ESPN’s Algorithm Reveals Shocking Underrated Team No One Saw Coming

So, the 2025 Associated Press preseason Top 25 rankings dropped this Monday, and guess who didn’t make the cut? Auburn. Yep, the Tigers—unranked yet quietly sitting as the 14th best team according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Isn’t it wild how a powerhouse lurking just outside the spotlight somehow gets overlooked by voters, while Texas, Penn State, Ohio State, and the usual SEC suspects claim the headlines? As the Longhorns prepare to kick off their season at Ohio State, and Clemson, Georgia, and others lock in their spots, Auburn sneaks under the radar, poised to surprise many when they face Baylor in the season opener. What if the polls are missing a serious contender here? I’m itching to see if Auburn can turn those doubters into believers before Week 1 fades away. Ready to dive into all the rankings and uncover the underrated? LEARN MORE.

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The 2025 Associated Press preseason Top 25 rankings came out on Monday afternoon, but one notable team was missing.

Texas led the way in the preseason Top 25 poll via the Associated Press. The Longhorns, who are coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Ohio State, will open the season at Ohio State. The Buckeyes came in at No. 3 overall in the AP Poll. Penn State was No. 2, while No. 4 Clemson and No. 5 Georgia rounded out the top five.

According to ESPN’s computer model, the Football Power Index, one unranked team is the most “underrated” team in the country right now, as we are just weeks away from Week 1.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 23: Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler are seen during ESPN’s College GameDay show at Times Square on September 23, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

ESPN’s computer model, the Football Power Index, believes that Auburn is the country’s most “underrated” team right now. The Tigers are unranked in the preseason AP Poll Top 25. However, according to ESPN’s computer model, the Tigers are actually the country’s 14th best team.

Auburn trails just Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU and Ole Miss in the Football Power Index rankings. The SEC is projected to be loaded in 2025, but Auburn is right there as a Top 15 team, according to ESPN’s computer model.

Here’s the complete Top 25:

Texas
Penn State
Ohio State
Clemson
Georgia
Notre Dame
Oregon
Alabama
LSU
Miami
Arizona State
Illinois
South Carolina
Michigan
Florida
SMU
Kansas State
Oklahoma
Texas A&M
Indiana
Ole Miss
Iowa State
Texas Tech
Tennessee
Boise State

The following teams received votes but did not get enough to make it: BYU 156, Utah 144, Baylor 132, Louisville 90, Southern Cal 64, Georgia Tech 63, Missouri 33, Tulane 23, Nebraska 23, UNLV 21, Toledo 13, Auburn 10, James Madison 9, Memphis 9, Florida St. 8, Duke 6, Liberty 5, Navy 5, Iowa 5, TCU 4, Pittsburgh 3, Army 2, Colorado 1, Louisiana-Lafayette 1.

Auburn is scheduled to open the 2025 season against Baylor.

Kickoff between the Tigers and the Bears is scheduled for 8 p.m. E.T. on FOX.