College Football Recruiting 2012: The Top 7 Games For Recruiting Visits

When a recruit takes a visit in the fall, they like to see the program play to get a feel for the game-day atmosphere of the team, stadium, fans and the coaching staff.

So obviously the best time for a visit is to go when there is a big game.

This piece will be keen on taking the top seven games for a recruit to take his visit. However, I'm not gong to rank the games, as all are elite visits to see and each has an electric atmosphere to entice a recruit.

Ohio State vs. Michigan

Whether this game is played at The Big House or at The Horseshoe, if I'm a recruit considering either school, I may want to visit during this weekend.

It's one of the best rivalries in sports; each stadium has a great atmosphere and it's the epitome of how great college football traditions are.

Wolverines vs. Buckeyes should be a targeted visit date on any recruit's schedule.

Oregon at Autzen Stadium

Oregon home games are ridiculous. People are decked out in green and yellow, and black too. The Duck rides out on a Harley, there's smoke, tailgating and more.

Then the fans are just awfully loud. Seriously. Autzen stadium gets riled up for their Ducks and the team is always pumped.

Toss in the fact of the crazy uniforms and amazing facilities, and you see why Oregon is always a great visit for any recruit.

The Red River Rivalry

I know and I figure that each school likely doesn't host too many recruits this weekend, as the game is not played on either team's home field. That would make it pretty tough to host a recruit.

But I just had to include this weekend and game on here somehow, so don't fault me.

Moving on...

Notre Dame vs. USC

Sorry Trojan fans, but I don't think a recruit gets nearly as much out this game when hosted by the Coliseum, as opposed to South Bend. 

It's just the mystique of Notre Dame Stadium, in what usually is mid-October versus another elite traditional power in USC.

Notre Dame always picks this game and weekend to host a mega-number of high profile recruits and really lathers on the goods of the program, school, tradition, uniforms, fans and mystique versus USC.

Florida vs. Florida State

Whether this game is in Tallahassee or in Gainesville, this is a must-see for every recruit in the country.

Many times, a recruit will visit both schools in the same season, and to go even further, they may even visit schools on consecutive weekends.

The Gators and Seminoles don't like each other; never have, never will. The rivalry is intense and the games are amazing. Half the time, the winner of this game seems to get the advantage on the recruiting trail.

The Iron Bowl

This game will only grow as the years move forward, because Nick Saban and Gene Chizik both have shown they realize that recruiting is the lifeblood of their programs.

With each coach having a BCS title under its belt, the Iron Bowl, aside from this year, likely will routinely become a game that shapes not only the SEC title game picture, but the BCS National Championship game picture.

It doesn't matter who the home team is, as many recruits follow both schools closely. Each stadium atmosphere is awesome, the fans are intense and it's a great game and weekend to visit.

LSU vs. Anybody at Home on a Saturday Night

I'm pretty close to adding this on my own personal bucket list, as people say LSU Saturday night home games are divine.

The atmosphere is just sensational, the fans are intense, loud, passionate and pretty knowledgeable.

Plus the food is gosh darn good eatin'.

Oh yeah, the Tigers are one of the best programs in the sport too. Every recruit that I follow always comes back extremely impressed with LSU after visiting Baton Rouge.