They did it. LSU won a season opener after five straight losses, defeating sixth-ranked Clemson 17-10 Saturday night.
Ironically, Clemson was the toughest opponent LSU faced during this five-year losing streak, as the fourth-ranked team in the nation (the next closest was eighth-ranked FSU in 2022).
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ESPN’s College Football Power Index (FPI) rewarded the Tigers for their performance Saturday, jumping to a 15.8 rating, the 11th-best mark in the nation.
Before exploring what ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) says about LSU, it’s important to first understand what FPI actually measures. Created by ESPN, this system assesses team strength and predicts future performance using data like returning players, past results, recruiting rankings, and coaching experience. It estimates how many points a team’s offense, defense, and special teams would add or subtract against an average FBS opponent.
For LSU, Saturday’s win may have done more for their ranking in the eyes of the media than FPI, as it only resulted in a move from 12th to 11th — a slight increase, considering the gravity of the win.
LSU Tigers safety Jardin Gilbert (2) tackles Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 during the NCAA football game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
Why Such a Small Jump?
Clemson entered the season as FPI’s 16th-ranked team, a much lower ranking than many would expect, given the hype they carried into the year. This hype was deserved, given the talent on the roster and coaching staff. Clemson has a proven coach in Dabo Swinney, a quarterback many anticipate going in the first round of the upcoming draft with Cade Klubnik, one of the best defensive fronts in the country, and a receiving corps loaded with potential. Why FPI had them ranked so low is a question only their algorithm can answer, but it explains why LSU’s ranking moved so little.
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Next week’s contest isn’t set to help them climb FPI’s rankings much either, facing a lower-tier FBS team in Louisiana Tech. However, the following week could result in a significant swing, as the Tigers travel to Gainesville to face the Florida Gators.
Florida is FPI’s 12th-ranked team, so unless the Gators lose to USF this week, the Tigers will have a chance to climb into FPI’s top ten with a win.
Ultimately, however, the wins/losses column matters far more than FPI. If LSU can build momentum off its week one victory, FPI will catch up, and the Tigers will keep their sights set on the playoffs.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Where LSU football sits in ESPN’s updated FPI rankings