6 College Football Bowl Games with Biggest Recruiting Implications
With the 2015 season counting down to its close heading into bowl season, teams preparing for the postseason are looking to finish strong and earn some momentum on the recruiting trail in the weeks leading up to signing day.
However, a few games will have a little added juice because of their impact with regard to the recruiting efforts of both schools.
Some matchups feature traditional powers battling it out, while others have programs desperately in need of a positive close to a season that fell short of expectations.
Which upcoming bowl games will have the biggest recruiting implications?
All games listed in chronological order.
LSU vs. Texas Tech: Texas Bowl, Dec. 29
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After the chaos surrounding the future of head coach Les Miles, LSU will look to earn its ninth win and regain the positive momentum it built in assembling a recruiting class currently rated as the No. 2 group in the 2016 cycle.
The Tigers will look to beat a second straight opponent from the Lone Star State when they face Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl.
Making a statement in a fertile recruiting territory would be one of the best ways that Miles and his program could rebound from a rough November.
A loss to the Red Raiders would almost certainly send the Tigers into an offseason filled with more doubt than hope about the future of the program.
Clemson vs. Oklahoma: Orange Bowl, Dec. 31 (Playoff Semifinal)
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While Clemson and Oklahoma are two traditional powerhouses with a chance to win a national title, both programs aren’t exactly locks to finish with a Top 10 recruiting class in the 2016 cycle.
The Tigers currently have the nation’s No. 22 class, while the Sooners sit 11 spots below them at No. 33.
However, both schools have their share of blue-chippers they are hoping to close on over the next two months.
The Sooners could avenge an ugly bowl loss to the Tigers last season and have a shot to win their first national title since 2000.
If Clemson emerges victorious, the Tigers would undoubtedly cement their place as a national power and earn a chance to win the program’s second national championship in school history.
Alabama vs. Michigan State: Cotton Bowl, Dec. 31 (Playoff Semifinal)
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If there’s one school that doesn’t need any juice on the recruiting trail, it’s Alabama.
Head coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide have landed five straight No. 1 classes, and a win over the Spartans could help fuel a run toward extending that streak.
Alabama is still in the mix with a number of elite prospects such as 5-star linebackers Lyndell Wilson and Ben Davis. With the Tide gunning for their fourth national title in Saban’s tenure, a win would help the program maintain its grip as the premier powerhouse in recruiting circles.
However, Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio and his staff may have a little more at stake in that department. Since he arrived in East Lansing in 2007, Michigan State’s average class rank has been No. 34 nationally.
Michigan State currently has the nation’s No. 15 class—and it could get significantly better considering the Spartans are involved with 4-star talents such as receiver Donnie Corley, linebacker Daelin Hayes and athlete George Hill.
A win over the vaunted Tide could help Michigan State reach another level with regard to its reach with recruits across the country.
Michigan vs. Florida: Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1
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Two of the biggest names to dominate last year’s recruiting headlines were Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and Florida head coach Jim McElwain.
Both coaches arrived at their respective universities last offseason, and both immediately resurrected their programs with strong seasons.
Now, the Gators and the Wolverines will square off as two of the hottest programs on the minds of the nation’s top recruits.
The Wolverines are chasing after elite prospects such as 5-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary and 5-star tight end Isaac Nauta, while the Gators are in the mix with 4-star defensive tackle Shavar Manuel and 5-star linebacker Lyndell Wilson.
The winner of this matchup will take a full head of steam into the final weeks of the 2016 recruiting cycle, and a chance to make a strong surge toward a Top Five class.
Notre Dame vs. Ohio State: Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 1
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When it comes to the non-playoff portion of the bowl slate, not many matchups carry the same stick as the Fiesta Bowl tilt between Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Both programs are traditional titans of the sport, and they often compete head-to-head for top recruits around the nation.
For example, the Irish and the Buckeyes are top options for prospects such as Hayes, Corley and 4-star corner Damar Hamlin.
Both Irish head coach Brian Kelly and Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer are among the nation’s most tenacious recruiters.
The winner of this matchup will get an extra boost of momentum and bragging rights when competing for future star recruits.
Georgia vs. Penn State: Tax Slayer Bowl, Jan. 2
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Both Georgia and Penn State head into their bowl matchup in need of some positive momentum for different reasons.
The Bulldogs are hoping to transition into a new era under newly minted head coach Kirby Smart, while the Nittany Lions are trying to rebound from a disappointing 7-5 record this season.
While both programs underachieved on the field this season, both schools currently hold Top 10 recruiting classes.
For Lions head coach James Franklin, a win over an SEC power would be a tremendous boost to take into the offseason.
If Georgia can come out on top, the Bulldogs would salvage a 10-win season and hit the recruiting trail with optimism for the future under Smart.
Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
