 3.7% playoff bid chance, and virtually no shot at the championship ($0 %$) .
🛣 Strength of Schedule & Context
BYU’s schedule is relatively friendly (ranked 74th toughest), while Utah faces more robust competition (58th). However, BYU’s lack of games against the conference’s top FPI teams likely contributes to its higher win projection .
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Conclusion: As BYU and Utah prepare for year two in the Big 12, BYU is clearly positioned for more success, buoyed by stronger FPI metrics, a gentler schedule, and higher projected postseason odds. Utah, on the other hand, faces a steeper climb.
But remember: FPI is predictive—not definitive. To defy, match, or surpass these projections, both teams will need to bring grit, discipline, and peak performance throughout the fall.
