2015
1. Clemson
Original rank: 9
Record since 2015: 55–4
Conference titles: 4
College Football Playoff appearances: 4
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 4
National titles: 2
Major contributors: WR Deon Cain, OT Mitch Hyatt, DT Christian Wilkins, WR Ray-Ray McCloud, DT Albert Huggins, DE Clelin Ferrell, DE Austin Bryant, TE Garrett Williams, QB Kelly Bryant, S Van Smith, S Tanner Muse, OG Gage Cervenka.
2. Alabama
Original rank: 1
Record since 2015: 55–4
Conference titles: 3
College Football Playoff appearances: 4
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 4
National titles: 2
Major contributors: WR Calvin Ridley, DT Da’Ron Payne, DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, RB Damien Harris, S Deionte Thompson, G Lester Cotton, TE Hale Hentges, LB Anfernee Jennings, DB Ronnie Harrison, OT Matt Womack.I
3. Ohio State
Original rank: 7
Record since 2015: 48–6
Conference titles: 2
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 4
National titles: 0
Major contributors: RB Mike Weber, LB Justin Hilliard, OT Isaiah Prince, DT Dre’Mont Jones, WR K.J. Hill, CB Denzel Ward, LB Jerome Baker, DT Davon Hamilton.
4. Georgia
Original rank: 6
Record since 2015: 42–13
Conference titles: 1
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 2
National titles: 0
Major contributors: DT Trenton Thompson, WR Terry Godwin, LB Roquan Smith, DE Jonathan Ledbetter, LB Natrez Patrick, DE D’Andre Walker, CB Deandre Baker, DT DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle, LB Juwan Taylor, LB Tae Crowder.
5. Oklahoma
Original rank: 15
Record since 2015: 46–8
Conference titles: 4
College Football Playoff appearances: 3
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 4
National titles: 0
Major contributors: DT Neville Gallimore, RB Rodney Anderson, OT Bobby Evans, WR Dede Westbrook, OG Dru Samia, S Kahlil Haughton, OT Cody Ford, DE Kenneth Mann, K Austin Seibert.
6. Notre Dame
Original rank: 13
Record since 2015: 36–15
Conference titles: Not applicable
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 2
National titles: 0
Major contributors: TE Alize Mack, RB Dexter Williams, DT Jerry Tillery, WR Equanimeous St. Brown, WR Miles Boykin, LB Te’Von Coney, LB Asmar Bilal, RB Josh Adams, K Justin Yoon.
Everybody stopped making the dumb NOTRE DAME DIDN’T BELONG IN THE PLAYOFF comments after Clemson beat Alabama by more than it beat Notre Dame, right? This class included some of the best players on a team that went 12–0 in the regular season and then ran into a team that was going to beat anyone it played. It also included the top back and top receiver (Adams and Brown) on a 10–3 team.
7. Texas
Original rank: 10
Record since 2015: 27–24
Conference titles: 0
College Football Playoff appearances: 0
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 1
National titles: 0
Major contributors: LB Malik Jefferson, CB Holton Hill, LB Anthony Wheeler, RB Chris Warren, DB Kris Boyd, OG Patrick Vahe, S DeShon Elliott, CB Davante Davis, OT Connor Williams, DE Charles Omenihu, S P.J. Locke, DE Breckyn Hager.
8. Washington
Original rank: 26
Record since 2015: 39–15
Conference titles: 2
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 3
National titles: 0
9. USC
Original rank: 2
Record since 2015: 34–19
Conference titles: 1
College Football Playoff appearances: 0
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 2
National titles: 0
Major contributors: CB Iman Marshall, DL Rasheem Green, OT Chuma Edoga, RB Ronald Jones II, LB Porter Gustin, S Marvell Tell, QB Sam Darnold, LB Cam Smith, WR Deontay Burnett.
10. Penn State
Original rank: 14
2016
1. Alabama
Original rank: 1
Record since 2016: 41–3
Conference titles: 2
College Football Playoff appearances: 3
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 3
National titles: 1
Major contributors: LB Mack Wilson, OT Jonah Williams, LB Terrell Lewis, DT Raekwon Davis, CB Trevon Diggs, CB Shyheim Carter, DT Quinnen Williams, QB Jalen Hurts, RB Josh Jacobs, TE Irv Smith.
2. Ohio State
Original rank: 4
Record since 2016: 37–5
Conference titles: 2
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 3
National titles: 0
Major contributors: DE Nick Bosa, DE Jonathan Cooper, WR Austin Mack, QB Dwayne Haskins, WR Binjimen Victor, C Michael Jordan, OG Malcolm Pridgeon, TE Luke Farrell, LB Tuf Borland, S Jordan Fuller, P Drue Chrisman.
