Indiana Ranks No. 5 in ESPN FPI and Efficiency: The Numbers Behind HFT’s Contender Case
Indiana’s case as one of the best teams in college football has more than one number behind it.
In ESPN’s rankings captured September 22, the Hoosiers sit No. 5 nationally in Football Power Index and No. 5 in overall efficiency. Indiana’s FPI is 24.6. Its overall efficiency rating is 90.1.
Those positions put Indiana among the national leaders in both tables. But from a coaching perspective, the most interesting part is underneath the overall ranking: Indiana ranks eighth in offensive efficiency and ninth in defensive efficiency.
That combination gives substance to the contender case we have been making in HFT’s Power Rankings. The Hoosiers have a top-10 rating on both sides of the ball. Their special teams ranking needs a little more context.
Where Indiana Stands in FPI
Ohio State leads ESPN’s FPI table, followed by Texas, Georgia and Notre Dame. Indiana rounds out the top five, ahead of Miami and Alabama.
The Buckeyes and Longhorns both display a 28.1 FPI, although ESPN assigns Ohio State the No. 1 rank and Texas No. 2. Indiana’s 24.6 sits 3.5 rating points behind the leaders.
Four Big Ten teams appear in the national top 15:
- Ohio State: No. 1, 28.1
- Indiana: No. 5, 24.6
- Oregon: No. 9, 19.2
- Penn State: No. 12, 18.2
That puts Indiana second among Big Ten teams in this ESPN table.
In our Week 3 HFT Power Rankings, we placed Indiana first and Ohio State second in the conference. That earlier edition evaluated the teams after Week 2; these ESPN screenshots provide a later September 22 snapshot.
The distinction matters. ESPN’s ordering does not mirror ours, but Indiana’s position near the top adds evidence to the broader argument: the Hoosiers belong in the conversation with the country’s leading programs.
ESPN’s 2026 FPI top 15, as captured September 22. Source: ESPN / ESPN Analytics. Graphic: Hoosier Tailgate.
The Strongest Argument Is Balance
The efficiency table gives us a closer look at Indiana’s profile.
Georgia leads overall efficiency at 93.0, followed by Notre Dame at 92.8, Ohio State at 91.0 and Miami at 90.5. Indiana is fifth at 90.1, just ahead of Texas at 89.9.
Here is the Hoosiers’ complete breakdown:
| Category | Efficiency | National rank |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90.1 | 5 |
| Offense | 83.6 | 8 |
| Defense | 86.1 | 9 |
| Special teams | 62.5 | 45 |
The combination of eighth on offense and ninth on defense is the central takeaway.
A team with strength on both sides of the ball has more ways to respond when a game gets uncomfortable. If the offense stalls, the defense can give it another possession. If the defense gives up a scoring drive, the offense has to be capable of answering.
These ratings do not guarantee Indiana will deliver in every situation. They do show that the Hoosiers’ standing in this snapshot is accompanied by strong rankings in both major units.
Ohio State offers an instructive comparison. The Buckeyes rank 12th in offensive efficiency and fourth on defense. Indiana ranks higher on offense; Ohio State ranks higher on defense and overall.
That is a more useful discussion than treating either team’s single overall position as the entire evaluation.
ESPN’s 2026 top 15 by overall efficiency, as captured September 22. Unit columns show efficiency and national rank in parentheses. Source: ESPN / ESPN Analytics. Graphic: Hoosier Tailgate.
Special Teams: Put the Ranking in Context
Indiana’s special teams efficiency ranks 45th nationally at 62.5.
That is the lowest national ranking of its three units, but my assessment comes with some context: outside of kickoff coverage, we have had a limited look at parts of Indiana’s special teams. Punt action has been limited, and the punt return game has largely consisted of fair catches. We have yet to see the big punt return or kickoff return that changes field position in a hurry.
I would be careful about treating that as a blanket criticism of the unit. Securing a fair catch can be the right decision. You cannot manufacture a return opportunity that is not there, and protecting possession matters.
The next thing I want to see is Indiana take advantage when a return opportunity does present itself. A well-blocked return can give the offense a shorter field and change the feel of a close game.
The return game has yet to deliver that big spark. That is the opportunity I am watching. The ESPN table does not isolate why Indiana ranks 45th, so this is my assessment of the on-field context, not a claim about how ESPN calculated the rating.
Coach Griff’s Take
Our HFT Power Rankings weigh results, opponent quality, line play and consistency to judge which teams look best equipped to win.
These ESPN numbers are another piece of that evaluation. Indiana’s fifth-place position in both tables strengthens the case for taking the Hoosiers seriously nationally, while Ohio State’s higher placement keeps the debate at the top of the Big Ten open.
For Indiana, the checklist is clear:
- Sustain the offensive execution.
- Keep the defense among the national leaders.
- Protect possession and capitalize on return opportunities when they come.
- Carry that standard into the next test.
Being fifth in September is evidence of where you stand. What you do next determines how much it means.
Fast. Physical. Relentless.
Data source: ESPN / ESPN Analytics, from screenshots captured September 22, 2026. Ratings and ranks reflect that snapshot. HFT graphics are independently produced and are not official ESPN graphics.
