How does OSU’s rankings compare to the Pac 12 conference? After all, most of OSU’s schedule is against conference foes so how the program measures up against conference teams is important.
One way that we might be able to better assess how OSU has fared in recruiting is by comparing the national recruiting ranking of OSU with an index or average of the conference rankings rather than raw position in the ranking standings. The problem with using a positional ranking is that it doesn’t give you the best assessment of strength of OSU’s class relative to the strength of the conference in recruiting.
Below is a sortable table of this data for your consideration:
National Recruiting Rankings (Rivals) for OSU, Pac-10/12, Delta
| Year | OSU rank | Pac 12 Mean | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 52 | 35 | -17 |
| 2003 | 51 | 37 | -15 |
| 2005 | 47 | 36 | -12 |
| 2006 | 41 | 34 | -7 |
| 2007 | 47 | 39 | -8 |
| 2008 | 52 | 35 | -17 |
| 2009 | 54 | 41 | -13 |
| 2010 | 44 | 33 | -11 |
| 2011 | 56 | 40 | -16 |
| 2012 | 39 | 27 | -12 |
| 2013 | 39 | 36 | -3 |
| 2014 | 54 | 38 | -16 |
| 2015 | 71 | 34 | -37 |
| 2016 | 41 | 34 | -7 |
| Mean | 49 | 36 | -14 |
Compared to the Pac 12 mean national recruiting ranking, OSU averages 14 spots below the conference average in national ranking. How close OSU is to the average might be an indication of the talent level and potential competitiveness. Based on these criteria, the 2016 class ranks historically high in relation to our conference competitors and is tied for 2nd all-time in that category.
