Overview

• ESPN’s updated FPI dropped Miami from No. 9 to No. 17 and Clemson from No. 11 to No. 16 despite no games played
• SMU coach Rhett Lashlee accused ESPN of “rigging” the rankings in a viral tweet
• Danny Kanell branded the shifts “fishy,” noting major gains for SEC and Big Ten programs amid minimal roster or schedule changes
• Observers pointed to inconsistent movements like South Carolina jumping four spots after roster losses and Illinois falling despite returning key players
• ESPN has not publicly addressed the methodology behind the August revisions, fueling concerns over conference favoritism in playoff forecasting