College Football 2011: Which Big Time Rivals Won the Recruiting War?

Coaches don't win games, players do. It's the truth that the best coaches learn early on. Sure, a great coach can make the players he has look better, can put them in position and make in-game adjustments that win games.

But the most important thing a college football coach does is recruit the most talented players that fit his system.

Rivalries are fought on the field. But before that, they are fought in recruits' living rooms, at skills camps and on-campus visits.

Here are the winners and losers of the recruiting battle between some of the nation's biggest rivals.

10. Backyard Brawl: West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh

Winner: West Virginia

Pittsburgh was surely hurt by two coaching changes, but Todd Graham did a nice job saving face for Pitt on the recruiting trail.

West Virginia put together a very solid class, including two prime-time defensive backs in Terrell Chesnut and Vance Roberts. But the highlight of the class is running back Andrew Buie out of Trinity Christian in Jacksonville, Fla.

9. The Civil War: Oregon vs. Oregon State

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 4: Kenjon Barner #24 of the Oregon Ducks struggles for some extra yards as Lance Mitchell #10 and Suaesi Tuimaunei #28 of the Oregon State Beavers in the second quarter of the game at Reser Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Corvallis

Winner: Oregon

It's not much of a surprise to see Oregon winning the recruiting battle with the great successes and riches the Ducks have enjoyed over the Beavers in recent years.

Oregon State did what it always does: put together a solid class of players they hope to develop over four years. Wide receiver Brandin Cook was the prize, for whom Oregon State had to battle several Pac-12 teams to get.

But Oregon put together one of the nation's best classes. Rivals.com rated nine of their commits as 4-star prospects and two of them as 5-stars.

8. The Game: Ohio State vs. Michigan

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Marvin Robinson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines lunges to attempt a tackle on Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Winner: Ohio State

It's pretty clear that Michigan is a fantastic job for a head coach when it has gone through some of its darkest days, hired its supposed third choice and still lands arguably a top 20 class.

But Ohio State was closer to top 10. The especially good news from Ohio State is that any of three players are considered its best grab. Is it linebacker Curtis Grant? Or defensive end Steve Miller? Some think it's quarterback Braxton Miller, who could see playing time right away.

7. The Big Game: Cal vs. Stanford

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BERKELEY, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Marvin Jones #1 of the California Golden Bears in action against the Stanford Cardinal at California Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Winner: Cal

It was close, but Cal gets a slight edge from both ESPN and Rivals. Defensive tackle Todd Barr was the big get for Cal. He is one of eight ESPNU 150 recruits headed to Berkeley, Calif.

Stanford did very well for itself, too, landing a couple of defensive studs. Linebacker James Vaughters and safety Wayne Lyons headline the class.

6. The "Wide Right/Left" Game: Miami vs. Florida State

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MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 9: Damien Berry #20 of the Miami Hurricanes breaks the tackle of Greg Reid #5 of the Florida State Seminoles to score a touchdown in the third quarter on October 9, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Seminoles defeated the

Winner: Florida State

I had to make up the name to the rivalry, but I think it fits. And while "Wide Right" has put Florida State on the wrong side time and time again, the Seminoles were on the, er, right side this time.

Al Golden and Miami did an admirable job keeping most of Randy Shannon's class together. Landing defensive end Jalen Grimble out of Las Vegas was a great signing.

But few classes compare to Jimbo Fisher's dandy. Twelve of the ESPNU 150 signed with Florida State, prompting ESPN to rank the class No. 1 overall. Rivals ranks it No. 2 overall. Either way, it's spectacular.

5. The Battle of Los Angeles: Southern Cal vs. UCLA

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PASADENA, CA - DECEMBER 04: Malcolm Smith #6 of the USC Trojans tackles Nelson Rosario #83 of the UCLA Bruins during the first half at the Rose Bowl on December 4, 2010 in Pasadena, California. USC defeated UCLA 28-14. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Winner: Southern Cal

Rick Neuheisel and Pete Carroll provided some priceless banter and recruiting stories while going at it head-to-head in one of the nation's most fertile recruiting grounds. Hopefully Neuheisel sticks around long enough to keep the battles up with Lane Kiffin.

Unfortunately for Neuheisel, Kiffin schooled him in recruiting this season. What disadvantages were there supposed to be in recruiting for USC because of its NCAA sanctions, again? Kiffin landed a top five class.

The nation's top wide receiver, George Farmer, will help out quarterback Matt Barkley right away, Trojan fans hope.

4. Red River Rivalry: Texas vs. Oklahoma

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 11: Head coach Mack Brown of the Texas Longhorns and Bob Stoops of the Oklahoma Sooners greet each other at the end of the game at the Cotton Bowl on October 11, 2003 in Dallas, Texas. The Sooners defeated the Longhorns 65-13. (Photo b

Winner: Texas

There are few coaches that get it done better in recruiting that Texas' Mack Brown. Bob Stoops has been trying to infiltrate the state of Texas against Brown for 11 years.

Texas landed a top five class led by the nation's top running back, Malcolm Brown. Longhorn fans hope Malcolm can help out right away.

Stoops landed a great class, snatching 12 prospects from the state of Texas, including 5-star wide receiver Trey Metoyer and 5-star running back Brandon Williams.

3. The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party: Florida vs. Georgia

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 30: A.J. Green #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs attempts to catch a pass against Jelani Jenkins #43 and Matt Elam #22 of the Florida Gators during the game at EverBank Field on October 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sa

Winner: Georgia

Wait, what? That's right: Georgia finally topped Florida in recruiting. It's not like it's never happened before—or like Georgia and Mark Richt haven't recruited greatly in the well—but Urban Meyer has loaded up on talented Gators the past few years.

But 2011 was Georgia's year. Richt signed big-time players in running back Isaiah Crowell and defensive end Ray Drew, a top 10 player no matter the position.

New coach Will Muschamp did a phenomenal job even without considering that he spent most of the year chasing players for Texas. Quarterback Jeff Driskel could compete for the starting job right away.

2. The South Carolina War: Clemson vs. South Carolina

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COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 28: Patrick DiMarco #47 of the South Carolina Gamecocks fights off the tackle of Kavell Conner #33 of the Clemson Tigers at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty I

Winner: Clemson

I made the name for the rivalry up. Anybody have an official name they can share?

South Carolina clearly won on one front, landing the nation's top recruit, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Steve Spurrier put together a fantastic class even before Clowney signed his name on Valentine's Day.

But Clemson won out on other fronts and put together maybe the most surprising class of the year. Dabo Swinney locked up four 5-star recruits, three of them from the state of Florida. Clowney would have been the cherry on top. One hell of a cherry on top.

1. The Iron Bowl: Auburn vs. Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Greg McElroy #12 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts a throwing for a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Winner: Alabama

Gene Chizik can recruit. He's made that apparent by forcing his way high into the recruiting rankings the past two seasons. Landing offensive tackle Christian Westerman froms Chandler, Ariz. and linebacker Kris Frost out of Matthews, N.C. showed why in 2011.

But Nick Saban is still one of the two or three best recruiters in the game. He signed 10—10!—players from the ESPNU 150. Only Florida State landed more with 12. Rivals ranked eight of Alabama's recruits in their top 100.

The Iron Bowl shall remain one of the premier games for the next few years.