The Next Generation: A Look at the Power 4 Schools Leading the Recruiting Race
We know what the recruiting rankings say. We know which programs sign the best — and worst — classes. But which programs have the highest potential with what they currently have in place? Which ones are set up to recruit the best moving forward?
Ten members of The Athletic’s college football staff—Ari Wasserman, Justin Williams, Kennington Smith III, Max Olson, Grace Raynor, Mitch Light, Antonio Morales, Kennington Khan Jr., and Max Olson—submitted their own rankings of the power-conference programs, ranked No. 1 through No. 70, based on recruiting potential.
Rankings were mainly influenced by the current head coach, but other factors such as program location, history, facilities, etc. also played a role. Nor did we overlook NIL. Although it was not the sole factor in our ranking of a school, it was undoubtedly one of them.
Even though Oregon State and Washington State are not really power-conference programs anymore, we nevertheless decided to include them.
We’ve included the highest and lowest vote each program received, as well. Here are last year’s rankings. And we added one new wrinkle this year: Each voter was allowed to pick out one ranking by another voter to ridicule. This can be found at the bottom of the story.
1. Georgia: This is hardly shocking. Georgia has gone 42-2 in the last three years, won two national titles, and had 34 players picked. These are achievements that a program cannot make without an all-time recruiting push. Furthermore, Kirby Smart is in an ideal position to get even more talent now that Nick Saban has retired. The Bulldogs have no intention of slowing down soon. AMHighest vote: 1 • Lowest vote: 1 • Last year: 1
2. Ohio State: Although Ohio lacks the raw talent of several southern states, its grasp on homegrown players makes it virtually unbeatable. Because of this, the Buckeyes have avoided protracted losing streaks over several coaching changes and decades. Ohio State is among the easiest schools in college football to recruit to because of its favorable location, history of success, administration backing, and enthusiastic fan base. AWHighest vote: 2 • Lowest vote: 3 • Last year: 3
3. Texas: Being the most popular team in a football-crazed state has always given the Longhorns a sky-high ceiling, but they now have a coach who led the program to its first College Football Playoff appearance and — for the first time in a long time — aren’t only selling a vision. They can point to reality (and a robust collective). And playing in the SEC alongside Arch Manning. There’s a lot to sell on the Forty Acres these days. — DU
Highest vote: 2 • Lowest vote: 5 • Last year: 5
4. LSU: When Brian Kelly was originally hired, there were concerns about his cultural fit among all of us, but the opportunity is ripe3. Texas: With a coach who led the team to its first College Football Playoff trip and, for the first time in a long time, they are not just selling a vision, the Longhorns have always had a lot of potential as the most popular team in a football-mad state. They have the ability to make references to reality (and a powerful group). and battling it out in the SEC against Arch Manning. The Forty Acres have a lot to offer for sale these days. — He is aware that DUe is in Baton Rouge. The Tigers recently generated theHighest vote: 3 • Lowest vote: 6 • Last year: 4
5. Alabama: Big “TBD” vibes from Alabama as it ventures into a post-Nick Saban existence. This is still the same program with the same resources that won all those national championships and brought in all those top recruiting classes. It added an ascendent head coach in Kalen DeBoer. All of that justifies a top-five ranking, but without Saban, it’s a recruiting wild card and tough to project. — JW
Highest vote: 4 • Lowest vote: 7 • Last year: 2
5. Alabama: The state is experiencing a lot of “TBD” emotions as it transitions to life after Nick Saban. With the same resources, the same program that attracted all those top recruiting classes and won all those national titles still exists. Ascending head coach Kalen DeBoer was added. All of that justifies a top-five ranking, but without Saban, it is hard to project and a recruiting wild card. — JWVotes cast last year: 9; highest vote: 2; lowest vote: 7.
