The ESPN FPI has already gotten to work on this year's edition of the Big Ten football championship between Indiana and Ohio State.
Despite the Buckeyes being the early betting favorite to beat the Hoosiers, the FPI views the game going differently.
As of Monday evening, the Hoosiers are projected to beat the Buckeyes based off the reading of the FPI, with the Hoosiers edging Ohio State 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent
This is certainly a surprising pick, especially considering the stakes entering Saturday night's clash includes a potential No. 1 seed to the winner as the College Football Playoff looms in the weeks ahead.
Both teams appear unfazed by the hype entering the game, though, especially Indiana coach Curt Cignetti.
"I think you're playing this game for a reason," Cignetti told reporters. "A Big Ten championship means an awful lot, and I think the way you play should mean something, because it's a game. It'll be the last thing you put on the field, and I don't expect any handouts."
Ohio State coach Ryan Day shared a similar outlook.
"I don't want to speak for somebody else's program, but when I have listened to Coach Cignetti speak, you can tell he has a system in place," Day said. "And in that system, he knows what it's supposed to look like, and I think there's a belief within the program and a credibility of his competence as a coach that if you follow his plan, it's going to work."
Even with the mutual respect, Day understands his team's assignment.
"You're not supposed to be penalized for winning a conference championship game, so I think both deserve a first-round bye.... I think it's important to win this game and be the 1-seed, everything matters," Day said.
Day added he enjoys competing against coaches who truly recognize football greatness, which Day says Cignetti clearly identifies with.
"One thing about Coach Cignetti, he grew up in a football family. I have a respect for the way he grew up," Day said. He just has a feel of the game. When you grow up in this game, you have a feel for people, you have a feel for situations.... He's won wherever he's been. I know some people laugh at the comments, he's made, 'Google him,' but it's true. I've got a lot of respect for him.... It's been great to see him as a competitor in the conference."
Nonetheless, it's a business trip for Day's Buckeyes.
"[The] regular season's over, now it's time to go," Day said. "We're playing for hardware.... That's the other part about this team that I think is good. They saw the run that we went on last year. They saw what it takes."
Soon enough, the game will hopefully be one to remember.