25 Huge Games for College Football Recruiting in 2012

This 2012 season figures to be another epic year, and with the end of the BCS near, the excitement for the game will only grow. There are a ton of top-notch games on the slate for this season, as we're going to get some mega-powerhouses matched up against one another.

For this read, and to give it a recruiting perspective, I'm going to give you 25 games that not only will be huge on the field but also have a ton at stake as far as recruiting goes. Many times programs that vie for a lot of common recruits can get an edge by beating the other program on the field.

Here are 25 games with a ton of recruiting pride on the line, plus championships at stake. 

25. Michigan at Alabama, Sept. 1

The Wolverines open the season by facing off with none other than the defending champs—on the road. An epic challenge, this will be a great one.

Michigan has the No. 1 recruiting class in 2013 recruiting right now, while Alabama is a perennial top-three recruiting program.

Common high-profile prospects:

Elijah Daniel, James Quick, Jason Hatcher, Robert Foster and LaQuon Treadwell

24. Auburn vs. Clemson, Sept. 1

The Tigers and Tigers will square off again in another sure-to-be-great game. Both schools finished in the top-10 recruiting classes for 2011, so there will be a ton of talent on the field.

Common high-profile prospects:

Montravius Adams, Greg Gilmore, Vonn Bell and Derwin Gray

23. Washington vs. LSU, Sept. 8

This one is bigger for U-Dub than it is for LSU. The Tigers have been established themselves as both a top-tier elite national program and recruiting powerhouse.

The Huskies enjoyed a late run last cycle on the trail and got themselves into the top-25 classes. If they want to have another good year, a big recruiting weekend on Sept. 8 when they travel to Louisiana would be a huge draw for them recruiting-wise.

22. Florida at Texas A&M, Sept. 8

The Gators will take it upon themselves to welcome the Aggies into SEC play. College Station will be rocking as this is exactly the type of game A&M wants to start experiencing moving forward.

Common high-profile prospects:

Mackensie Alexander and Jason Hatcher

21. Florida at Tennessee, Sept. 15

This is always a great game, as this is an underrated rivalry in college football. Rocky Top is on its way back and the Gators are trying to show improvement in year two of Will Muschamp.

Both teams have their eyes set on the SEC East crown and this will be a key game if they want to win the division.

Common high-profile prospects:

Montravius Adams, Jaylon Smith, Stacy Coley, Jason Hatcher, Priest Willis and Greg Gilmore

20. LSU at Auburn, Sept. 22

Auburn has two top-five recruiting classes on its roster, and this year the young talent will be on the field and on display. LSU is trying to get back to the BCS title game and this will be a pivotal matchup in the SEC West.

Common high-profile prospects:

Greg Gilmore, Kendall Beckwith and Alquadin Muhammad

19. Florida State vs. Clemson, Sept. 22

This probably will be the biggest of the ACC season. The Tigers have stepped up their recruiting efforts and Jimbo Fisher has been Bobby Bowden-esque at Florida State.

This will be a big game on the field and have a ton of recruiting implications on the line, too.

Common high-profile prospects:

Montravius Adams, Jaynard Bostwick, Derwin Gray and Tyrone Crowder. 

18. Michigan at Notre Dame, Sept. 22

How crazy was this game last year?

The Irish and Wolverines get it on yet again this year in one of the better rivalries in college football. Brian Kelly has put together some good classes since coming to South Bend, while Brady Hoke has been magical in Ann Arbor.

Common high-profile prospects:

Ty Isaac, Robert Foster, Su'a Cravens, Jaylon Smith, Justin Davis, Kendall Fuller, Michael Hutchings and Priest Willis

17. Florida State at South Florida, Sept. 22

The Bulls aren't a recruiting powerhouse, but they have their eyes set on the nation's best cornerback in Vernon Hargreaves III.

If you want to show Hargreaves you're on your way up as a program, go beat a big dog like Florida State then.

The 'Noles are on Hargreaves' trail, as is pretty much everyone else in America.

