The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/130469
stretch, both Texas and Oklahoma occupied a spot in the final top 20 of the team recruiting rankings every year, while Nebraska (three times), Colorado (three times) and Kansas State (once) combined for only seven appearances. Oklahoma averaged an annual ranking of seventh, while Texas hovered closer to 10th. Nebraska, meanwhile, had an average rank of 28.7 with Missouri 34.2, Colorado 39.4 and Kansas State 45. In a one-game format, of course, anything is possible. In two Big Ten championship games so far, Wisconsin, which will reside in the West, has proven victorious both times. However, the gulf between the East's top two teams of Michigan and Ohio State and all seven teams from the West (not to mention their East brethren as well) is widening. Counting the five recruiting classes that will make up the rosters for the 2014 title bout, the Buckeyes have averaged an 11th positioning in the team recruiting rankings from 2010-14 while U-M lists 12th. The Cornhuskers and Badgers are supposed to balance the scales, but they have ranked, on average, 29th and 53rd, respectively. Iowa's average rank is 42nd, Illinois' 54th and Minnesota's 57th. Northwestern and Purdue have tied for 63rd. Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern have consistently performed above their recruiting hauls over the past decade, and if they, or Nebraska, qualify for the Big Ten championship game, they could certainly best the East representative. However, there is a reason UT and OU dominated the Big 12 title game — they were more talented than their opponent, and the results bore that out. History could repeat itself, especially with both Michigan and Ohio State back on track. With the arrival of Brady Hoke, U‑M's recruiting classes have ranked 21st (2011), seventh (2012) and fifth (2013), and the Maize and Blue are currently eighth in the 2014 rankings. The Buckeyes, under Urban Meyer, ranked fourth (2012) and second (2013), and are in 11th presently. These two programs are recruiting far more impressively than anyone else in the conference — fellow East "power" Penn State, by comparison, has averaged 31st in the team rankings for the past five classes — and are set to duke it out on a regular basis to determine who travels to Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game. Had competitive balance been the deciding factor, Michigan and Ohio State would have remained in opposite divisions, like they have been with the Legends and Leaders. Together, the league loses some cachet in that its two dominant programs will never meet to determine the Big Ten champion, but the drama of The Game — the regular-season finale between the rivals — will, if possible, mean even a little bit more. ❏ Associate Editor Michael Spath has been with The Wolverine since 2002. Contact him at mspath@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @Spath_Wolverine.