Here's how the conferences stack up over the past 5 years based on the Rivals ratings of the team recruiting classes in the respective conferences:
Team: 5-Year AVG (2006 rank; 2007 rank; 2008 rank; 2009 rank; 2010 rank)
Big 12
Texas: 6.4 (5; 5; 14; 5; 3)
Oklahoma: 9.8 (9; 14; 6; 13; 7)
Nebraska: 22.6 (20; 13; 30; 28; 22)
Texas A&M: 24.6 (26; 43; 16; 22; 16)
Oklahoma State: 29.0 (22; 30; 26; 36; 31)
Missouri: 33.2 (47; 33; 25; 40; 21)
Texas Tech: 39.2 (25; 52; 45; 33; 41)
Colorado: 41.8 (48; 32; 15; 48; 66)
Kansas: 42.8 (38; 50; 40; 31; 55)
Kansas State: 52.6 (43; 38; 27; 92; 63)
Baylor: 55.4 (68; 64; 51; 55; 39)
Iowa State: 63.6 (63; 60; 62; 73; 60)
Big 12 5-year Mean Avg: 35.1
Big 12 5-year Median Avg: 36.2
Pac 10
USC: 3.2 (1; 2; 8; 4; 1)
UCLA: 18.4 (17; 40; 13; 14; 8)
Oregon: 24.8 (49; 11; 19; 32; 13)
Cal: 25.6 (19; 22; 34; 42; 11)
Arizona State: 31.8 (28; 45; 21; 30; 35)
Arizona: 36.6 (18; 44; 39; 45; 37)
Washington: 38.2 (35; 36; 24; 68; 28)
Stanford: 40.4 (54; 51; 50; 20; 27)
Oregon State: 47.6 (41; 47; 52; 54; 44)
Washington State: 75.2 (45; 62; 87; 92; 90)
Pac 10 5-year Mean Avg: 34.2
Pac 10 5-year Median Avg: 34.2
Other CU 2010 Opponents
Colorado State: 88.2 (87; 105; 90; 101; 58)
Hawaii: 82.4 (110; 73; 72; 92; 65)
Georgia: 8.2 (4; 9; 7; 6; 15)
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Conclusions:
Over the past 5 years, the Pac 10 has slightly out-recruited the Big 12, but it's pretty even. Big 12 is a bit more top heavy, with 2 teams averaging a Top 10 class and the Pac 10 is stronger in the middle (with USC skewing toward the top but WSU skewing down just as strongly).
For CU's 2010 schedule, we should have an overall talent advantage against 6 of our 12 opponents. Texas Tech and Missouri have slightly out-recruited us, but our veteran classes are more highly ranked (2006-08). CU should be at a talent disadvantage versus Cal, Georgia, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Team: 5-Year AVG (2006 rank; 2007 rank; 2008 rank; 2009 rank; 2010 rank)
Big 12
Texas: 6.4 (5; 5; 14; 5; 3)
Oklahoma: 9.8 (9; 14; 6; 13; 7)
Nebraska: 22.6 (20; 13; 30; 28; 22)
Texas A&M: 24.6 (26; 43; 16; 22; 16)
Oklahoma State: 29.0 (22; 30; 26; 36; 31)
Missouri: 33.2 (47; 33; 25; 40; 21)
Texas Tech: 39.2 (25; 52; 45; 33; 41)
Colorado: 41.8 (48; 32; 15; 48; 66)
Kansas: 42.8 (38; 50; 40; 31; 55)
Kansas State: 52.6 (43; 38; 27; 92; 63)
Baylor: 55.4 (68; 64; 51; 55; 39)
Iowa State: 63.6 (63; 60; 62; 73; 60)
Big 12 5-year Mean Avg: 35.1
Big 12 5-year Median Avg: 36.2
Pac 10
USC: 3.2 (1; 2; 8; 4; 1)
UCLA: 18.4 (17; 40; 13; 14; 8)
Oregon: 24.8 (49; 11; 19; 32; 13)
Cal: 25.6 (19; 22; 34; 42; 11)
Arizona State: 31.8 (28; 45; 21; 30; 35)
Arizona: 36.6 (18; 44; 39; 45; 37)
Washington: 38.2 (35; 36; 24; 68; 28)
Stanford: 40.4 (54; 51; 50; 20; 27)
Oregon State: 47.6 (41; 47; 52; 54; 44)
Washington State: 75.2 (45; 62; 87; 92; 90)
Pac 10 5-year Mean Avg: 34.2
Pac 10 5-year Median Avg: 34.2
Other CU 2010 Opponents
Colorado State: 88.2 (87; 105; 90; 101; 58)
Hawaii: 82.4 (110; 73; 72; 92; 65)
Georgia: 8.2 (4; 9; 7; 6; 15)
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Conclusions:
Over the past 5 years, the Pac 10 has slightly out-recruited the Big 12, but it's pretty even. Big 12 is a bit more top heavy, with 2 teams averaging a Top 10 class and the Pac 10 is stronger in the middle (with USC skewing toward the top but WSU skewing down just as strongly).
For CU's 2010 schedule, we should have an overall talent advantage against 6 of our 12 opponents. Texas Tech and Missouri have slightly out-recruited us, but our veteran classes are more highly ranked (2006-08). CU should be at a talent disadvantage versus Cal, Georgia, Oklahoma and Nebraska.