ESPN FPI Tags Georgia With Easiest SEC Schedule, Kentucky Fourth-Hardest

ESPN released its 2026 preseason Football Power Index this week, offering an early mid-July forecast ahead of the Preseason AP Poll, which is not expected for at least another month ^[2]. The ratings have generated broad discussion across college football, particularly for their assessments of SEC schedule difficulty and Florida's projected trajectory ^[1][4].

Among the more notable findings, ESPN's FPI ranks Georgia's schedule as the easiest in the SEC — a designation that raised eyebrows given that the Bulldogs' slate still includes games against Alabama, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma ^[1]. The rating reflects how the FPI weights the full body of opponents rather than any single marquee matchup.

Kentucky Faces Steep Road Under New Coach

At the other end of the spectrum within the conference, Kentucky is projected to face the fourth-most difficult schedule in the country according to the FPI ^[2]. The challenge is compounded for the Wildcats, whose first-year head coach Will Stein inherits a demanding path in his debut season ^[2].

Florida, coming off a dismal 2025 finish, receives a more optimistic outlook from the index. Despite a grueling schedule, ESPN's FPI signals a potential resurgence for Jon Sumrall's rebuilt roster, which has added significant reinforcement through the transfer portal ^[4]. The projection marks a notable vote of confidence for a program looking to reverse course under its new staff ^[4].

The FPI update also touched on programs outside the SEC. Penn State, now under first-year head coach Matt Campbell, drew attention for what the projections say about the Nittany Lions' 2026 outlook ^[5], while Virginia Tech's early standing in the index was described as intriguing ^[6]. Tennessee's placement in the rankings was also noted as part of the broader initial release ^[3].

The FPI is a predictive model designed to forecast game-by-game and season-long outcomes; it does not reflect current performance. Official poll rankings from the Associated Press are expected to follow in August ^[2].