3. Oklahoma
Original rank: 19
Record since 2016: 35–4
Conference titles: 3
College Football Playoff appearances: 2
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 3
National titles: 0
Major contributors: LB Caleb Kelly, S Jordan Parker, DE Amani Bledsoe, CB Parnell Motley, OG Ben Powers, LB Emmanuel Beal.
I know what you’re thinking. Five starters from a defense that wasn’t all that good and one starter from an offensive line that was very good? THAT gets Oklahoma the No. 3 spot?
No. The Sooners are here because one of the scholarships intended for this class was used on a transfer from Texas A&M who wasn’t officially part of the signing class and grew into the best player in America in ’18. Quarterback Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy with one of the most dominant individual performances the sport has ever seen, and even if Oklahoma hadn’t brought in a single other player in ’16, Murray’s presence would be enough to get it on this list.
4. Clemson
Original rank: 11
Record since 2016: 41–3
Conference titles: 3
College Football Playoff appearances: 3
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 3
National titles: 2
Major contributors: DT Dexter Lawrence, RB Tavien Feaster, LB Tre Lamar, CB Trayvon Mullen, OG John Simpson, OG Sean Pollard, DT Nyles Pinckney, S Isaiah Simmons, OT Tremayne Anchrum, S K’Von Wallace.
5. Notre Dame
Original rank: 15
Record since 2016: 26–12
Conference titles: Not applicable
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 1
National titles: 0
Major contributors: OT Liam Eichenberg, WR Chase Claypool, DE Khalid Kareem, CB Troy Pride, DE Julian Okwara, CB Julian Love, S Jalen Elliott, DB Devin Studstill, QB Ian Book.
The DBs in this class got thrown into the fire as freshmen and endured a miserable year. But it made them stronger. Julian Love turned into one of the nation’s best breaker-uppers. Eichenberg, meanwhile, replaced first-rounder Mike McGlinchey at left tackle and the offense kept humming. But the biggest find in this class probably was the California quarterback that then-Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford ID’d while working at Boise State. The Irish only offered Book after they missed out on a few higher-rated quarterbacks, but they’re certainly glad now that all those other guys said no thanks.
ND finally gets some recruiting ranking love.. I'd rather the class be top 10 in retrospect. It's always cool to look back and see how accurate these rankings are or aren't...
1. Clemson
Original rank: 9
Record since 2015: 55–4
Conference titles: 4
College Football Playoff appearances: 4
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 4
National titles: 2
Major contributors: WR Deon Cain, OT Mitch Hyatt, DT Christian Wilkins, WR Ray-Ray McCloud, DT Albert Huggins, DE Clelin Ferrell, DE Austin Bryant, TE Garrett Williams, QB Kelly Bryant, S Van Smith, S Tanner Muse, OG Gage Cervenka.
2. Alabama
Original rank: 1
Record since 2015: 55–4
Conference titles: 3
College Football Playoff appearances: 4
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 4
National titles: 2
Major contributors: WR Calvin Ridley, DT Da’Ron Payne, DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, RB Damien Harris, S Deionte Thompson, G Lester Cotton, TE Hale Hentges, LB Anfernee Jennings, DB Ronnie Harrison, OT Matt Womack.I
3. Ohio State
Original rank: 7
Record since 2015: 48–6
Conference titles: 2
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 4
National titles: 0
Major contributors: RB Mike Weber, LB Justin Hilliard, OT Isaiah Prince, DT Dre’Mont Jones, WR K.J. Hill, CB Denzel Ward, LB Jerome Baker, DT Davon Hamilton.
4. Georgia
Original rank: 6
Record since 2015: 42–13
Conference titles: 1
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 2
National titles: 0
Major contributors: DT Trenton Thompson, WR Terry Godwin, LB Roquan Smith, DE Jonathan Ledbetter, LB Natrez Patrick, DE D’Andre Walker, CB Deandre Baker, DT DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle, LB Juwan Taylor, LB Tae Crowder.
5. Oklahoma
Original rank: 15
Record since 2015: 46–8
Conference titles: 4
College Football Playoff appearances: 3
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 4
National titles: 0
Major contributors: DT Neville Gallimore, RB Rodney Anderson, OT Bobby Evans, WR Dede Westbrook, OG Dru Samia, S Kahlil Haughton, OT Cody Ford, DE Kenneth Mann, K Austin Seibert.
6. Notre Dame
Original rank: 13
Record since 2015: 36–15
Conference titles: Not applicable
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 2
National titles: 0
Major contributors: TE Alize Mack, RB Dexter Williams, DT Jerry Tillery, WR Equanimeous St. Brown, WR Miles Boykin, LB Te’Von Coney, LB Asmar Bilal, RB Josh Adams, K Justin Yoon.