7. Miami: Mario Cristobal has signed back-to-back top-seven classes even though the Hurricanes have lost more games (13) than they’ve won (12) since his arrival. Nobody needs to remind you that Miami, a five-time national champion from 1983 through 2001, has never won an ACC title and has just one 10-win season since joining the league in 2004. But there’s a reason the Canes are signing top-10 recruiting classes. The talent in and around South Florida always makes The U a threat, and there’s real money behind this upward push. — MN
Highest vote: 5 • Lowest vote: 20 • Last year: 11
7. Miami: Since joining the Hurricanes, Mario Cristobal has inked back-to-back top-seven classes despite the fact that they have lost more games (13) than they have won (12). It needs no reminder that Miami, the five-time national champion from 1983 to 2001, has only had one 10-win season since entering the league in 2004 and has never won an ACC championship. However, the Canes are signing players from top-10 recruiting classes for a reason. The U is always dangerous because of the talent in and around South Florida, and this ascent is being funded by actual money. — MinnesotaHighest vote: 6 • Lowest vote: 18 • Last year: 6
9. Notre Dame: Notre Dame’s average class ranking during Brian Kelly’s 11 full cycles as head coach: 12. The average during Marcus Freeman’s two full cycles: 10.5. The point: Freeman has not upgraded the Fighting Irish’s recruiting quite like most of us expected. This is a program with a very high recruiting floor. Can Freeman blow through its ceiling? — ML
Highest vote: 8 • Lowest vote: 14 • Last year: 12
10. Texas A&M: Jimbo Fisher showed the Aggies could haul in a No. 1 class, but since joining the SEC, A&M has typically lived in the 5-to-15 range. Given the school’s 9. Notre Dame: Throughout Brian Kelly’s 11 complete seasons as head coach, the average class rating for Notre Dame was: 12. Over Marcus Freeman’s two complete cycles, the average was: 10.5. The takeaway: Contrary to what most of us anticipated, Freeman has not improved the Fighting Irish’s recruiting. There is a high recruitment floor for this program. Is Freeman able to blast through the ceiling? ML resources, infrastructure and proximity to talent, new coach Mike Elko should be able to keep A&M at or near a top-10 level consistently. — SK
Highest vote: 6 • Lowest vote: 18 • Last year: 7
10. Texas A&M: Although Jimbo Fisher demonstrated that the Aggies could win a No. 1 class, A&M has generally performed in the 5-to-15 area ever since joining the SEC. Considering the school’s 9. Notre Dame: The average class rating for the team during Brian Kelly’s
11. Oklahoma: After Lincoln Riley left the Sooners, there were doubts about how they would recruit, but since taking over in December 2021, Brent Venables has actually raised Oklahoma’s profile. The Sooners have not finished in the top five since 2010 with his first complete class ranking fifth nationwide, and his 2024 class came in at number eight. Soon, we will be able to observe how Oklahoma recruits in the SEC. AM
12. Michigan: This list’s inclusion of the reigning national champion among the top 10 teams is unusual, which serves as further testament to the Wolverines’ amazing 2023 campaign. That roster was assembled by Jim Harbaugh and his staff via top-notch assessment and development. However, Michigan still faces challenges in terms of inherent advantages that can be transferred to other coaching staffs. Although it is a top academic institution, it has been hesitant to participate fully in this emerging NIL environment. Furthermore, it has never been very successful in luring top players to the South. AWHighest vote: 7 • Lowest vote: 17 • Last year: 14
13. Auburn: The good news is that the program that was never going to place lower than second in the recruiting rankings is no longer in the same state as the greatest coach in history. Additionally, the recruiting strategies that put Ole Miss’s head coach in hot water with the NCAA are now acceptable. Even though the program has not enjoyed year-to-year continuity, the Tigers still have access to local talent and a stocked trophy cabinet to flaunt. — DUHighest vote: 10 • Lowest vote: 16 • Last year: 15
14. Clemson: Although the school experienced some identity issues in 2023, Dabo Swinney’s team is still competitive with SEC schools in the recruiting process. Swinney ought to be allowed to sit at the table with any player he desires, if he can persuade recruits to disregard the criticisms leveled at him over his views on NIL and the transfer portal. This generation of prospects nonetheless grew up watching Swinney and the Tigers rule the sport, despite the program’s recent setbacks. GRHighest vote: 8 • Lowest vote: 18 • Last year: 8
15. Florida State: The Seminoles’ hesitant admission as an ACC member is their greatest criticism. However, head coach Mike Norvell—who recently signed a big extension—has demonstrated his ability to succeed on the field and attract players off it, especially through the transfer portal. In 2024, Florida State made strides in the high school ranks as well. With 16 four-star prospects, the Noles ranked 12th in the country, two slots ahead of Florida, and had already secured a five-star commitment for 2025. — JWHighest vote: 9 • Lowest vote: 17 • Last year: 18
16. Tennessee: Under Josh Heupel, Tennessee has had its fair share of hard years but is currently trending upward. The Volunteers are eager to win recruitment wars with NIL muscle, have a fervent fan base, and are near elite talent. The Volunteers have won 20 games in the last two seasons on the field, and their dynamic offensive approach can draw elite offensive players. KS
