Amid conference realignment that is changing college football, we decided to rank the top 10 recruiting classes over the past decade for each Power 5 conference.
We recently evaluated our recruiting class rankings, considering how player rankings translated into actual production and how well each class did in the win column over the course of four years.
In the Big 12, it quickly became apparent Oklahoma has taken advantage of its opportunity to attract and sign highly ranked prospects with consistent finishes at the top of both the recruiting and football standings.
Meanwhile, rival Oklahoma State proved that identifying and developing three-star prospects can still lead to success on Saturdays.
Oklahoma placing several classes on this list was not a surprise, but how few Texas did was a bit shocking. Despite being a high-profile program with a rich history of success, the Longhorns did not win a single conference title over this span and their recruiting classes underwhelmed when you look at overall production.
Here are the top 10 recruiting classes in the Big 12 over the past decade.
1. Oklahoma, 2014
Class of 2014 ranking: 13
Top offensive prospect: RB Joe Mixon (No. 53)
Top defensive prospect: S Steven Parker (No. 139)
This recruiting class finished No. 13 in our final rankings but outperformed the mark. The milestones on the field are among the best in Sooner history: three conference championships over a four-year span, as well as three top-five national finishes and a pair of College Football Playoff appearances. This talented class boasted a few impact running backs in Mixon and Samaje Perine, the school's all-time leading rusher. The massive Orlando Brown Jr. developed from a three-star recruit into a multiyear starter at left tackle and a unanimous first-team All-American selection. On defense, safety Parker was a four-year starter in a class that really hit on its back seven. This class also gets bonus points, as this was the year Heisman Trophy winner QB Baker Mayfield arrived on campus via transfer from Texas Tech.