If back-to-back Power Four games where you outgain your opponent, but self-inflicted issues lead to embarrassing losses, aren't enough to start thinking about writing the season off, perhaps some even more dire analytics will do it for you.

Following their 23-13 loss to Baylor, the Colorado Buffaloes took a significant hit in ESPN's Football Power Index, falling to the lowest-ranked team in the Big 12 Conference. The Buffs dropped only one place nationally, from No. 70 to No. 71, but that was enough to stay below Kansas, which dropped three spots.

Colorado's upcoming difficult stretch of games includes three straight ranked opponents (Texas Tech, Utah and Oklahoma State). Two of those games are in Boulder, which will help the Buffs, but if they have any chance of salvaging their season, winning at least one of those games is necessary, if not two. The challenge is highlighted by FPI giving Colorado only a 15.4% chance of winning six games and becoming bowl-eligible.

It goes without saying that a win against a top-10 Texas Tech team, which is currently No. 13 in the Football Power Index, would dramatically boost Colorado's resume.

Colorado football's updated FPI ranking after Week 4 loss

  • FPI Rank: No. 71 (last in Big 12)
  • Projected win-loss record: 4.1-7.9
  • Six-win chance: 15.4%
  • CFP chance: 0.1%
  • Big 12 title chance: 0.1%

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football falls to bottom of Big 12 in ESPN FPI

Source: Yahoo Sports