temptation

Not wanting to start a firestorm but how many of the aforementioned “smaller schools” were private?

I like you man but you are acting purposefully dense in this case. I am all for giving the little guys “love” but this is a national ranking system that is taking results from all 50 states and ranking teams hypothetically so that guys like you and I can debate fictional head to head matchups on a forum to get us to next fall’s first day of practice. Even the Luers teams with Smith would be hard pressed to crack the national top 100, let alone defeat Indiana’s premier 5A/6A programs and I say that with ZERO disrespect to Luers. This is all hypothetical of course but it’s pretty cut and dry when it comes to sustained success. Just because teams like LC and Fishers don’t boast the state championships of Luers and LCC doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy of their ranking here. Most central Indy 5A/6A sectionals and regionals are loaded so great teams go home early. Case in point, Brownsburg and Cathedral this past fall.

Locally, perhaps. But this is rewarding consistent success at the national level unless I am somehow mistaken.

I was referring to travel, more so than competitiveness, though that is a long way just to get your butt kicked. Longer drive, same result. 90+ minutes one way…hopefully they’d host.

I’m too lazy right now but would love to see a side by side (by side) comparison of CG/WC/BD even if it’s only dating back to 2007. Wins, state titles, recruits, etc…

You’d expect Indiana small schools to make this list? Really?

Looks like they lost 400+ students since the last count? That’s pretty significant. Poor Anderson if true, lol.

Great stuff as always. Just curious what year you started compiling this as I am fascinated by CG being ahead of Warren/Ben Davis.

Michigan's NIL is all about once you get on campus...as it should be. There are few, if any, up front guarantees and they will not/have not (to my knowledge) gotten into a bidding war over a recruit. They can empty the pocketbook and compete with any of the teams on @Bash Riprock's list once a student athlete gets on campus and starts performing. Now, my head is not that deep in the sand and I am not under any impression that Michigan is this clean, virtuous program but I can say that the culture of players currently on the football team is the best its been in my lifetime. They rarely get a half dozen "5 stars" like the big 3-4, rather their fair share of 3-4 stars with something to prove. They are amidst the best stretch in program history "barely" have a top 20 class... The folks on the OSU insider message boards stated that Smith is getting nearly $2 million up front as part of his "deal" with Ohio State. Could be rumor an innuendo, but I would not be surprised one bit if its accurate.

Yes, but the way they structure their NIL is vastly different than the pay for play schools you just listed. The reason Michigan is so successful in the transfer portal is that they get a second crack at kids who took the bag when recruited the first time out of high school. Ohio State just got in a public bidding war with two Florida schools for a 5 star WR. He "verbally committed" in the early afternoon and signed right before bed time because he "wanted to make sure the structure of the NIL deal OSU promised was in place." This is NOT how NIL was intended.

Please don’t lump Michigan in with that group.

CTE? White guys get Mahomes, right?

Nappanee (Ind.) Northwood’s Jo'Ziah Edmond was a sleeper for much of his recruitment, but following a strong junior season where he dominated on both sides of the ball at wide receiver and defensive back, he started to see offers come his way. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder would go on to commit to Purdue and first-year head coach Ryan Walters. However, his rapid progression, measurables and intriguing skill-set caught the attention of others such as Michigan and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale. “After talking it over with Michigan and hearing about the academics and getting to know the coaches, this was the better decision for me,” Edmond told 247Sports. “There are better chances for me to get a better degree and then football wise, it’s a dream school for me. Seeing that and being able to say I’m a graduate from Michigan with a diploma and then doing big things with football, those are both big accomplishments.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1GB_k5rl7L/?igshid=NzBmMjdhZWRiYQ==

Yet combat sports like MMA and the UFC are more popular than ever...

Definitely not looking good for James and only gonna get harder with the west coasters coming in next year.

Just an embarrassment all around… I wonder how many parents who fall in the "football is too dangerous" crowd pump their kids full of sugar and saturated fats 24 hours a day and let them sit around on video games and YouTube.

Does Penn dominate the NIC in most sports? I assume so but wanted to ask.

Too lazy to look up and figured you had it at your fingertips but how did other top 100 teams match up with IMG relative to how BD did?

Great stuff as always. Loved following this fall.

I heard $15 million instead of $20 but could be wrong.

Rumors of Tom Allen to PSU as DC.

McCulley staying put, good call.

Well deserved. Cherry (Center Grove) 2nd, and Clark (Crown Point) 3rd.

"People"? We are talking about the new HC of the Hoosiers here. Stay on topic.