17. Florida: The Gators’ NIL collective has gotten its act together since the Jaden Rashada fiasco, and the in-state talent pool will always keep UF in a strong position to be a top-20 program. Florida’s 2024 recruiting class reached as high as No. 3 nationally but fell into the teens amid a five-game losing skid and a rash of decommitments to end the season. Billy Napier needs a boost of positive momentum or Florida will continue to slip further behind in an expanded SEC. — MN
Highest vote: 11 • Lowest vote: 22 • Last year: 17
18. Penn State: With eight top-15 signings in c17, James Franklin has shown admirable consistency in Happy Valley. Florida: The Gators’ NIL collective has cleaned house since the Jaden Rashada debacle, and the state’s talent pool will keep UF in a strong position to be a top-20 team. Once ranked third in the nation, Florida’s 2024 recruiting class fell to the teens after a five-game losing streak and a wave of decommitments at the end of the season. Florida will continue to lag behind in the expanded SEC until Billy Napier hears some positive news. — In the past ten years, Minnesota has produced two No. 6 nationally rankedlasses. This program asserts that it wins matches for the best players in its area.Highest vote: 12 • Lowest vote: 20 • Last year: 16
19. Ole Miss: Ole Miss will always be able to attract talent due to its location and conference affiliation. Lane Kiffin has leaned heavily into the portal in recent years but has still signed three top-25 classes in his four full cycles in Oxford. The blue-chip ratio in Kiffin’s last two classes is 47 percent — up from 30 percent in his first two. — ML
Highest vote: 13 • Lowest vote: 26 • Last year: 29
Twenty. South Carolina: It is encouraging to win elite recruiting contests for prospects from outside the state, like the Gamecocks did with Dylan Stewart in the 2024 cycle. The Gamecocks may advance if Shane Beamer signs three consecutive top-25 classes and the on-field performance matches those signings. SKHighest vote: 20 • Lowest vote: 24 • Last year: 19
21. Nebraska: For the bulk of the last ten years, the Cornhuskers have had a top-25 recruiting class. They have a fierce fan following with NIL support and Matt Rhule, a capable coach with a proven track record. It was crucial to win the Dylan Raiola sweepstakes, and Rhule’s proven track record of evaluation and development will be strengthened by the addition of top talent. AMHighest vote: 19 • Lowest vote: 27 • Last year: 26
22. Washington: Given its march to the national championship game, one may assume that Washington’s ranking in the top 25 this year. That is a component, to be sure, but the Huskies are also moving to a Power 2 conference and have hired Jedd Fisch as their new coach, who will be aggressive in his search for talent. Kalen DeBoer will be replaced. With all of that Big Ten cash, Washington may be better equipped to retain elite players at home, boost output in California, and expand into other areas of the nation now that it has reestablished itself as a national brand from the previous year. AWHighest vote: 15 • Lowest vote: 37 • Last year: 25
23. Wisconsin: Even with Luke Fickell’s program makeover, the ceiling is comparatively modest due to talent availability, but the floor is quite high due to a winning tradition. Since 1995, Wisconsin has experienced just one losing season and none since 2001. This job has a little more potential now that Fickell can recruit at Cincinnati, but in a more congested Big Ten, things will only become harder. The arrows are pointing in the right direction—his 2024 class was the second-highest-rated in school history—but Madison may not be able to produce routinely top-20 classes. — DUHighest vote: 19 • Lowest vote: 31 • Last year: 23
24. Missouri: As Ari likes to say, “Do not look now, but Missouri has bulldozed its way into the popular kids club.” With the addition of five-star cornerback Williams Nwaneri and outstanding receiver Luther Burden III, Eli Drinkwitz’s team is now a real challenger for top local talents. Talent should stay at home thanks to the state’s advantageous NIL legislation; the on-field performance will take care of the rest. In 2023, how about if the Tigers win 11 games? GRHighest vote: 19 • Lowest vote: 33 • Last year: 38
25. North Carolina: The Tar Heels, led by Mack Brown, have somewhat recovered in the recruitment rankings. UNC finished in the top 15 for three years in a row from 2020 to 2022, but in the last two seasons, it has finished 31st and 26th. But developing and turning that talent into steady success has been Chapel Hill’s issue, not recruiting. Geoff Collins took Gene Chizik’s position as defensive coordinator for Brown, but the team will need to move on without standout quarterback Drake Maye. — JWHighest vote: 22 • Lowest vote: 37 • Last year: 28
26. Kentucky: In this case, the head coach is most important. Mark Stoops, the coach of the Wildcats, has the longest tenure in the SEC and has guided the team to eight consecutive bowl games. Although Kentucky’s recruitment potential is limited, the state has excelled domestically and established strong pipelines in places with abundant talent, like Georgia and Ohio. In the past five cycles, the program has inked three classes ranked in the top 25. — KSHighest vote: 23 • Lowest vote: 34 • Last year: 30
27. Arkansas: This position makes analytical sense because the Razorbacks have an average recruiting class ranking of 27.6 over the past ten years. Is the program moving in the correct way, though? Since 2006, Arkansas has not competed for an SEC championship. Sam Pittman, who is sixty-two, has a 23–25 record in four seasons on the field. Texas and Oklahoma, rivals in the Old Southwest Conference, just entered the SEC. Will Arkansas be happy with an 8-4 ceiling or will it generate the kind of NIL funds it needs to be a real contender? The latter seems to be the case. — MinnesotaHighest vote: 25 • Lowest vote: 35 • Last year: 24
