U of L ranked highly in ESPN football ratings
The University of Louisville, coming off an 8-5 season and with 18 starters back for 2016, is projected as a strong team next season in the preseason computer ratings by ESPN.com - ranked No. 12 nationally in the new Football Power Index.
U of L has been included on multiple sets of early preseason rankings for 2016, but perhaps none has the Cardinals higher than ESPN's FPI, which weighs past performance, strength of returning starters, strength of recent recruiting classes and tenure of head coaches.
The FPI formula gives U of L a 16.9 rating, meaning that U of L would be expected to be an average FBS opponent by 16.9 points.
LSU (26.7) is No. 1, followed by Florida State, Oklahoma, Clemson and Tennessee. Only FSU and Clemson are rated ahead of U of L in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Louisville is predicted to have the No. 18 offense and No. 11 defense nationally in 2016 by the FPI.
The University of Kentucky (5-7 in 2015) is No. 54 overall in the FPI - No. 43 on offense and No. 68 on defense. The Wildcats are last among Southeastern Conference teams with a 3.3 rating, meaning they would be expected to have that margin of victory against an average FBS opponent.
There are six SEC teams (No. 1 LSU, No. 5 Tennessee, No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 9 Georgia and No. 14 Texas A&M) in the top 15.
Indiana is No. 62 (No. 40 offense, No. 81 defense) with a 1.9 rating, and Western Kentucky is No. 69 (No. 28 offense, No. 108 defense) with a 0.9 rating.
