The 2025 Huge 12 soccer season continues to inch nearer. Solely 83 days stay till Colorado kicks off towards Georgia Tech on Friday, August 29.
Essential offseason occasions proceed to return and go as we get nearer to the season. Over the previous few weeks, ESPN launched its energy ranking metrics, SP+ and Soccer Energy Index. When these rankings obtain updates after the spring, it means we’ve got feeling for what every crew will seem like throughout the upcoming season.
ESPN launched its FPI for the 2025 season earlier this week. Inside these rankings, we’ve got convention championship possibilities and the chance {that a} crew reaches six or extra wins.
As a reminder, right here is how ESPN describes the methodology behind its Soccer Energy Index:
The Soccer Energy Index (FPI) is a measure of crew energy that’s meant to be one of the best predictor of a crew’s efficiency going ahead for the remainder of the season. FPI represents what number of factors above or under common a crew is. Projected outcomes are based mostly on 20,000 simulations of the remainder of the season utilizing FPI, outcomes so far, and the remaining schedule. Scores and projections replace day by day. FPI knowledge from seasons previous to 2019 will not be full.
The rankings span your complete school soccer panorama, however you too can type by particular conferences. In such a crowded Huge 12, it’s important to deal with how the 16 groups stack up.
With that in thoughts, listed here are ESPN’s FPI’s report predictions for each Huge 12 soccer crew in 2025, ordered from lowest to highest. They’re additionally in contrast with our current win-loss projections for every crew after spring camp.
Projected Win-Loss: 4.8-7.2
FPI Ranking: -3.7 (No. 75 total)
Houston is among the few groups the place our prediction differs from FPI. The Cougars maintain the simplest convention schedule within the Huge 12 and the No. 15 best total schedule. ESPN’s FPI offers Houston a 34.8% probability to win six video games, and I believe they get there.
15. Arizona Wildcats
Projected Win-Loss: 4.9-7.1
FPI Ranking: -1.0 (No. 69 total)
Arizona doesn’t have excessive expectations going into 2025. Brent Brennan’s crew does have Noah Fifita beneath heart, however apart from him, the expertise cupboard is bleak.
14. West Virginia Mountaineers
Projected Win-Loss: 5.2-6.9
FPI Ranking: 0.5 (No. 66 total)
Wealthy Rodriguez is again in Morgantown, tasked with rebuilding this system. It will not be simple and 2025 ought to be considered as a progress 12 months. West Virginia is one other crew that I see falling in need of its SP+ report projection.
Projected Win-Loss: 5.5-6.6
FPI Ranking: 0.3 (No. 67 total)
Mike Gundy’s crew ought to be so much higher than they had been final 12 months when it completed final within the Huge 12. The Cowboys may not be again to their elite methods, however they need to be a lot improved.
12. Cincinnati Bearcats
Projected Win-Loss: 6.4-5.7
FPI Ranking: 3.6 (No. 53 total)
Cincinnati is a tough crew to pin down heading into 2025. Will they enhance from their 2024 5-7 report and make a bowl sport, or take a step again? They’ve a couple of tossups, so wherever round 6-6 sounds about proper.
11. Utah Utes
Projected Win-Loss: 6.4-5.6
FPI Ranking: 4.8 (No. 46 total)
Utah, much like Oklahoma State, ought to be a considerably higher crew than it was in 2024. FPI would not suppose the Utes shall be dramatically higher, however I see them ending with a profitable report in convention play.
Projected Win-Loss: 6.5-5.5
FPI Ranking: 4.2 (No. 49 total)
Colorado ending above Utah could be a shock, however FPI thinks it’s attainable. Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes crew might want to reshape their id in 2025 with the departures of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. A 9-3 season is unlikely, however with a difficult schedule, turning into bowl-eligible ought to be thought-about a serious win.
9. Iowa State Cyclones
Projected Win-Loss: 6.7-5.4
FPI Ranking: 4.8 (No. 45 total)
I do not see a major regression from the Cyclones after a program-best 11-win season a 12 months in the past. They may not win 11 video games once more, however Iowa State ought to stay within the hunt and, on the very least, win seven video games.
8. UCF Knights
Projected Win-Loss: 7.2-4.9
FPI Ranking: 6.9 (No. 37 total)
I simply do not see UCF being the eighth-best crew within the Huge 12. Scott Frost is retooling the roster, and the Knights misplaced their prime participant in operating again RJ Harvey. Frost possible improves upon final season’s 4-8 report, however I do not see them touching seven or eight wins.
7. TCU Horned Frogs
Projected Win-Loss: 7.2-5.0
FPI Ranking: 8.2 (No. 32 total)
TCU may win 10 video games, or they might win six. Proper now, I’ve them proper within the center with eight projected victories. Of the groups with a greater than 5% probability to win the convention, the Horned Frogs have the bottom probability (79.1%) to win six video games.
6. Baylor Bears
Projected Win-Loss: 7.2-5.0
FPI Ranking: 8.0 (No. 33 total)
Possibly I’m too excessive on Baylor, predicting a 10-win common season. However after they closed out the 2024 convention slate with six straight wins, there are extra wins within the tank. If the Bears sweep their robust nonconference video games towards Auburn and SMU, then a full-on breakout is feasible.
Projected Win-Loss: 7.9-4.3
FPI Ranking: 8.4 (No. 30 total)
I’m a giant fan of the Jayhawks. Jalon Daniels is a proficient quarterback who can win you a couple of video games by himself. Lance Leipold’s squad ought to be probably the most improved crew within the convention.
Projected Win-Loss: 7.9-4.2
FPI Ranking: 7.4 (No. 35 total)
I believe Texas Tech may win the Huge 12 and extra. They introduced within the nation’s No. 1 switch portal class and have an skilled quarterback, Behren Morton, set to take one other step ahead.
3. BYU Cougars
Projected Win-Loss: 8.0-4.2
FPI Ranking: 8.4 (No. 29 total)
The Huge 12 turns into very crowded on the prime with a number of groups projected across the similar report. BYU is a type of groups, they usually personal a really manageable schedule. A 3-game stretch towards Utah, Iowa State and Texas Tech will decide if the Cougars play for the Huge 12 title in December.
2. Arizona State Solar Devils
Projected Win-Loss: 8.3-3.9
FPI Ranking: 9.5 (No. 24 total)
The Solar Devils will not fly beneath the radar anymore after profitable the Huge 12 in 2024. Sam Leavitt is a star at quarterback and Kenny Dillingham is an ascending younger coach. The schedule isn’t too tough, making one other 10-win 12 months inside attain.
Projected Win-Loss: 8.6-3.7
FPI Ranking: 10.8 (No. 21 total)
The Huge 12 title favourite based on FPI and a stable prime 20 crew within the nation. Kansas State might need one of the best quarterback within the Huge 12 (Avery Johnson) and head coach Chris Klieman, who appears to solely win soccer video games. That may be a potent mixture, making the Wildcats deserving to be talked about as the highest crew within the convention going into the season.