28. TCU: The club needs to go back to creating what works, which is seasoned teams full of studs that are acquired by out-evaluating other programs, after an unexpected decline from 13-2 and the CFP national title game to 5-7 in 2023. The Horned Frogs’ playoff performance did increase their national recognition and put them in the running for more elite players, and this team has all the makings to contend every year in the new Big 12 — MissouriHighest vote: 21 • Lowest vote: 42 • Last year: 20
29. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders jumped 12 spots from last year after Joey McGuire and his staff signed a second consecutive top-30 class — the second time that’s been done at Texas Tech in the modern recruiting era. Lubbock is a bit remote, but the state of Texas is obviously very fertile, and the school has its NIL act together. — ML
Highest vote: 24 • Lowest vote: 43 • Last year: 41
UCLA: It is true that the Bruins are behind on NIL and that the Big Ten is an odd geographic fit. Can DeShaun Foster resolve those problems and bring new life to the program? From 2012 to 2018, UCLA produced seven straight top-20 classes. It is realistic to anticipate an improvement over its recent performances, given the last six have placed outside of the top 30. — SKHighest vote: 21 • Lowest vote: 46 • Last year: 27
31. Mississippi State: There’s plenty to learn about Jeff Lebby as a recruiter, but Mississippi State has always done well attracting local talent in a state that is often underappreciated by the recruiting networks. Ole Miss got the best of the Bulldogs with Mississippi prospects in the 2024 cycle, but this was a transition class for MSU. Lebby and his staff will have to establish those relationships quickly. — AM
Highest vote: 29 • Lowest vote: 47 • Last year: 32
32. Michigan State: In his brief stint, Mel Tucker tried to leave a lasting impression. It was unsuccessful. Without the eye-catching recruiting success, Michigan State has a proven track record of success. The Spartans now have a coach in Jonathan Smith, who has already demonstrated he can create a program with strong evaluations, after Mark Dantonio demonstrated that it was possible to build with prospects from Ohio and the Midwest. AWHighest vote: 23 • Lowest vote: 42 • Last year: 26
33. UCF: Although the Knights are a wild card, their reputation is growing. At UCF, what is possible? There is not a clear-cut response to that query. With Gus Malzahn’s track record as a recruiter and UCF’s increased focus on growing its NIL budget as the team gets used to life in the Big 12, the program has more to offer than ever before. It is not impossible to imagine UCF outrecruiting some of the state’s more tradition-heavy universities if the team can ever pull off a Playoff candidacy on the path. Among the biggest upswings from the previous year to this one was UCF. — DUHighest vote: 25 • Lowest vote: 44 • Last year: 43
34. Utah: The Utes, led by one of college football’s most renowned coaches in Kyle Whittingham, found a natural home in the Big 12 once the Pac-12 collapsed. Although Utah will not consistently rank in the top 20 in the recruiting rankings, the Utes have a well-established brand and can compete with any team on any given Saturday. — GRHighest vote: 20 • Lowest vote: 56 • Last year: 31
35. Iowa: You may criticize the Hawkeyes’ horrible offense all you want (and we have!), but despite this, they have a history of winning and producing players who get signed to play in the NFL. In the last four drafts, 15 Iowa players were chosen, including four first-round picks. Over the last four cycles, the composite ranking has fluctuated between 24th and 41st, but there may be opportunity for improvement given the Big Ten advantages, NFL track record, success history, and new offensive coordinator. — JWHighest vote: 30 • Lowest vote: 47 • Last year: 36
36. Louisville: The Louisville program is intriguing. It is not in a state with an abundance of talent, but it has established itself in desirable areas, including Florida, Georgia, and California. Through transfer portal recruiting, Louisville has demonstrated its willingness to participate in the NIL game. In Jeff Brohm’s first season, the Cards won 10 games and advanced to the ACC championship game. Born and raised in Louisville, Brohm is a UofL alumni who will hopefully bring much-needed stability going ahead. KS
37. Colorado: Yes, I am the genius that placed Colorado fourth in the previous year’s poll after falling victim to a bit too much Deion Sanders hype. In all honesty, Sanders is not interested in devoting a lot of time and effort to teaching full courses, but he can make a few big signings. He would much prefer use the gateway. In the long run, I think Colorado benefits more from going back to the Big 12, but as of right now, I think we have a solid understanding of Sanders’s program. — MinnesotaHighest vote: 25 • Lowest vote: 55 • Last year: 21
38. NC State: With five four-star players who finished 27th nationally, NC State boasts the second-highest number of wins in the ACC since 2017. The team also recently signed one of coach Dave Doeren’s highest-ranked classes to date. Although it still outperforms its recruiting metrics, NC State must compete with several elite universities to keep top in-state prospects in the state. — MOHighest vote: 28 • Lowest vote: 55 • Last year: 37
39. Maryland: There has always been some mystery about Maryland. There are many players in the state and the surrounding area, and Mike Locksley is considered an excellent recruiter. However, in the previous six cycles, the Terps have only signed one class in the top 30. One issue: of the thirty players that finished in the top 10 in the state during the previous three cycles, only five have been signed by Maryland, and none of them are from the Class of 2024. ML
