Michigan landed the nation’s top-ranked recruit. The Wolverines scored one of the best classes it has had in years. It celebrated its latest recruiting efforts with an A-List fundraiser with Tom Brady, Derek Jeter and Ric Flair. Jim Harbaugh has Michigan making plenty of noise with his recruiting tactics on the road. Despite all of the attention given to what Harbaugh and Michigan are doing, at the end of the day it is still Ohio State sitting atop the recruiting game when it comes to the Big Ten.
Michigan gave Ohio State a good run in the recruiting rankings, but the Buckeyes managed to stay just ahead of their bitter rivals to the north. According to the Rivals team rankings, Ohio State finished in third in the nation behind only recruiting national champion Alabama and Florida State (the Seminoles pushed past Ohio State earlier in the day). Urban Meyer‘s latest prized haul included two five-star players (LB Keandre Jones and DE Nick Bosa, the younger brother of Joey Bosa). The Buckeyes also added 15 four-star recruits in a class of 24. Michigan landed 28 additions in the Class of 2016, including a handful of signing day decisions, highlighted by Rashan Gary choosing Michigan over Clemson.
Every year since 2011, Ohio State has landed the top-rated recruiting class in the Big Ten. The last time the Buckeyes didn’t land the top class was the Class of 2010, which came at the end of the Jim Tressel era. Ohio State has had the top-ranked class in the Big Ten all but one year since 2008. For the past few years, the Buckeyes were largely in a boat all to themselves in the recruiting rankings, but this year did show Ohio State has some rejuvenated competition on the recruiting trail within the conference.
Michigan’s resurgence was expected under Harbaugh, but Michigan State also landed another quality recruiting class to hold its own, with just 18 commitments to finish third in the Big Ten pecking order. James Franklin and Penn State had some hurdles down the stretch, but the Nittany Lions landed the conference’s fourth-best recruiting class. The top four classes in the Big Ten all reside in the east. Nebraska and Wisconsin followed to represent the west.
As we now get set to turn the page to the Class of 2017, the question will now become whether or not Michigan can take that next step at challenging Ohio State. This obviously begins on the field this season, but will continue on the recruiting trail as well.