ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) has released its initial ratings for the 2026 college football season, and the outlook for both BYU and Utah in the Big 12 is looking bright. While the Cougars and Utes are expected to contend for the conference crown, it's their individual journeys that truly captivate me. Personally, I think the FPI's projections for BYU are particularly intriguing, especially considering the team's recent success. What makes this particularly fascinating is the significant jump in projected wins, from 8.0 to 8.7, and the increased odds of making the College Football Playoff (CFP). In my opinion, this is a testament to the team's resilience and the strength of their schedule, which has improved from 74th to 55th in the Big 12. One thing that immediately stands out is the Cougars' strength of schedule, which is ninth among Big 12 programs. This is a notable improvement from last year, when BYU was 74th in this category. What many people don't realize is that the Cougars' schedule includes a premier nonconference game against Notre Dame, ranked No. 3 in the FPI, and a conference matchup against Utah, ranked No. 31. If you take a step back and think about it, this schedule is a true test of BYU's mettle, and the team's ability to rise to the occasion will be crucial to their success. This raises a deeper question: How will BYU's schedule impact their overall performance, and will they be able to maintain their momentum throughout the season? A detail that I find especially interesting is the FPI's projection for BYU's odds of winning the Big 12 (16.5%) and reaching the national championship (2.2%). While these odds may seem low, they are a significant improvement from last year, when BYU had a 12.6% chance of making the CFP. What this really suggests is that the Cougars are on the right track, and their recent success is not a fluke. Now, let's shift our focus to Utah. The Utes have a projected score of 8.5 in the FPI, which ranks them No. 31 nationally and third in the Big 12. While their projected wins are slightly lower than BYU's, at 7.7, the Utes have the third-best odds in the league to win the Big 12 and are one of three conference teams with better than 10% odds to play their way into the CFP. In my opinion, this is a testament to the team's consistency and the strength of their schedule, which is 13th among Big 12 programs. While Utah's overall strength of schedule last season wasn't much higher, the team's ability to improve and maintain its momentum is impressive. One thing that stands out is the Utes' nonconference schedule, which includes a matchup against the SEC's Arkansas, ranked No. 47 in the FPI. This raises a deeper question: How will Utah's nonconference schedule impact their overall performance, and will they be able to maintain their momentum throughout the season? In conclusion, ESPN's FPI projections for BYU and Utah are a fascinating insight into the teams' potential for the 2026 season. While the Cougars and Utes are expected to contend for the conference crown, their individual journeys are what truly captivate me. Personally, I think the FPI's projections are a testament to the teams' resilience and the strength of their schedules, and I can't wait to see how they perform throughout the season.