40. Arizona State: The Sun Devils have seen periods of time when their recruiting class ranked consistently in the top 30, averaging a 29th-place ranking from 2012 to 2020. Can Kenny Dillingham get the Sun Devils back in that range? The end of the Herm Edwards trended far from it. His staff is well-recruited, and the Big 12 relocation of ASU adds a great deal of excitement. SKHighest vote: 26 • Lowest vote: 48 • Last year: 35
41. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys moved up one spot in the rankings this year, but their two recruiting classes this year both concluded with graduation rates in the 50s. Despite the lackluster recruiting results, Mike Gundy usually outperforms his rankings, and Oklahoma State should be in a strong position to succeed in the Big 12 going forward without Texas and Oklahoma. AMHighest vote: 32 • Lowest vote: 57 • Last year: 42
42. Houston: There is a divide in Houston. At first glance, one might assume that a Big 12 institution situated in the center of one of the nation’s most populous cities would have every edge possible when it comes to high school talent. The issue is that the Cougars have not done a great job of acquiring that local talent. Perhaps that was directed at Dana Holgorsen, who is not known for being a cunning recruiter. With Willie Fritz joining the team, Houston may have moved up a few slots for that reason. AWHighest vote: 29 • Lowest vote: 62 • Last year: 45
43. Minnesota: Despite having a 6-7 campaign, P.J. Fleck signed his finest class to date, bringing in the top athletes from Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Despite stepping back from the field after three seasons with at least nine wins positioned around the COVID-shortened 2020 season, that is an amazing accomplishment to carry into Year 8. Although Fleck appears to be making the most of the Golden Gophers’ potential on the road, in-state quality will always be a little lacking in comparison to the competition in the expanding Big Ten. DUHighest vote: 39 • Lowest vote: 52 • Last year: 46
44. Georgia Tech: Depending on your perspective, recruiting at Georgia Tech may be either a boon or a bane. More elite talent is available to the Yellow Jackets than any other program in the nation. However, they must contend with numerous top institutions who know the road to championships begins with Peach State recruitment. Academics are important as well; Tech does not have as many prospects as many of the universities it competes with. However, none is more familiar with this dynamic than Georgia Tech alumnus head coach Brent Key. GRHighest vote: 28 • Lowest vote: 60 • Last year: 52
45. Baylor: The Bears require a change of direction. Following a poor 3-9 season in 2023, Baylor was 67th in the 2024 cycle after two consecutive top-40 finishes. There have been changes to the staff: Jake Spavital has taken Jeff Grimes’ position as offensive coordinator, while head coach Dave Aranda has been retained, but he will now be in charge of calling defensive plays. Will it be sufficient to inspire advancement? It is clear that Baylor is in a talent-rich state, and the university will benefit from the opening of a new $90 million football development facility this summer. — JWHighest vote: 30 • Lowest vote: 65 • Last year: 33
46. Virginia Tech: The program has lost its identity since Frank Beamer left, but older college football fans recall Virginia Tech as a dominant force in the late 1990s through the mid-2000s. The most difficult area for Virginia Tech is in-state: In the previous five cycles, the Hokies have failed to sign a top-five talent from Virginia. From 1993 to 2019, the program played in 27 straight bowl games; however, it has subsequently missed two of the last four. Regaining on-field consistency is the first step in moving up the recruiting rankings. KSHighest vote: 36 • Lowest vote: 61 • Last year: 44
47. Stanford: There is almost a sense of fear that this program is going to vanish from the face of the earth due to the Pac-12’s decline and its cross-country relocation to the ACC. Please give me a moment. Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw led Stanford to many double-digit victory seasons less than ten years ago, and the university is still regarded as one of the greatest in the world for academics. The Cardinals do not just hire from the West Coast; they also recruit from a national skill pool. Give Troy Taylor some time. — MinnesotaHighest vote: 32 • Lowest vote: 66 • Last year: 39
48. Arizona: After a breakthrough 10-win season, Arizona may have been placed higher this year if it had maintained consistency. However, another program reset is imminent due to Jedd Fisch and his staff’s departure for Washington (bringing a large number of signees with them). The exceptional performance of their 2022 class offers the Wildcats a chance to compete in the Big 12 right away and shows that recruiting at a top-25 level in Tucson is feasible. — MOHighest vote: 40 • Lowest vote: 60 • Last year: 49
49. Purdue: Considering that the program signed classes that finished 29th, 32nd, and 25th over the previous six cycles, this rating seems a little low. Rebuttal: Given that the program signed classes that placed 66th and 76th during the previous four cycles, this ranking seems a tad high. Things appear to be moving in the right direction under Ryan Walters. MLHighest vote: 31 • Lowest vote: 57 • Last year: 51
50. Pittsburgh: The Panthers’ average rating for the previous five classes is 48.8, indicating a downward trend. Pitt, with an average rating of 42.8, stayed closer to the top 40 from 2010 to 2019. The program needs to aim for that as an achievable ceiling, and the 2024 class ranking of 41st aligns with that. SKHighest vote: 42 • Lowest vote: 60 • Last year: 47
