College Football Recruiting: Top 5 Recruiting Rivalries of Today

There are a ton of on-the-field rivalries in college football. There are even more off-the-field on the trail. Some are old, and some are just heating up, but rivalries are one of the reasons why the sport is so competitive.

For this read, I'm going to focus on the now, or today's, aspect of college football recruiting. I'm going to give you the current top five recruiting rivalries in the game.

Don't get upset if the classic rivalries are left off or think that I listed the wrong school. Get your mind out of traditional thinking and into thinking of today's recruiting trail!

5. USC vs. Oregon

Notable Heated Recruitment: De'Anthony Thomas and Arik Armstead

USC is top dog on the West. Other programs know it as does the Trojans.

However, Oregon seems to not be afraid of going head-to-head with USC for a player. The Ducks boast great facilities and sexiness to USC's tradition and dominance.

Chip Kelly and Lane Kiffin go after the top players in California, with Kiffin trying to always keep the fence in his state tight and Kelly trying to continue the trend of Oregon getting good talent out of the Golden State.

4. Texas vs. Oklahoma

Notable Heated Recruitment: Rhett Bomar

Listen, Texas doesn't like anyone coming into their state, and they don't like leaving their state for prospects. The Longhorns feel the grounds of Texas are fertile enough to supplement nearly 90 percent of their roster.

Yet, the Sooners know their state has solid talent, but Texas is where the elite goods are, thus they venture in enemy territory on the norm. The Red River Rivalry is a fierce battle on the field, but it also trickles on the recruiting trail too.

3. Michigan vs. Ohio State

Notable Heated Recruitment: Kyle Kalis and Terrelle Pryor

Many argue this is the fiercest rivalry in college football and one of the best in all of sports. Michigan likes to come into Ohio for prospects, as the Wolverines know Ohio is the richest state for talent in Big Ten country.

However, recruits realize early on that you really can't go wrong with either choice, so recruiting really heats up. Usually when a prospect is considering one, the other school is always being heavily considered too. It's just a great rivalry all the way around. 

2. Alabama vs. LSU

Notable Heated Recruitment: Landon Collins

Tuscaloosa and Baton Rouge aren't too far apart, and both schools sit in the South—a reason which has elite talent growing on trees. So, the Crimson Tide and Tigers butt heads on the trail on the norm.

If you think Landon Collins' recruitment will be the last time these two juggernauts go at it then you're wrong again.

1. Florida vs. Florida State

Notable Heated Recruitment: Dante Fowler and Christian Green

In all honesty, you can list a slew of names in the notable heated-recruitment section, the Gators and Seminoles go at it not just annually on the field but almost everyday in recruiting.

This is a fierce rivalry, as Florida is a state that's a super hot bed, and both schools know that they must get as much talent to Tallahassee and Gainesville as humanly possible.

Prospects in the state usually consider both schools, and the winner of the game usually gets the advantage in recruiting that year.