16. Tennessee at Georgia, Sept. 29

Another pivotal SEC East matchup, as the Bulldogs have gobbled up 15 commitments already for 2013 recruiting. Tennessee wants to show recruits it is trending back upwards and a win over UGA would be huge in proving that.

Common high-profile prospects:

Montravius Adams, Vonn Bell, Tyrone Crowder, Kailo Moore and Isaac Rochell

15. Ole Miss at Alabama, Sept. 29

Alabama is going to win this game, there's no doubt about that. However, this is the "Robert Nkemdiche Bowl."

The nation's No. 1 recruit has the hots for Alabama, but his brother plays for Ole Miss.

Tack on the fact that if Hugh Freeze can show that his team can be competitive against the champs, this could get interesting to watch. 

Another huge name associated with both schools is 5-star S Antonio Conner.

14. Miami at Notre Dame, Oct. 6

An old rivalry sparks up in early October and this one will be a huge one for recruiting. With Notre Dame trying to add more speed to its roster, the Irish are dipping into Florida more.

To get the attention of more Sunshine State prospects, why not beat one of the big three Florida schools?

Common high-profile prospects:

Vernon Hargreaves III, Michael Hutchings, Jaynard Bostwick and Hunter Henry

13. LSU at Florida, Oct. 6

This is always a huge game as two SEC superpowers get together here. There will be a ton at stake on the field and probably even more off the field in recruiting.

Common high-profile prospects:

Priest Willis, Jaynard Bostwick, Greg Gilmore, Mackensie Alexander, Alquadin Muhammad, Maurice Smith and many more

12. Texas and Oklahoma, Oct. 13

One of the flagship games of the college football season, the Red River Rivalry is always a huge game with recruiting implications. 

This year will be no different as the Sooners and Longhorns will get it on to see who can impress recruits the most. A Big 12 title likely will be affected by this game.

Common high-profile prospects:

Justin Manning, Dontre Wilson and Torrodney Prevot among many others. 

11. Florida State at Miami, Oct. 20

The Hurricanes and Seminoles are longtime rivals and this one will have big-time recruiting implications around the state of Florida.

Each program gobbles up its fair share of Sunshine State prospects and it's not uncommon for a recruit to choose one of these schools based on who wins.

Common high-profile prospects:

Matthew Thomas, Ryan Green, Sandley Jean-Felix, Jamal Carter, Montravius Adams, Kendall Fuller, Laremy Tunsil, Jaynard Bostwick, Tyrone Crowder and Leon McQuay

10. Notre Dame at Oklahoma, Oct. 27

The Irish and Sooners meet up in Norman in late October. Two of the flagship programs in the country, this will be a big game.

I'd expect OU to host a big recruiting weekend and to have a lot of recruits on the sidelines.

Common high-profile prospects:

Su'a Cravens, Ty Isaac, Eddie Vanderdoes, Jaylon Smith, Justin Davis, Michael Hutchings, Jason Hatcher, Priest Willis, Hunter Henry and LaQuon Treadwell

9. Florida at Georgia, Oct. 27

The World's Largest Cocktail Party will go down in Jacksonville again, right before Halloween. The Gators and Bulldogs are rivals on the field and on the trail.

So much will be at stake at this game, so there's no need for me to really attempt to try to name it all.

Common high-profile prospects:

Laremy Tunsil, Derrick Griffin, Montravius Adams, Vonn Bell, Jaynard Bostwick, Tyrone Crowder, Marquez North, Isaac Rochell, Kelsey Griffin, Alvin Kamara and Josh McNeil. 

8. USC vs. Oregon, Nov. 3

This likely will be for the right to host the Pac-12 title game folks. The Trojans and Ducks are the two big dogs out West and will square off in the first weekend in November.

USC is a recruiting juggernaut, not just in the West but nationally. Oregon has been winning a lot and recruits a ton out of California. Big-time recruiting implications are on the line here.