51. Cincinnati: Luke Fickell’s Bearcats were ranked between 40 and 45 in the US throughout his greatest seasons. Currently a member of a major conference, Cincinnati ranked 51st in the 2024 cycle following just three wins and the team’s first losing record since 2017. Both on the field and in the recruiting trail, Scott Satterfield has a lot of work ahead of him. AMHighest vote: 39 • Lowest vote: 64 • Last year: 48
52. Kansas: In a single year, no program climbed higher on this list than Kansas. Is not it amazing what a little success and a capable head coach can accomplish for a team? Although Kansas lacks high school talent, it is sufficiently near to Texas to get by. A place in the low 50s is a welcome return to life for a program that was abandoned several years prior. AWHighest vote: 37 • Lowest vote: 60 • Last year: 68
53. SMU: As an ACC member and with the significant benefit of being located in the talent-rich Dallas-Fort Worth region, SMU can now pitch major conference participation to prospective students for the first time in decades. The Mustangs will remain competitive in the transfer portal even if they do not sign a player straight out of high school, and the program always has money to cover its expenses. More talent, for the time being, that is. — DUHighest vote: 33 • Lowest vote: 67 • Last year: n/a
54. West Virginia: For a program without a significant local recruiting base, West Virginia usually resides in the 30s and 40s of the rankings, which is respectable. In the last six cycles (2020 through 2025), West Virginia has produced just two blue-chip prospects. Three were in the 2019 class, but none of them committed to the Mountaineers. Neal Brown’s historic 9-4 record in 2024 is a positive indication that things are moving in the right path. GRHighest vote: 36 • Lowest vote: 63 • Last year: 54
55. Syracuse: A good improvement for the Orange, who were dead last in the rankings the year before and are now in the mid-50s. Undoubtedly, a significant portion of it stems from the excitement and hope for incoming coach Fran Brown, a native of incoming Jersey who previously attended Temple and Rutgers. Brown is originally from Georgia. The same obstacles to success still remain—a challenging recruiting landscape, NIL restrictions, and the ACC’s precarious future—but Brown excels at them. Syracuse has a prosperous past. Though it will not be simple to rediscover, Brown provides the program hope—something it has not had in a long time. — JWHighest vote: 40 • Lowest vote: 68 • Last year: 69
56. Kansas State: Making the No. 33 overall class possible by signing four-star quarterback Avery Johnson in the 2023 class was a huge victory. However, in the past, the foundation of this growth program has been the transformation of underdogs into successful collegiate athletes. And it has performed incredibly well under current coach Chris Klieman and Bill Snyder. KSHighest vote: 43 • Lowest vote: 63 • Last year: 50
57. Vanderbilt: As a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Commodores captured their final straight conference title in 1915. They are fortunate to have been admitted to the SEC in 1933 and to have been grandfathered into a sizable amount of TV money going forward. Is it possible for Clark Lea, or any other future coach, to elevate this football team above its current status as a conference underdog? The CV does the talking. — MinnesotaHighest vote: 43 • Lowest vote: 66 • Last year: 61
58. Illinois: During the last five years, Illinois has had the lowest average class ranking (59th) among the Big Ten teams, and its conference is poised to get considerably harder. In order to increase Illinois’ recruiting potential, Bret Bielema and his staff must outperform their contemporaries. They can do this by continuing to turn undrafted players like Devon Witherspoon and Jer’Zhan Newton into first-round selections. — MOHighest vote: 46 • Lowest vote: 65 • Last year: 53
59. Rutgers: In his second stint at the university, Greg Schiano has improved recruiting at Rutgers, signing three top-40 classes in the last four cycles. However, the Scarlet Knights are still struggling at home: in the previous five cycles, they have only signed five of the 36 New Jersey blue-chip talents. For this program to advance, that needs to get better. MLHighest vote: 41 • Lowest vote: 65 • Last year: 63
60.Iowa State: With nine classes completed prior to Matt Campbell’s first comprehensive recruiting class, the team averaged a national rating of 62.9. The eight classes that have come after are ranked 49 on average. When the Cyclones move into the new Big 12 era, Campbell has undoubtedly raised the bar for Iowa State’s recruiting. But can he raise the ceiling to somewhere in the top 40? — SkHighest vote: 49 • Lowest vote: 61 • Last year: 56
61. BYU: The Cougars finished in the top 50 for the first time since 2016 after enjoying a significant recruiting boost in their first recruiting cycle as official Big 12 members, placing 44th in 2024. Whether that was a one-year surge or if BYU can continue that level of recruiting in its new league home is still up for debate. AMHighest vote: 45 • Lowest vote: 68 • Last year: 55
62. Indiana: I think Curt Cignetti was a great hiring, but it is hard to find anything good to say about the football program there. Although he does not have any head coaching experience in major college football, there is a precedent that coaches who are successful in lower levels tend to go up to higher positions. Although Indiana is a basketball school, the Big Ten funding might be useful. AWHighest vote: 49 • Lowest vote: 68 • Last year: 64
