Eight teams that will benefit from Riley's exit at Nebraska

The Mike Riley era in Nebraska wasn’t particularly long or memorable, as the Huskers decided to remove their head coach following his third year with the program. The ensuing uncertainty should breed opportunity for a number of other programs.

Below, Rivals.com takes a look at five teams that could benefit from the changing of the guard in Lincoln.

FULL COVERAGE OF NEBRASKA'S FIRING OF MIKE RILEY: What happens to Calibraska movement? | Mind of Mike | Who is next in Lincoln? | Riley's failure to develop QBs | Recruiting misses that doomed Riley | Which teams will benefit? | Recruiting busts under Riley | HUSKERONLINE.COM

Missouri wades in the same geographical recruiting pool as the Huskers and seem to lose an in-state player or two to Nebraska every year. Missouri has had its struggles this year – although finished strong. But misery loves company, and having one less stable hand in their recruiting cookie jar is a welcomed development. Nebraska currently holds a commitment from Missouri-based four star Mario Goodrich, but there’s no telling how much this move will effect his status.

Nebraska commit Brendan Radley-Hiles has decommitted from Nebraska and has long been flirting with OU and that along is enough to land the Sooners on this list. The No. 30 player in America, Radley-Hiles is a free agent of sorts and taking a hard look at the Sooners (as well as some other programs). OU stands gain a big piece here.

Having Mike Riley out of Lincoln will make some people in Westwood smile, as Nebraska had started moving into the Los Angeles recruiting pool in recent years. There may not have been a pile of on-field victories under Riley, but the Huskers' former staff found some level of recruiting success in California, often at the expense of UCLA. Most of the damage on this from was done a year ago, but Bruins have to see a change in UNL regime as the removal of a pesky gnat.

The law of midwestern Big Ten teams mandates that Iowa makes this list. In a lot of ways, Nebraska and Iowa are comparable programs. It’s why they find themselves competing for recruits multiple times each year. The schools recruit the same areas of Texas and pick over the upper midwest as well. Logic dictates that it’s certainly possible for the Hawkeyes to find themselves in the running for a prospect or two should the Huskers see a rush of broken commitments in the weeks ahead.

Baylor, which is fresh of an absolute disaster of a season, is going to need all the help it can get when it comes to selling the program. And while what’s taking place in Nebraska won’t be much help, the Bears will be more than happy to have one less out-of-state school coming after the second and third-tier prospects in the area. Nebraska’s upcoming hire could easily make life worse for the Bears and a number of other schools on this list, but the period of uncertainty months before Signing Day isn’t insignificant.

While Nebraska maintained a recruiting presence out West long before Riley came to Lincoln, the former Oregon State coach doubled down on the Cornhusker’s efforts in that region, utilizing long-established connections from his years coaching in the Pac-12. That put him head-to-head on the recruiting trail with Todd Graham and the Arizona State Sun Devils maybe as much as any school. At least from a recruiting standpoint, it is unlikely Graham is shedding any tears over Riley’s dismissal as it should lessen the competition for top prospects in the traditional Pac-12 footprint.

Iowa State and Nebraska have not been recruiting on the same level in recent years, but the trajectory of both programs are angling toward each other with Matt Campbell having the Cyclones competing at a higher level and Nebraska in transition. At least for the moment, the two schools could find themselves in contention for many of the same players due to the proximity of the two campuses. Iowa State does not have as strong of a presence out West, outside of the JUCO ranks, as Nebraska does, but they are heavily involved in the same regions of Texas and their home recruiting bases overlap.

P.J. Fleck is the first-year head man in the Twin Cities and he is in the process of building Minnesota's recruiting foundation. There are few gifts more valuable in recruiting than having one of the other major players in the region going through a major transition. The amount of FBS talent that can drive to Minneapolis and Lincoln is minimal compared to most of the rest of the country, and competition for that talent is intense. No matter who Nebraska brings in or what their recruiting philosophy is, Fleck will have a full year head start on building his recruiting foundation in the region.