When will Georgia finally get the respect it deserves?
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) has released its updated Top 25 rankings ahead of the 2025 college football season. The FPI is one of the most talked-about metrics in the sport—for better or worse. While it’s often cited in national discussions, it’s also known for delivering rankings that leave fans scratching their heads. No one really knows what criteria the FPI uses, and the results rarely seem to align with what we see on the field.
Still, college football fans can’t help but talk about it—and debate it. In the latest rankings, Georgia checks in at No. 2 nationally. That’s a fair placement—most Georgia fans wouldn’t even argue with it. But what’s harder to make sense of is this: why is Texas still getting the edge?
Despite Georgia defeating Texas twice last season—including in the SEC Championship—the Bulldogs were the underdogs going into both games. Analysts, Vegas oddsmakers, and fans alike underestimated Kirby Smart’s team, and Georgia proved them wrong both times. Yet here we are again, with ESPN’s FPI giving Texas the benefit of the doubt.
Yes, Texas has plenty of talent and excitement heading into the season. But Georgia arguably has more. The Bulldogs boast the highest blue-chip ratio in Kirby Smart’s tenure and are loaded across the board. And while Arch Manning continues to generate national buzz for Texas, Georgia’s Gunner Stockton may actually be more deserving of the hype.
At the end of the day, preseason rankings don’t win championships—and the FPI certainly doesn’t determine who hoists the trophy in January. But the continued preference for Texas over a Georgia program that has repeatedly proven its dominance is baffling. At some point, the respect has to match the results.
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