ESPN FPI Reveals Colorado's Big 12 Placement After Week 5 Upset

The Colorado Buffaloes just achieved one of their best wins in the Deion Sanders era by dominating Big 12 conference opponent, the UCF Knights, on the road with a score of 48-21.

The Buffaloes were led by a dominant defense that forced four turnovers in the game. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter also played a big role in the game for Colorado. Sanders completed 28-of-35 passes for 290 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Hunter had nine catches for 89 yards and one touchdown and also made an interception on defense.

This performance has elevated the Buffaloes to No. 3 in the Big 12, as per ESPN's Football Power Index. The FPI is a measure of team strength that aims to predict a team's future performance for the rest of the season. According to the FPI, Colorado is projected to have an 8-4 record and has the third-best odds to win the Big 12 at 15.5%, behind the BYU Cougars and the Kansas State Wildcats.

The Buffaloes have seen a significant 24-spot jump in the FPI rankings, now at No. 28 in the country. In the preseason, Colorado was ranked No. 36 and was projected to win six games. However, the FPI projected the Buffaloes to be one of college football's most improved teams, with a 41-spot jump from the end of 2023 to before this season.

So far, the FPI has been correct about Colorado being one of the most improved teams. Just five games into the season, it has already matched last season's win total of four.

Related: Joel Klatt Reacts To Colorado's Week 5 Upset