SB Nation Bill Connelly Ranks USC Over Washington Football

There’s A Flaw In My Ranking

Much of the assessment in this case is to look at the team’s losses and gains via player attrition and recruitment, and then factor in the past season performance.  While that works in an “All Things Equal” environment, there is a distinct flaw in the assessment.

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Recruiting classes are based on individual athleticism. But it’s no more indicative of NCAA success then an NFL Combine translates into the next NFL Superbowl team.  Coaching, scheme, discipline, and focus become key elements of any team assessment.  It has been clear that Coach Petersen gets far more from his players than USC gets from their higher ranked recruits on an annual basis, and have for some time.

Coaching Advantage: Washington

In similar fashion, ESPN has run a similar sort of ranking earlier in the year.  They too look at recruiting class and team performance.

But the analytics fail to integrate the added value of the team coaching staff. There is no other way to explain the simple truth that USC continues to recruit higher ranked classes to the sunshine-minded prospects of southern California.  But come game day, it’s the Washington Huskies who produce more convincingly.