Recruiting class ranking & National Champ

I guess our class is going to finish #1 this year because we are winning the National Title in 2016!!!!!  HARBAUGH!

Auburn had multiple top 10 classes, during the 5 years prior to their NC in 2010. There are some discrepancies in rankings amongst the sites (ESPN, Scout, Rivals, and MaxxPreps--I recall them ranking at one point, and this was pre-247 Composite) but factor in Cam Newton and you've got yourself some Fairley talented players. I'd like to see updated versions of class rankings as players either transfer, enter the draft early, take medicals, removed from programs, etc... as seasons progress.

One may have to go back to the Huskers' 90's teams to find a national champion that didn't have top 5ish talent in the previous 5 year recruiting span. But even those teams had good talent out of high school. Oklahoma in 2000 may have a case but again, they had talent.

I thought it was just saying that since 2003, the teams that have won a national title have had at least one #1 class or multiple #2 classes until now.  Not that they had those ratings before the title, or in the recruiting cycle leading up to the championship.  So, say USC from 2003...if they had mediocre classes, but then #1 last year, that would qualify.  No?

Here is a breakdown of Rivals rankings and National Champs dating back to 1995.  http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/top-ten-signing-classes-are-necessary-for-national-titles-020515

1995 Nebraska (#15 in 1993,#5 in 1995)

1996 Florida (#6 in 1993, #2 in 1995)

1997 Nebraska/Michigan (Nebraska #5 in 1995 and number #9 in 1996 Michigan: #4 in 1994, #7 in 1995, #8 in 1996, #4 in 1997) 

1998 Tennessee (#7 in 1998, #5 in 1997, #3 in 1996)

1999 Florida State (#5 in 1998, #1 in 1997, #5 in 1996)

2000 Oklahoma (#13 in 2000, and #25 in both 1997 and 1998 Rivals) *OU is the only program without a top ten class to win the title in Rivals history. But it did have 3 top 25 classes

2001 Miami (#2 in 2001, #9 in 2000, #8 in 1999)

2002 Ohio State (#7 in 2002, #4 in 2000, #2 in 1999)

2003 LSU/USC (LSU #1 class in 2003, #4 in 2001 USC #3 in 2003, #14 in 2000, #21 in 2001)  

2004 USC (#3 class in 2003, #1 class in 2004)

2005 Texas (#1 class in 2002, #15 class in 2003 with only 18 recruits, which averaged highest star rating in country, #18 class in 2004 -- only signed 15) If Texas had signed 20 players in either of these classes, they would have ranked in the top five. The #1 class in 2002 was simply too large, with over 30 players).

2006 Florida (#2 in 2003, #10 in 2004, #2 in 2006)

2007 LSU (#1 in 2003, #1 in 2004, #7 in 2006, #4 in 2007)

2008 Florida (#2 in 2006, #1 in 2007, #3 in 2008)

2009 Alabama (#10 in 2007, #1 in 2008, #1 in 2009)

2010 Auburn (#10 in 2006, #7 in 2007, #4 in 2010) Auburn was #20 in 2008 and #19 in 2009

2011 Alabama (#1 in 2008, #1 in 2009, #5 in 2010, #1 in 2011)

2012 Alabama (#1 in 2009, #5 in 2010, #1 in 2011, #1 in 2012)

2013 Florida State (#7 in 2009, #10 in 2010, #2 in 2011, #6 in 2012, #10 in 2013)

2014 Ohio State (#11 in 2011, #4 in 2012, #2 in 2013, #3 in 2014)

I can't wait to see what it feels like to have a #1 or #2 ranked class almost every year with an at worst #5 ranked class. Looking at you Alabama.  Top 5 classes will be the norm under Harbaugh.  Let the championship opportunties start flowing!

Are there that many new people around that they don't realize Tim worked for mgoblog back in the day? Even mgoblog makes me feel old these days.