...for the fifth straight year:

https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2016

For you BYU fans, they finished 48th.

Just curious: how do 2015's recruiting stats match up to the 2015 final standings? How close are they to one to one?

"Just curious: how do 2015's recruiting stats match up to the 2015 final standings? How close are they to one to one?"

I dunno about all the other teams' 2015 recruiting classes, but Bama just won the national championship. They've had the #1 recruiting class five straight years, and they've won four of the last seven national championships.

Makes perfect sense, but they still have to play out the season, if only to keep the cheerleaders busy.

"Makes perfect sense, but they still have to play out the season, if only to keep the cheerleaders busy."

Yeah, but the real reason for college football is to provide revenue for the colleges. For instance, Alabama's football program reportedly nets a $50 million annual profit. That money foes into lots of different programs. The fans love the game, and they're willing to pay for tickets or cable TV packages in order to watch them. Win/win.

Nothing breeds success like success. The downside for any recruit, however, is that the moment schools like Alabama sign a player they are already looking for a better player. Going to those schools is not always the best option. A few years ago, Alabama came to SLC and successfully recruited one of the best quarterbacks to come out of Utah in years. He is still there and will be a senior next season sitting on the bench. If he had gone to Utah, where the lack of an outstanding quarterback has been a major problem, he would likely have started and would be making a name for himself in the next draft.

"The downside for any recruit, however, is that the moment schools like Alabama sign a player they are already looking for a better player. Going to those schools is not always the best option."

True, but the best players want to go to the best schools because they think they're the best players, and they welcome the competition. Also, the best schools are always looking for better players because their best players only stay three years. Also, you never know when an injury or an academic issue will give a backup a chance to start. It's not an exact science.

"A few years ago, Alabama came to SLC and successfully recruited one of the best quarterbacks to come out of Utah in years. He is still there and will be a senior next season sitting on the bench."

As the #2 QB this season, Bateman went 37 for 52 for 291 yards and a 71% completion ratio. He'll get his opportunity to win the starting job this fall. If Bateman didn't want to be there, he can transfer. Two other highly-rated QBs Saban had recruited (Star Jackson and Phillip Sims) didn't win the starting job either, and they transferred out. That happens frequently, even at the top football powers.

Remember, Jacob Coker went to FSU and backed up Jameis Winston for two years. Then he transferred to Bama, started only in his senior year, and won the NC. You never know what's gonna happen.

"It sucks that high school kids buy into the SEC / ESPN hype machine. It does seem to perpetuate itself."

The TV money definitely factors in these days, but you must realize that Bama has been a football powerhouse long before TV was even invented.

"But thanks for reminding me about another advantage the SEC has against the rest."

The SEC gained that advantage over a period of decades. The other conferences simply haven't kept up. If you wanna compete with the best, you gotta do what it takes.

"Add to that the committee overlooking the cupcake out of conference schedule that the SEC has and you will never find out how they really compare the other conferences."

SEC teams used to schedule more series against teams from other power conferences, but they had to cut back on those because

a) A 12th game was added to the schedule, which allowed the powerhouse teams to play a 7th home game every year, which produces more revenue than if they played home-and-away series.

b) The "cupcake" teams appreciate being able to play the powerhouse teams because they are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to do so. It's even better when a powerhouse team plays in-state schools that are in the same state university system, such as Tennessee playing Memphis, MTSU, UT-Chattanooga, etc. The revenue stays in-state, so it's a win-win.

Also, the "cupcake" business is a bogus argument, because SEC teams already have to play against each other, who are also some of the best teams in the nation. For instance, this past season, Bama's strength of schedule was #1 in the nation, because they played LSU, Ole Miss, Auburn, MSU, Tennessee, etc. And of course, they defeated the best team in the Big 10, Michigan State, and in the ACC, Clemson. So the accusation that playing "cupcake" schools gives teams like Bama an advantage is unfounded.

https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/schedule-strength-by-other

9 of the 18 most difficult schedules this past season were those of SEC teams. The SEC's strength is also borne out by their 9-2 record in bowl games.

It sucks that high school kids buy into the SEC / ESPN hype machine. It does seem to perpetuate itself.

But thanks for reminding me about another advantage the SEC has against the rest. Add to that the committee overlooking the cupcake out of conference schedule that the SEC has and you will never find out how they really compare the other conferences.

Rant over...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2016 10:13AM by Riverman.

"It sucks that high school kids buy into the SEC / ESPN hype machine. It does seem to perpetuate itself."

The TV money definitely factors in these days, but you must realize that Bama has been a football powerhouse long before TV was even invented.

"But thanks for reminding me about another advantage the SEC has against the rest."

The SEC gained that advantage over a period of decades. The other conferences simply haven't kept up. If you wanna compete with the best, you gotta do what it takes.

"Add to that the committee overlooking the cupcake out of conference schedule that the SEC has and you will never find out how they really compare the other conferences."

SEC teams used to schedule more series against teams from other power conferences, but they had to cut back on those because

a) A 12th game was added to the schedule, which allowed the powerhouse teams to play a 7th home game every year, which produces more revenue than if they played home-and-away series.

b) The "cupcake" teams appreciate being able to play the powerhouse teams because they are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to do so. It's even better when a powerhouse team plays in-state schools that are in the same state university system, such as Tennessee playing Memphis, MTSU, UT-Chattanooga, etc. The revenue stays in-state, so it's a win-win.

Also, the "cupcake" business is a bogus argument, because SEC teams already have to play against each other, who are also some of the best teams in the nation. For instance, this past season, Bama's strength of schedule was #1 in the nation, because they played LSU, Ole Miss, Auburn, MSU, Tennessee, etc. And of course, they defeated the best team in the Big 10, Michigan State, and in the ACC, Clemson. So the accusation that playing "cupcake" schools gives teams like Bama an advantage is unfounded.

https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/schedule-strength-by-other

9 of the 18 most difficult schedules this past season were those of SEC teams. The SEC's strength is also borne out by their 9-2 record in bowl games.