Where Utah And The Former Pac-12 Teams Rank In Recruiting In The Big 12
The Utah Utes are one of four Pac-12 teams that will be joining the Big 12 in 2024, following the collapse of the conference.
Their departure comes after Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff was unable to secure a media rights deal or add expansion programs. The commissioner of what is now a two-team conference consisting of Washington State and Oregon State had somewhere around a year to figure something out, with eight programs all seemingly willing to wait for a deal to happen, but unfortunately, incompetence and lack of urgency sealed the conference's fate.
Joining Utah in the Big 12 will be Colorado who was the first to leave, and the two Arizona programs. With early signing day having come and gone, it is clear that the four new Big 12 schools have some work to be done in the recruiting department.
Here is where the four new Big 12 schools rank in recruiting according to 247Sports' Composite Rankings.
Colorado
Big 12 Rank: #16
National Rank: #102
Deion Sanders is more so focused on building through the transfer portal as Colorado has the No. 2 transfer class. However, their six high school recruits do hold the highest average rating in the conference.
Utah
Big 12 Rank: #13
National Rank: #63
A year after having the No. 20 class in the country, Utah didn't hit the trail nearly as hard. They too are looking for portal help, as they currently have just four transfers in their class. Now granted they are a program built on development, so if anyone can make it work; it's the Utes.
Arizona State
Big 12 Rank: #8
National Rank: #52
If you haven't sensed a theme here, these programs are well aware that adding a few portal pieces is the more sensible route for them. Arizona State has the No. 9 transfer class, while their recruiting will take some work over the next couple years.
Arizona
Big 12 Rank: #6
National Rank: #49
The Wildcats hold the top spot in terms of the four new teams, but still weren't able to crack the top five in the Big 12. Losing five-star Elijah Rushing to Oregon didn't do the class many favors, but they may have some work to be done in the portal as their class ranks as the No. 55 class in the country.