Despite a 5-7 record in 2024, one metric provides reason for Auburn football fans to be optimistic in 2025.

The Tigers are the 14th-ranked team in ESPN’s 2025 College Football Power Index rankings that were released on Tuesday and have the 18th-best odds to make the College Football Playoff. The rating system gives the Tigers a 21.8% chance make the CFP, a feat the program has yet to achieve in either iteration of the playoffs.

ESPN defines FPI as a “predictive rating system that estimates each FBS team’s strength (in points per game relative to the national average) on offense, defense and special teams, making adjustments for starters lost, recruiting talent and other personnel changes.”

While Auburn’s chances to make the CFP, according to the FPI, rank 18th, they rank eighth in the Southeastern Conference, behind Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and LSU. However, the FPI gives the Tigers a better shot at reaching the CFP than 2024 contenders like SMU, Arizona State and South Carolina.

Looking beyond the FPI’s playoff odds for Auburn, it gives the Tigers an 87.7% chance to win six or more games, a 1.8% chance to win the SEC, a 2.5% chance to reach the national championship game and a 1.1% chance to win the national championship.

ESPN’s FPI also projects Auburn’s record as 7.5-4.5. Obviously, no one can win or lose half of a game, meaning the metric projects Auburn land right around the seven-to-eight-win mark in 2025.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m