Big Ten Daily (Dec. 21): Ohio State Still Holds Highest Recruiting Power

For the fifth straight season, Ohio State owns the Big Ten's top-ranked recruiting class. Ryan Day says it's because he puts such a premium on hiring great recruiters.

Some things may never change in the Big Ten. Although Ohio State hasn't won a conference title since 2020, the Buckeyes are still the most prolific recruiters in the league.

Ohio State maintained its seat in the recruiting throne after Early Signing Day. The Buckeyes own the top-ranked 2024 class in the Big Ten and currently sit fourth nationally, per 247Sports' Composite Rankings.

The Buckeyes received 19 signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. They also received a confirmed commitment from five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, the nation's No. 1 overall player for the class.

“Ultimately, we want to have the best roster in the country come August," Day said, per Yahoo Sports.

Ohio State has had no trouble with accumulating talent under Day. It has owned the conference's top-ranked recruiting class each of the last five seasons. Considering the Buckeyes' recent "struggles," it is a touch surprising.

Yes, "struggles" is a loose term. The Buckeyes have lost just five games in that span — but three of those came against Michigan. So, it's a tad surprising that the Wolverines have stolen the scepter as the Big Ten's top program, but continue lagging behind in the recruiting department.

Day has made it clear that the most important aspect of college football is recruiting. That's why Ohio State continues to find so much success on the trail, despite failing to win a conference crown in the last three years.

“The first thing is recruiting,” Day said. “That’s the No. 1 thing. You have to recruit [the] position [you coach]. You are the head coach of your position. It is your job to have the best room in the country. When you are at Ohio State and you are coaching the receivers, it should be ‘Wide Receiver U.’ If you are coaching the linebackers, it should be ‘Linebacker U.’”

Chargers Reportedly Interested in Harbaugh

It's time to fire up the ol' rumor mill again! As is customary at this time every year, Jim Harbaugh's name has been mentioned in the same sentence as an NFL team.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported this week that the Los Angeles Chargers are interested in hiring Harbaugh as the next head coach. And while Michigan fans are probably tired of hearing these rumors each and every season, there might be more validity to this one.

"The #Chargers have interest in Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh, per sources," Schultz reported. "It’s unclear if the feeling is mutual, as Harbaugh gets set to coach the Wolverines in their third consecutive College Football Playoff appearance."

Why is it different this year? Harbaugh was suspended for six games this season for various reasons. Michigan self-imposed a three-game suspension for alleged recruiting violations that occurred during the pandemic.

Near the end of the season, the Big Ten slapped the coach with another three-game penalty for Michigan's sign-stealing scandal. Additionally, the NCAA notified the school of Level I allegations against Harbaugh regarding the previously-mentioned recruiting violations.

Does Harbaugh really want to deal with this mess moving forward? Or is it time to jump ahead to the NFL and get one more chance to win a Super Bowl?

While Harbaugh has generally seemed committed to Michigan in the past, it's much easier to believe he'll ditch Ann Arbor at the end of the season and return to the NFL in 2024.

"I Win. Google Me."

Let's not spend too much time here, but Curt Cignetti might have had the best quote from Signing Day. The new Indiana coach oozes with confidence and isn't afraid to show it.

Cignetti was asked what would attract recruits to play at Indiana. That's when he dropped the best line of the day.

'It's pretty simple, I win. Google me," he said.

When you type his name into a Google search, his 52-9 record at James Madison pops up. He led the Dukes to three NCAA playoff appearances at the FCS level. This season, James Madison finished with an 11-1 record in its second year in the Sun Belt.

Whether you love the confidence or hate the cockiness, this is exactly what Indiana needs. Cignetti is a coach unafraid of the competition. It's a spark that fans can rally around heading into next season.

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