Recruiting paths differ among nation's nine undefeated teams

Every football team starts the season without a loss. It doesn’t take long for that number to whittle down, however. Eight weeks into the 2016 college football season, just nine unbeaten FBS teams remain. They range from defending national champion Alabama to often forgotten Western Michigan. Below is a look at the recruiting roads the Tide, Broncos and the seven schools in between walked in order to get to this point.

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RANKINGS: 2017 team rankings | 2017 Rivals250

Record: 8-0

Average recruiting ranking last four years: 1.25

Notes: The correlation here is obvious. Alabama has looked like the most talented team in the country by far and its recruiting classes back it up. The fact that the Crimson Tide have received next to nothing out of former No. 1 overall player Da'Shawn Hand has illustrated how deep the program's recent classes have been. If it looks like Nick Saban has Rivals100 players all over the field on Saturdays, it’s because he does. Former five-star Calvin Ridley leads the team in both catches and receiving yards while freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts, a breakout star, is a former Rivals250 member. The Tide’s smothering defense is peppered with five-star athletes.

Record: 7-0

Average recruiting ranking last four years: 22.75

Notes: Despite the relatively low average ranking, Michigan has hauled in two top five classes in the last four years. The leader of the defense is fringe Heisman Trophy candidate Jabrill Peppers, the No. 3 player in the 2014 class, and the Wolverines have placed an influx of young talent all over the field. Jim Harbaugh’s recruiting efforts have been well publicized and there is no more aggressive coach when it comes to landing top talent. The scary thing for other Big Ten teams – and the rest of the country, really – is that Michigan’s momentum still seems to be waxing.

Record: 7-0

Average recruiting ranking last four years: 9.25

Notes: Clemson has not struggled to recruit in recent years, but landing five-star quarterback Deshaun Watson looks extra important these days. Watson led Clemson to a national championship appearance last year and has the Tigers undefeated in 2016. Five-star Ray-Ray McCloud III headlines Clemson’s 2014 class, its highest-ranked haul in history, and currently has 32 catches for 339 yards through seven games of his sophomore season.

Record: 7-0

Average recruiting ranking last four years: 30.75

Notes: It could be argued that Washington is the biggest overachiever of the remaining undefeated teams. The Huskies underwent a coaching change in late 2013 and haven’t exactly blown anyone away on the recruiting trail in recent years. Then, that’s sort of Chris Petersen’s calling card. That said, his current team isn’t even close to void of talent. Quarterback Jake Browning, a former Rivals100 prospect, leads the Huskies. Former three-star running back Myles Gaskin has far outplayed his ranking this season and the Washington defense has created turnovers with regularity.

Record: 7-0

Average recruiting ranking last four years: 25.75

Notes: The Huskers have hovered around the low end of top 25 classes for years. Nebraska has landed its share of major prospects and filled the gaps with players that have outperformed their rankings. Nebraska’s defense has helped lead the way for the team’s resurgence. Defensive back Kieron Williams leads the Big Ten with four interceptions. Williams was a two-star prospect coming out of high school and unranked as a prep school athlete. Former Rivals100 running back Terrell Newby leads the Huskers in rushing and is averaging roughly five yards per carry this season.

Record: 6-0

Average recruiting ranking last four years: 41

Notes: Baylor’s rise to prominence coincides with its steady rise in the recruiting rankings. And while the Bears have not ever recruited at a truly elite level, they had been quickly climbing the ladder until scandal struck earlier this year. A healthy portion of the team’s biggest contributors were lauded high school stars, including leading wide receiver KD Cannon, the No. 34 player in the 2014 class. Safety Orion Stewart was ranked as a two-star in 2012 and now leads the Big 12 in interceptions with four, including one for a touchdown.

Record: 6-0

Average recruiting ranking last four years: 34.5

Notes: West Virginia’s move to the Big 12 gave it a subtle recruiting boost and now that the Mountaineers are rattling off wins, their stock continues to improve with high school prospects. Dynamic quarterback Skyler Howard was a three-star prospect coming out of junior college in 2014 and listed WVU as his only Power Five offer. Rushel Shell, a redshirt senior that was a high four-star in the class of 2012, has impressed in recent weeks and has shown incredible versatility. He chose the Mountaineers over a long list of other major offers, including one from Alabama.

Record: 7-0

Average recruiting ranking last four years: 62.75

Notes: The Broncos haven’t played the same, tough schedule as some of the other teams listed here, but the zero they’ve posted in the loss column counts just the same. Quarterback Brett Rypien was a Rivals100 prospect in the class of 2015. He currently leads the Mountain West in both passing yards and quarterback rating. David Moa, a former two-star prospect, has seven sacks and is one of the anchors of a solid Broncos defense.

Record: 8-0

Average recruiting ranking last four years: 68

Notes: Western Michigan jumped from a No. 102 recruiting finish in 2013 to 62nd in 2014. The program will never compete with the elite on the recruiting trail but the jolt is certainly significant. As is often the case with transcendent Group of Five teams, the Broncos are led by players that are outperforming their respective recruiting rankings. Former two-star quarterback Zach Terrell has thrown 20 touchdowns and just one interception, while defensive end Keion Adams, who didn’t have a Rivals profile as a high school player, leads the team with 5.5 sacks.

RANKINGS: 2017 team rankings | 2017 Rivals250