Common high-profile prospects:

Michael Hutchings, Eddie Vanderdoes, Max Redfield, Priest Willis, Justin Davis, Montravius Adams, Justin Manning, Thomas Tyner, Darrell Daniels, Nico Falah, Greg Gilmore, Sebastian LaRue, Tahaan Goodman and Steven Mitchell

7. Alabama at LSU, Nov. 13

The biggest game of last year in the regular season and a repeat of the national title game, this one will be a huge game again this year.

LSU and Alabama had a fierce battle over Landon Collins last cycle. and many more common prospects are shared between the two juggernauts yet again in 2013.

Common high-profile prospects:

Robert Nkemdiche, Laremy Tunsil, Kendall Beckwith, Antonio Conner, Greg Gilmore, Jaynard Bostwick, Kailo Moore, Mackensie Alexander, Maurice Smith and Alquadin Muhammad

6. Tennessee at Vanderbilt, Nov. 17

Let's just be frank: James Franklin has a bone to pick with Derek Dooley, and Franklin gets Dooley on his turf in Mid-November.

With this also being a in-state rivalry, this is a huge game. On the recruiting front, the Commodores and Volunteers are recruiting some of the same prospects, like Kailo Moore and Vonn Bell.

A lot will be on the line for both programs in this one.

5. USC at UCLA, Nov. 17

The Trojans will have the better team, but this game is always still huge for recruiting around Southern California.

Jim Mora isn't talking the big stuff that Rick Neuheisel did when he first got to UCLA, but Mora has the moxie and staff to compete with USC on the recruiting trail. An upset here could definitely give UCLA the momentum to finish with a top-25 class.

Common high-profile prospects:

Su'a Cravens, Nico Falah, Eddie Vanderdoes, Priest Willis, Sebastian LaRue, Tahaan Goodman, Steven Mitchell, Johnny Johnson, Joe Mathis and Justin Manning

4. Florida State vs. Florida, Nov. 24

This is always a huge game for recruiting, as many prospects that FSU will have visiting this weekend will more than likely be seriously considering the Gators, too.

This is a rivalry game that always has rippling effects on recruiting.

Common high-profile prospects:

Laremy Tunsil, Robert Foster, Montravius Adams, Vernon Hargreaves III, Matthew Thomas, Kendall Fuller, Priest Willis, Elijah Daniel, Stacy Coley, Jaynard Bostwick, Mackensie Alexander, Tyrone Crowder, Marquez North, Maurice Smith, Leon McQuay and Isaac Rochell

3. USC vs. Notre Dame, Nov. 24

The top cross-sectional rivalry is in play yet again this year. The Irish and Trojans are always fun to watch go at it, and recruiting always seems to be a backdrop story of the game.

This year will be no different, as I'd expect USC to host a ton of recruits on the weekend of this game.

Common high-profile prospects:

Su'a Cravens, Ty Isaac, Eddie Vanderdoes, Justin Davis, Michael Hutchings, Priest Willis, Ethan Pocic, LaQuon Treadwell, Steven Mitchell and Joe Mathis

2. Alabama vs. Auburn, Nov. 24

The Iron Bowl is a big game every year for bragging rights, recruiting pull and of course SEC West title hopes.

Gene Chizik has proven to be quite a stanch recruiting head coach at Auburn and he has a BCS title under his belt, too. Nick Saban is the premier head coach in the game today, and these are two of the top recruiting programs in country.

Common high-profile prospects:

Montravius Adams, O.J. Howard, Matthew Thomas, Vonn Bell, Jason Hatcher, Greg Gilmore, Cooper Bateman, Hunter Henry, LaQuon Treadwell, Alquadin Muhammad and Isaac Rochell

1. Ohio State vs. Michigan, Nov. 24

The Wolverines and Buckeyes will square off again and there's nothing new to say that hasn't been said about this game.

It's the first time we'll see Brady Hoke square off against Urban Meyer in the rivalry, as Meyer will get an up-close and personal taste of the magnitude of the game. 

Huge game, huge recruiting implications and more.

Common high-profile prospects:

Robert Foster, Ethan Pocic, Su'a Cravens, Jaylon Smith, Ty Isaac, James Quick, Elijah Daniel, LaQuon Treadwell, Marquez North and Alquadin Muhammad