Where UCLA's 2025 Opponents Rank in ESPN's Updated FPI

Let's take a look at where the Bruins' opponents stand on the Football Power Index.

Sep 14, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster reacts in the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The UCLA Bruins open the 2025 season in on Saturday at the Rose Bowl against the Utah Utes.

With a ton of expectations preceding them, let's take a look at how each of their opponents ranks in the updated ESPN Football Power Index (FPI). UCLA currently ranks 51st on the updated rankings.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day leads football training camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Aug. 1, 2025. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Buckeyes have a 20.5 FPI point rating and are the Big Ten's top team on the index. For reference, Texas is the No. 1 team with a 24.5 FPI score. ESPN projects their season record to be 10.0-2.5 with a 99.9% chance to win six games and a 35.3% chance to win the Big Ten.

5. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State comes in right behind Ohio State with a 20.2 FPI point rating. ESPN projects the Nittany Lions' season record to finish 10.3-2.2, with a 100% chance of winning six games and a 30.9% chance of winning the Big Ten

14. USC Trojans

Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws the ball against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Trojans are the fourth-ranked team in the conference, behind Oregon, with a 14.2 FPI score. ESPN projects them to finish with an 8.7-3.5 record, with a 99.0% chance to win six games and a 7.7% chance of winning the Big Ten

26. Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana moved down one spot from 25 to 26 in the update with a 9.9 FPI rating. The Hoosiers are projected by ESPN to finish with a win-loss record of 8.1-4.0, giving them a 1.6% chance to win the Big Ten.

29. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska sits right behind Indiana in the Big Ten and has an FPI rating of 8.7. ESPN projects the Cornhuskers' record to be 7.4-4.6 and is giving them a 90.6% chance to win six games.

33. Washington Huskies

Washington comes in with a 7.6 FPI score. ESPN projects the Huskies' record to be exactly 7-5 and gives them an 85.6% chance to win six games.

45. Utah Utes

Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham speaks with the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Utah is UCLA's highest-rated non-conference opponent, coming in with a 5.5 FPI rating. ESPN projects them to win 6.3 games and lose 5.8, giving the Utes a 69.1% chance to win six games.

59. Michigan State

Michigan State is right below the Bruins in the conference. ESPN gives the Spartans a 1.3 FPI score and projects their season record to be 4.8-7.2, giving them a lowly 30.4% chance to win six games.

61. Maryland Terrapins

Maryland follows the Spartans in the Big Ten, coming in with a 1.2 FPI rating. ESPN projects their end-of-season record to be 5.4-6.6 and gives the Terrapins a 48.4% chance to win six games (more than UCLA's 41.7%).

62. UNLV Rebels

UNLV may be low on this list, but they are the second-ranked team in the Mountain West. Their 1.0 FPI ranks them 62nd in the nation, a 12-spot drop after narrowly defeating FCS Idaho State in Week 0. Despite that, the Rebels' projected win-loss is 8.8-3.7 with a 98.5 chance to win six games.

64. Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern is the second-worst team in the Big Ten and has a FPI rating of 0.4, not to be outdone by Purdue's -7.0. Anyways, the Wildcats are projected to win 4.7 games and lose 7.3.

121. New Mexico Lobos

Lastly, New Mexico has a -12.1 FPI score and ranks near the bottom of all of college football. ESPN projects the Lobos to finish with a 4.6-7.4 record and sit near the bottom of the Mountain West.

Make sure to bookmark UCLA Bruins On SI to get all your daily UCLA Bruins news, analysis and more!

Read more on UCLA football and their momentous second season in the Big Ten and under DeShaun Foster here. While you're here, check out all things UCLA basketball and Mick Cronin improving the Bruins through the transfer portal here.

Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @UCLAInsideronSI and @cmorenoNBA to keep up with every story surrounding UCLA athletics!

Please let us know your thoughts on this when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.