63. Duke: The recruiting potential of a position such as this will always be constrained by academic standards and a lack of winning tradition on the field. Aside from David Cutcliffe, no coach in Durham has seen long-term success before being hired by a bigger, better position, like Mike Elko was this offseason. In light of all the obstacles Duke faces during the recruiting process, it has exceeded expectations in terms of on-field success. — DUHighest vote: 47 • Lowest vote: 65 • Last year: 62
64. Northwestern: There is not an alternative: For elite recruiters, Northwestern is a tough job and a challenging sale. With eight victories in 2023, the Wildcats greatly outperformed predictions under David Braun, which ought to help him get some momentum. For elite applicants, however, there are still other, more prosperous Midwestern schools available. Also, the majority of them are Big Ten members. GRHighest vote: 50 • Lowest vote: 68 • Last year: 58
65. State of California: Hello and welcome to the… Cal, how about the Atlantic Coast Conference? The Bears advanced to their third bowl game under Justin Wilcox and first since 2019 after improving from 4-8 in 2022 to 6-7 in 2023. However, Wilcox has not had a class that ranks higher than 55th nationally since a top-30 composite ranking in 2021, and the program is now joining a conference on the other side of the nation at a significant price. — JWHighest vote: 44 • Lowest vote: 68 • Last year: 60
66. Wake Forest: Historically, elite talent has not chosen Wake Forest as their destination. While Dave Clawson’s program has been consistent, the Demon Deacons will find it difficult to move up the rankings without a solid NIL support. During the 2024 cycle, Wake did sign in-state prospect and four-star wide receiver Jeremiah Melvin. This was a great victory for Clawson and his team.Highest vote: 52 • Lowest vote: 66 • Last year: 59
67. Virginia: It appears that some of us may have ranked the Cavaliers a little too low, given their average recruiting class over the last ten years is 58.4. In actuality, Tony Elliott has a steep hill to climb given that the team has recruited three players ranked in the top 1,000 throughout the last two cycles. It is even more difficult when you are bottom of the ACC standings in a time when the SEC and Big Ten are rapidly becoming more powerful. — MinnesotaHighest vote: 54 • Lowest vote: 70 • Last year: 65
68. Boston College: Jeff Hafley left the school after four years to take a job as an NFL coordinator, however he was able to momentarily lift recruiting expectations with two top-40 classes. Bill O’Brien, his successor, is intent on using local talent to win and is concentrating on persuading elite possibilities from the New England region to remain at home. It is a good place to start if he can gain their support and trust. — MOHighest vote: 50 Lowest vote: 69 Last year: 66
69. Oregon State: Seeking an optimistic interpretation of the latest events in Corvallis? Even without a home in a big league, Oregon State can not fall too far down the recruiting food chain as seen by the one top-50 class it has signed in the last ten cycles. However, it never looks good when your head coach—a well-liked former teammate—leaps for a position in the league that passed you up. MLHighest vote: 67 • Lowest vote: 70 • Last year: 57
70. Washington State: Even during the Pac-12’s merger, Wazzu recruiting routinely finished outside the top 50 nationally. It does not help to be left out of the most recent realignment wave, and there will be significant long-term financial consequences. Although Jake Dickert possesses the correct mindset to counter what the Cougars lack, it is difficult to see the Cougars emerging as a significant recruiting force anytime soon.Highest vote: 68 • Lowest vote: 70 • Last year: 67
What were they thinking?
Actually, I was going to take a different approach here, but then I noticed that Manny had ranked West Virginia 36th, which is 18 spots higher than the Mountaineers’ average position and ahead of other teams who consistently out-recruit them. With that one, Manny needs to explain himself a little. According to Antonio Morales, West Virginia is ranked 36th by Manny Navarro.
Georgia Tech is ranked No. 28 by Kenny! When will we stop supporting Georgia Tech? It is indeed situated in Atlanta. Indeed, Atlanta ranks among the major cities for high school skill in the sport. But what does Georgia Tech do, aside from its location, to convince people that it is one of the top 30 programs in terms of recruiting potential? Georgia Tech has only signed one top-30 class in the past ten years. Overall, the average finish position was No. 48. And that class of 2020 that had Jahmyr Gibbs and finished at number 27? The majority of the other top players, including Gibbs, left the program. Georgia Tech, being based in Atlanta, has been utterly irrelevant when it comes to
Kenny, I love you, but have you heard of the Aggies? Ari has a spouse. We are aware of the situation. No program in America, I believe, has a more sheer desire to win than Texas A&M. After spending a lot of money on a roster he was unable to win with, they recently paid a coach $77 million to leave. One of the strongest motivators is the need to taste the promised land. The Aggies will use every effort to ensure that they gather the talent required to contend in the SEC. Putting that talent to use has been another problem, but their recruitment process will be far more competitive. Cash talks. Particularly in this new, salary-cap-free, pay-for-play period
Max is aware that I think the best of him at The Athletic, but who at SMU did you feel sorry for? Though I do not think the Mustangs will become the next Georgia, it is impressive that they are ranked No. 67, ahead of just Cal and the Pac-2 teams Oregon State and Washington State. The Mustangs are too wealthy to be basement dwellers and have too much access to talent in the DFW region. On Max Olson, Grace Raynor ranked SMU at number 67.
