Power Ranking Every BCS Conference by 2014 Recruiting Classes

Edwin WeathersbyJun 5, 2018

Although the BCS era is coming to an end, the six major conferences still will be dominant. Instead of teams fighting to get into a BCS bowl, College Football Playoff berths and the right to play in prominent bowl games will be the objective.

To reach those goals, the schools from the old BCS conferences will have to continue to dominate recruiting. While every program has its league rivals and enemies on the recruiting trail, they all have a great sense of conference pride.

As the 2014 recruiting cycle moves forward, certain BCS conferences are dominating the trail. A surprise conference has several of its schools in position for a top-25 finish, while one conference that normally has many top classes is in the middle of a disappointing year.

Another league has two of its perennial powers being supported by a couple of programs that are recruiting surprisingly well.

And you may be shocked to see where the SEC ranks.

All rankings are by 247Sports.

6. Pac-12

1 of 6

No. of Top-25 Classes: Zero

The Pac-12 is having a down year on the trail. The league has no program in the top-25 recruiting rankings. Its highest-ranked class is Arizona at No. 41.

That's shocking, given the traditionally strong recruiting by USC and Oregon, along with the recent rise of Washington, UCLA and Stanford on the trail.

The conference has time to make up ground, but it must see its schools immediately start to acquire talent.

5. American Athletic Conference

2 of 6

No. of Top-25 Classes: Zero

The Pac-12 is having a down year on the trail. The league has no program in the top-25 recruiting rankings. Its highest-ranked class is Arizona at No. 41.

That's shocking, given the traditionally strong recruiting by USC and Oregon, along with the recent rise of Washington, UCLA and Stanford on the trail.

The conference has time to make up ground, but it must see its schools immediately start to acquire talent.

4. Big 12

3 of 6

No. of Top-25 Classes: Three

Big 12 recruiting traditionally has been monopolized by Texas and Oklahoma.

Texas has kept up its end of the bargain by having the No. 3 class, but the Sooners (No. 30) have fallen behind Baylor (No. 16) and Texas Tech (No. 24). For the Bears, Art Briles has assembled a well-respected 19-man class, and the Red Raiders are recruiting well under new head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

However, Oklahoma could enter the top-25 rankings soon and give the Big 12 four elite classes.

3. Big Ten

4 of 6

No. of Top-25 Classes: Three

Big 12 recruiting traditionally has been monopolized by Texas and Oklahoma.

2. ACC

5 of 6

No. of Top-25 Classes: Six

The ACC does not get the respect it deserves. After Florida State, Miami and Clemson, many overlook the rest of the league. But based on its ranking on this list, that will soon change.

The Hurricanes (No. 5) and Seminoles (No. 8) have top-10 classes, while Clemson is No. 14. The Tigers have proven to be a great recruiting program, so do not be shocked if the ACC finishes with three top-10 classes.

The league is not top-heavy, as North Carolina, N.C. State and Boston College are ranked No. 20, 21 and 22, respectively. The Tar Heels are fresh off a top-25 finish in 2013, but the Wolfpack and Eagles are major surprises.

New coaches Dave Doeren at N.C. State and Steve Addazio at Boston College have revitalized their programs' recruiting efforts and gotten immediate results. The ACC could finish with eight top-25 classes if things go well for Virginia and Virginia Tech.

1. SEC

6 of 6

No. of Top-25 Classes: Six

The ACC does not get the respect it deserves. After Florida State, Miami and Clemson, many overlook the rest of the league. But based on its ranking on this list, that will soon change.