College Football Programs Ranked By Recruiting Advantages, According To ESPN
10 years ago

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College football recruiting is basically a sport all on its own. The lifeblood of every program is the yearly influx of new talent, and earning the signatures of that talent is a year-long dick-swinging contest that is extremely entertaining, sometimes shady, and downright heated at times.

Some programs have it easier than others. When you’re pitching a college town like Athens, for example, it’s much easier to land a commitment from an 18-year-old prospect than if you’re trying to convince the kid to spend four years in, say, Boise, Idaho.

But who really has the best recruiting jobs in the nation amongst the Power 5 conferences? ESPN decided to settle the score based on five different categories to see which team reigns supreme.

ESPN ranked each team on a scale of 1-5 for the following five categories:

• Favorable Geograph/Local Recruiting Territory

• Recruiting/Football Budget

• Facilities

• Chances At NFL

• Other Intangibles such as conference reputation, fan base, etc.

Here are the top ten teams according to ESPN:

10. University of Oklahoma
9. University of Michigan
8. Florida State University
7. University of Florida
6. University of Alabama
5. Lousiana State University
4. University of Southern California
3. University of Texas
2. Ohio State Univeristy
1. University of Georgia

A little surprised to see Alabama so far down the list — you know, that team that has raked in the top recruiting class each of the last four years? Sure, Alabama isn’t the greatest for “Favorable Geography/Local Recruiting Territory” because they have to compete with Auburn for recruits, but we’re talking about goddamn Nick Saban here.

Despite the Aggies claiming that “they run this state,” they came in at number 12 on the list — 9 spots behind their bitter rival Texas. In all fairness, though, ESPN did give Texas 5s across the board except for a 4 ranking on intangibles. They claimed the empty seats in the stands the last few years were worth the deduction of one point. Honestly, ESPN could have probably given Texas a -5 on intangibles. The Big 12’s reputation sucks right now, Texas has an offense that couldn’t score 20 points on a 6A high school team, and the stability of the coaching staff is about as strong as a fat person walking on a tight rope.

The worst team? That award goes to Boston College. Even Kansas managed to finish ahead of them (and Wake Forest). You know it’s bad when Kansas beats you.

[via ESPN]

Image via YouTube

  4. AEKDBallin

    ESPN is contractually obligated to keep Texas in the top 5 of any arbitrary poll/survey or list that they make.

    10 years ago at 11:09 am
  5. Motorboatin_SOB

    pretty sure boston college cares more about hockey than football, so they probably don’t give a single shit about this list

    10 years ago at 11:39 am
  7. _fratdaddy

    I’ve never understood how a school like ASU or Arizona can’t recruit better. They have the hottest girls coming from California, great party scene, and nice weather when it’s not the summer. Yet, they are mediocre almost every year

    10 years ago at 12:09 pm
    1. Pac12 Frastar

      Because no one wants to be in the little brother sports program. Basketball owns those schools.

      10 years ago at 12:44 pm
    2. cleavage

      Look who they compete with for recruits. USC, UCLA and Oregon get all the top southern ca talent and ASU recruits hard in Texas which means they have to go against the SEC and BIG 12 schools.

      10 years ago at 2:35 am
  8. TXpike2995

    Texas really should be doing better. Your the top University of the best football state in America (don’t care what u Cali and Florida kids say, Texas has the best high school football programs). Strong better turns things around next year or he should be gone

    10 years ago at 1:22 pm
    1. DionysusFratGod

      Texas may have the best “programs” but Florida has the best talent hands down.

      10 years ago at 1:33 pm
  9. FBA

    Texas should be top 10 in the country every year hands down. I will give you 5 reasons for this assessment.

    1. Austin Texas, fun ass city.

    2. 6th street, who the fuck doesn’t want to go there? That’s how an Austin school almost got me.

    3. The girls, everyone knows UT has the hottest girls in the state, playing football you’re bound to nail some of them.

    4. Unlimited budget, you get your cleats dirty? You don’t have to wipe them off, get a new pair from equipment room. You want a new pair cuz you feel like it? Same fucking story.

    5. Texas football, it’s a fucking religion and you’re god.

    Now how about we step up our recruiting and tell the damn football players to take prospies and show them what really matters. Drugs,Alcohol and, Sex in the capital of Texas.

    10 years ago at 4:36 pm
    1. Frat----

      Makes it even more hilarious that a player retweeted a rival fan telling him to transfer during halftime

      10 years ago at 5:51 pm
    2. IOUdaily

      Except for the fact that they are literally terrible at football….? Only beating schools when they have injured players

      10 years ago at 8:29 pm
  10. Dubya2016

    Georgia? Their fan base may be good for home games, but they don’t show up in numbers when their team is on the road. Also they haven’t done shit in the postseason and they haven’t even had a top 5 recruiting class in the the last 5 years. Flat out, dawgs suck, roll tide, hard pressed to tell me otherwise.

    10 years ago at 5:10 pm