There’s a new No. 1 in the ESPN SP+ rankings. Is it Ohio State?
The Ohio State football team has been a monster in the ESPN SP+ rankings (subscription required) over the last few years, but that changed just a wee bit just before and after the first game of the 2022 season vs. Notre Dame. The Buckeyes didn’t exactly drop off a cliff but weren’t up as high as what we’ve seen in the past.
But slowly and surely, Ohio State has been climbing in the SP+ rankings. But before we tell you where OSU is after Week 6, let’s remember what these ratings mean from the ESPN resident analytics expert, Bill Connelly. According to him, SP+ rankings are somewhat straight-forward
“SP+ is a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency … SP+ is intended to be predictive and forward-facing. It is not a résumé ranking that gives credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling — no good predictive system is. It is simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football. If you’re lucky or unimpressive in a win, your rating will probably fall. If you’re strong and unlucky in a loss, it will probably rise.
OK, now that you are clear on that (sort of), here’s what the top 25 of the SP+ rankings are after Week 6 and where Ohio State landed (hint, the Buckeyes have risen).
LSU Tigers (4-2)
Oct 6, 2018; Gainesville, FL, USA; A detail view of LSU Tigers football helmets against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
12.4
USC Trojans (6-0)
Dec 29, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; General overall view of the 2017 Cotton Bowl logo on the back of the helmet of Southern California Trojans long snapper Jake Olson at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
12.9
TCU Horned Frogs (5-0)
Jul 14, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the TCU Horned Frogs helmet logo during the Big 12 Media Day at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
13.0
Maryland Terrapins (4-2)
Sep 30, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view of Maryland Terrapins helmets during pre game before a game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
13.0
Purdue Boilermakers (4-2)
Oct 14, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; A Purdue Boilermakers helmet during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
13.1
Kansas State Wildcats (5-1)
Nov 6, 2021; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; A general view of a Kansas State Wildcats helmet against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
14.2
Baylor Bears (3-2)
Jan 1, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baylor Bears helmets on the sidelines in the first quarter of the 2022 Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome. Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
14.2
Oklahoma Sooners (3-3)
Oklahoma helmets are seen before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
14.5
Cincinnati Bearcats (5-1)
Oct 3, 2020; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats helmet during the game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the South Florida Bulls at Nippert Stadium. Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
14.7
Kentucky Wildcats (4-2)
Oct. 27, 2018; Columbia, MO, USA; A general view of a Kentucky Wildcats helmet during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
14.7
Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-0)
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of an Oklahoma State Cowboys helmet during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
15.5
Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0)
Nov 16, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; General view of a Penn State Nittany Lions helmet prior to the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
15.7
Clemson Tigers (6-0)
The Clemson football helmet near the Fiesta Bowl trophy at the coaches’ press conference in Scottsdale, Arizona Friday, December 27, 2019. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
16.7
Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-1)
Dec. 26, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; A Mississippi State Bulldogs helmet on the field prior to the game between the Miami Redhawks and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Tropicana Field. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
16.7
Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-1)
Oct 26, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view of Minnesota Golden Gophers helmet before a game against the Maryland Terrapins at TCF Bank Stadium. Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
16.8
Utah Utes (4-2)
Sept. 14, 2019; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; A general view of the helmet worn by Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) against the Idaho State Bengals at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
17.2
Oregon Ducks (5-1)
An “End racism” sticker joins the American Flag on the helmets of Oregon players Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
17.6
UCLA Bruins (6-0)
Sep 25, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmets on the sidelines against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
18.1
Tennessee Volunteers (5-0)
Nov 23, 2019; Columbia, MO, USA; A general view of a Tennessee Volunteers helmet during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
21.1
Ole Miss Rebels (6-0)
Oct. 12, 2019; Columbia, MO, USA; A general view of a Mississippi Rebels helmet during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
21.6
Texas Longhorns (4-2)
Nov 10, 2018; Lubbock, TX, USA; A Texas Longhorns helmet on the sidelines during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
23.1
Michigan Wolverines (6-0)
Dec 30, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A Michigan Wolverines football helmet sits on the field prior to the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Michigan Wolverines at Hard Rock Stadium. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
25.4
Georgia Bulldogs (6-0)
Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A detailed view of a Georgia Bulldogs helmet during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
28.3
Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0)
Jul 18, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; An Alabama Crimson Tide helmet is shown on the main stage during SEC football media day at the College Football Hall of Fame. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
SP+ Overall Score
29.1
Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0)
Oct. 1, 2022; Columbus; A sticker-laden Ohio State Buckeyes helmet sits on the turf during warmups before Saturday’s game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Columbus. Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
SP+ Overall Score
30.4
[listicle id=98171]
[vertical-gallery id=98091]
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.
Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.