Everybody stopped making the dumb NOTRE DAME DIDN’T BELONG IN THE PLAYOFF comments after Clemson beat Alabama by more than it beat Notre Dame, right? This class included some of the best players on a team that went 12–0 in the regular season and then ran into a team that was going to beat anyone it played. It also included the top back and top receiver (Adams and Brown) on a 10–3 team.
7. Texas
Original rank: 10
Record since 2015: 27–24
Conference titles: 0
College Football Playoff appearances: 0
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 1
National titles: 0
Major contributors: LB Malik Jefferson, CB Holton Hill, LB Anthony Wheeler, RB Chris Warren, DB Kris Boyd, OG Patrick Vahe, S DeShon Elliott, CB Davante Davis, OT Connor Williams, DE Charles Omenihu, S P.J. Locke, DE Breckyn Hager.
8. Washington
Original rank: 26
Record since 2015: 39–15
Conference titles: 2
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 3
National titles: 0
9. USC
Original rank: 2
Record since 2015: 34–19
Conference titles: 1
College Football Playoff appearances: 0
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 2
National titles: 0
Major contributors: CB Iman Marshall, DL Rasheem Green, OT Chuma Edoga, RB Ronald Jones II, LB Porter Gustin, S Marvell Tell, QB Sam Darnold, LB Cam Smith, WR Deontay Burnett.
10. Penn State
Original rank: 14
2016
1. Alabama
Original rank: 1
Record since 2016: 41–3
Conference titles: 2
College Football Playoff appearances: 3
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 3
National titles: 1
Major contributors: LB Mack Wilson, OT Jonah Williams, LB Terrell Lewis, DT Raekwon Davis, CB Trevon Diggs, CB Shyheim Carter, DT Quinnen Williams, QB Jalen Hurts, RB Josh Jacobs, TE Irv Smith.
2. Ohio State
Original rank: 4
Record since 2016: 37–5
Conference titles: 2
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 3
National titles: 0
Major contributors: DE Nick Bosa, DE Jonathan Cooper, WR Austin Mack, QB Dwayne Haskins, WR Binjimen Victor, C Michael Jordan, OG Malcolm Pridgeon, TE Luke Farrell, LB Tuf Borland, S Jordan Fuller, P Drue Chrisman.
3. Oklahoma
Original rank: 19
Record since 2016: 35–4
Conference titles: 3
College Football Playoff appearances: 2
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 3
National titles: 0
Major contributors: LB Caleb Kelly, S Jordan Parker, DE Amani Bledsoe, CB Parnell Motley, OG Ben Powers, LB Emmanuel Beal.
I know what you’re thinking. Five starters from a defense that wasn’t all that good and one starter from an offensive line that was very good? THAT gets Oklahoma the No. 3 spot?
No. The Sooners are here because one of the scholarships intended for this class was used on a transfer from Texas A&M who wasn’t officially part of the signing class and grew into the best player in America in ’18. Quarterback Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy with one of the most dominant individual performances the sport has ever seen, and even if Oklahoma hadn’t brought in a single other player in ’16, Murray’s presence would be enough to get it on this list.
4. Clemson
Original rank: 11
Record since 2016: 41–3
Conference titles: 3
College Football Playoff appearances: 3
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 3
National titles: 2
Major contributors: DT Dexter Lawrence, RB Tavien Feaster, LB Tre Lamar, CB Trayvon Mullen, OG John Simpson, OG Sean Pollard, DT Nyles Pinckney, S Isaiah Simmons, OT Tremayne Anchrum, S K’Von Wallace.
5. Notre Dame
Original rank: 15
Record since 2016: 26–12
Conference titles: Not applicable
College Football Playoff appearances: 1
New Year’s Six bowl appearances: 1
National titles: 0
Major contributors: OT Liam Eichenberg, WR Chase Claypool, DE Khalid Kareem, CB Troy Pride, DE Julian Okwara, CB Julian Love, S Jalen Elliott, DB Devin Studstill, QB Ian Book.
The DBs in this class got thrown into the fire as freshmen and endured a miserable year. But it made them stronger. Julian Love turned into one of the nation’s best breaker-uppers. Eichenberg, meanwhile, replaced first-rounder Mike McGlinchey at left tackle and the offense kept humming. But the biggest find in this class probably was the California quarterback that then-Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford ID’d while working at Boise State. The Irish only offered Book after they missed out on a few higher-rated quarterbacks, but they’re certainly glad now that all those other guys said no thanks.
ND finally gets some recruiting ranking love.. I'd rather the class be top 10 in retrospect. It's always cool to look back and see how accurate these rankings are or aren't...