Among all voters, our fearless editor Mitch Light ranked Virginia 54th overall, while the Cavaliers were no higher than 62nd. Additionally, he ranked 37th, giving Virginia Tech one of its best scores. The Virginia tourism bureau’s corruption of Mitch is the only plausible explanation in this case. If he tells you about an amazing timeshare opportunity in Charlottesville or offers James Madison as a potential SEC expansion candidate, proceed with extreme caution. ― Justin Williams on Mitch Light placing Virginia at number 54 and West Virginia at number 37.
I just cannot stand Justin’s placement of Georgia Tech at sixty. Yes, the Yellow Jackets have had a difficult season recently, but under head coach Brent Key—an alum who has done a fantastic job of reestablishing recruiting inroads in Georgia, especially in the Atlanta region where the institution is located—they are unquestionably on the right route. Rebuilding those in-state ties and maintaining the program’s degree of consistency as a bowl participant will be sufficient to have Georgia Tech recruiting, at most, at a mid-40s level. —Regarding Justin Williams’ ranking of Georgia Tech at No. 60, Kenny Smith
Mitch, I am aware that, in a talent-rich state like Texas, Willie Fritz and his potential on the recruiting trail with Houston are the subject of much enthusiasm. However, it is quite a jump for Houston to be ranked No. 29 considering it recently had a very difficult Big 12 start. With talent-rich Louisiana as his base, Tulane’s recruiting class rankings under Fritz never cracked the top 70 during the previous four seasons. During that time, he did not sign a single blue-chipper. Take it easy on the Cougars. — Manny Navarro ranks Houston at number 29 on Mitch Licht
It is ridiculous that Manny has Baylor at No. 65 on his ballot. Over the last ten years, the Bears have had three different head coaches during seasons with 11 or more wins. This is no dormant behemoth that plans to do something in the future. In fact, they have completed it. Under those staffs, Baylor has often hired at the top-40 level because it knows that there will always be three-star players in its backyard who can make an impact. Both the expanded CFP and the redesigned Big 12 are good things for a school with championship aspirations and a large budget. Max Olson on Manny Navarro’s 65-point evaluation of Baylor
Justin I do not know whether you watch college athletics, but NIL is a thing right now. Additionally, some programs are extremely harsh in this regard. And Miami is ranked No. 20, despite signing just two classes outside of the top 20 in the previous 13 cycles? After entering at No. 7 in 2023, the Hurricanes recently completed the No. 4 class in the 2024 cycle. — Mitch Light on Justin Williams’ 20th-place ranking of Miami
I do not mean to belittle my friend Max, but SMU at 67th? How fast has the golden age of the Pony Express slipped from our memories, when the Mustangs recruited college football’s big boys on par with them (until the Death Penalty brought it all crashing down)? With the permission to pay players, SMU has embraced its colorful history. Supporters of the school had no problem paying for the school’s transfer to the ACC, and since they are located in talent-rich Dallas, where there is an abundance of outstanding players on less than a full tank of gas, they also have a strong NIL program. The Ponies have enormous potential if they can find talented individuals, have driven supporters, and improve their infrastructure. —Max Olson ranks SMU at 67, according to Sam Khan Jr.
Notes
- Colorado (30: 25 to 55), Georgia Tech (32: 28 to 60), Houston (33: 29 to 62), SMU (34: 33 to 67), Stanford (34: 32 to 66), Baylor (35: 30 to 65), and Utah (36: 20 to 36) were the seven programs with a vote difference of at least thirty places between their highest and lowest positions.
- With the exception of Oregon State and Washington State, South Carolina had the narrowest difference between its highest and lowest ranking among teams outside the top 10. No. 20 was the Gamecocks’ peak, and No. 24 was their lowest point.
- On all but one ballot, Oregon State and Washington State were the final two programs. Oregon State was ranked No. 67 by one voter, and Washington State was ranked No. 68, ahead of Virginia and Boston College.
- Six programs—Ole Miss (10), UCF (10), Texas Tech (12), Missouri (14), Syracuse (14) and Kansas (16)—rose ten spots or more in the rankings from the previous year.
- Three programs—Oregon State (12), Baylor (12), and Colorado (16)—dropped by ten or more spots.
- Five programs—Georgia (1), LSU (4), Florida (17), Wisconsin (23) and West Virginia (54), held the same ranking as the previous year.
- Every ballot had Georgia at the top.
(Top photo of Kirby Smart and Smael Mondon Jr.: Bob Self / Florida Times-Union / USA Today)