re: Rank the programs' likelihood of winning a national championship

quote:

---

Arkansas (1964)
Clemson (1981)
Georgia (1980)
Ole Miss (1960)
Texas A&M (1939)
UCLA (1954)

---

A&M
Clemson
Georgia
Arkansas
Ole Miss
UCLA


A&M winning the recruiting battle in the most talented state in the country goes a long way. Their problem is that the SEC West is a Murderer's Row these days between them, LSU, Alabama, and Auburn, amongst others.


Clemson has inroads into Florida as well as SC being fairly fertile recruiting grounds these days. Playing in the ACC gives them more opportunities to be in a title game if they win out, as opposed to being in the slaughterhouse that is the SEC.


Georgia is the clear leader in another talent-rich state and can pull from next-door Florida. Their road isn't as bumpy as A&M because Florida and Tennessee are at low points.


Arky has inroads into Texas and has done well but the addition of A&M to the West makes their road that much harder every season. Arkansas having poor in-state talent does not help.


Ole Miss is at a severe disadvantage because MS HS football sucks compared to every other SEC state. It's also hard for them to recruit neighboring states because you have powers like Alabama, Auburn, and LSU right there along with Tennessee and Arkansas.


UCLA is in a prime location, as California in general and Los Angeles in particular are recruiting hotbeds, but they will be the little brother as long as USC isn't screwing themselves up since USC put together that huge run in the 2000s.

Couple that with powers like Oregon eating everyone's lunch at recruiting and you're looking at an uphill battle.