College Football Recruiting 2011 Conference Rankings: Is the SEC Still King?

When it comes to football, the SEC is king. Argue all you want, but the Southeastern conference consistently brings more ranked teams to the table than any other conference in the country. 

The SEC West alone is tougher than most conferences.

That success on the field begins with recruiting, where the SEC has dominated for years. But this season the Big 12 is making quite a push, with Texas and Oklahoma putting together a pair of monster classes.

In fact, the Big 12 has brought in more 5-star talent than any other conference. But where does it compare to the SEC?

6. Big East

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 8

3-Star Commitments: 70

The Big East is way behind the other major conferences recruiting this season, with Pitt the only school in the conference ranked in the top 30. 

To put things in perspective, Texas and Oklahoma combined have a higher recruiting score than the entire Big East conference. 

5. Big Ten

5-Star Commitments: 3

4-Star Commitments: 21

3-Star Commitments: 101

The Big Ten is anchored by Ohio, with the Buckeyes' No. 3 ranked class the only thing really separating the conference from the Big East. 

Michigan State's 25th ranked class is the only other Big Ten class ranked in the top 25, with Michigan and Penn State struggling to recruit to their usual degrees. 

4. Pac-10

5-Star Commitments: 4

4-Star Commitments: 27

3-Star Commitments: 72

This year it's Stanford and not USC or UCLA that anchors the Pac-10. The down year from the conferences two Southern California schools is the main reason the Pac-10 isn't in its usual spot behind the SEC.

Right now USC is a cringe top-20 team recruiting, with sanctions serving as a major deterrent for prospects. UCLA though, is an entirely different story. The Bruins barely have a top 50 class with one 4-star prospect headlining the group.  

3. ACC

5-Star Commitments: 5

4-Star Commitments: 21

3-Star Commitments: 115

Even with Miami struggling to bring in talent, Florida State is doing what it normally does and the ACC as a whole has brought in a good amount of talent. 

The Seminoles, as well as North Carolina and Clemson, have top 15 recruiting classes, with Virginia doing its part as well with the 26th-ranked class. 

2. Big 12

5-Star Commitments: 12

4-Star Commitments: 41

3-Star Commitments: 98

The Big 12 is having one of its best recruiting seasons in years. Not only does Texas have the No. 1 ranked class in the country, but Oklahoma is in the top five as well. 

Throw in Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech as top 20 teams, and the Big 12 is a lot closer to the SEC than you might think. 

1. SEC

5-Star Commitments: 7

4-Star Commitments: 59

3-Star Commitments: 119

The SEC has more 4-star and 3-star talent than any conference in the country, with 18 more 4-star prospects than the Big 12; though the Big 12 has five more 5-star prospects. 

But with Alabama, Florida, LSU and Arkansas ranked in the top 10 and Vanderbilt and Kentucky the only two schools in the conference ranked outside of the top 25, the SEC is still king.