A Top 5 Game from Opposite Sides of the Recruiting Spectrum
Nov 8, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban before a game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mississippi State will play their second top 5 game of the season when they travel to Tuscaloosa to face the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide this weekend. The Bulldogs are the consensus #1 team in America, while Bama is #3 according to the Coaches and #4 according to the AP. This is a huge game that has a ton of implications. One team is supposed to be in a game like this, but the other certainly is not….if you believe whole-heatedly in recruiting rankings, that is.
By now everyone knows how Mississippi State ascended to #1 this year – by finding hidden gems through talent evaluation, player development, hard work, chemistry, experience and the list goes on. But just how far apart are these teams when it comes to those valued recruiting rankings that drive segments of college football fans crazy come January and early February?
Here are the SEC West recruiting rankings since 2010 according to 247 sports (this would encompass all 5th year seniors):
2010
- Alabama
- Auburn
- LSU
- Texas A&M (in Big 12 at the time)
- Ole Miss
- Mississippi State
- Arkansas
2011
- Alabama
- Auburn
- LSU
- Ole Miss
- Arkansas
- Mississippi State
- Texas A&M (in Big 12 at the time)
2012
- Alabama
- Auburn
- LSU
- Texas A&M
- Mississippi State
- Arkansas
- Ole Miss
2013
- Alabama
- LSU
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Auburn
- Arkansas
- Mississippi State
2014
- Alabama
- LSU
- Texas A&M
- Auburn
- Ole Miss
- Arkansas
- Mississippi State
So clearly Alabama has dominated when it comes to recruiting – five straight years at the top of the SEC West. Mississippi State not only hasn’t finished above fifth in the division, but the last two years they were last.
Now how about a more specific look at MSU and Alabama’s national rank according to 247:
| Year | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mississippi State | 34 | 34 | 22 | 25 | 35 |
Is it any wonder why folks believe Alabama is the best team in the country, and Mississippi State is a pretender? As Justin wrote about last week, the media doesn’t want to be wrong about the hype and importance they place on recruiting. There is a lot of money in recruiting rankings – if MSU proves they don’t matter as much as long as you can evaluate hidden talent and develop players, that hurts business.
This game is as unlikely of a top 5 match-up as can be because Mississippi State should not be here according to what recruiting “experts” suggest. The Bulldogs have an incredible opportunity to prove you don’t have to win with flash and stars – a team who comes together and works hard for a unified goal can achieve great things, even in the historically great SEC West.