Does size matter? No. But apparently “exposure” DOES matter to recruits these days. Are recruits trying to win a national title? Or are they trying to make it to the NFL? The answer is probably “both” to the vast majority of players. What’s becoming poignantly obvious is that recruits are sending the impression that the ONLY way to achieve both sets of goals is to attend one of the schools in the “Power Five” conferences. Not. So. Fast. Our friends. Take a look at the link to the story below and tell us if making a Power Five roster is the end-all be-all.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/22/8743525/nfl-two-star-recruits

Memphis, Houston, Temple and Toledo are a combined 28-0. Behind them in the “Group of Five” rankings are Appalachian State, Boise State, Bowling Green, Marshall and Navy. Every single one of those teams with the exception of Houston have boys from Florida littered though out their rosters. Even Boise State has seven players from the Sunshine State. Over 30-percent of the Top 100 teams in 247’s Recruiting Rankings are based out of the “Group of Five”–aka the teams that aren’t in one of the conferences that are currently printing their own money with TV deals.

The top five teams in this week’s “Group of Five” are a combined 34-1 this season, with Memphis, Houston, Temple and Toledo all undefeated. The first three teams are all ranked in the top 25 as well. Temple’s game with Notre Dame is now in primetime. Yes, THAT Temple. The way that recruits fawn over the Power Five schools is akin to a crush–much of that having to do with lure of primetime and 80,000+ people in the stands each and every week.

If this were a political debate, the platform that the “Group of Five” could run on is that there is no more middle class. The Power Five have separated themselves financially from the rest of the conferences creating a divide and the perception that unless you’re at one of the “cool schools” –star-rating or no stars– it’s not considered to be a “successful” recruitment process. The perception that’s out there is that recruits “settle” for one of the “lesser” schools. The way that 3-4-5 star recruits lineup to bought and paid for by the “Fortune 500” schools within the power five can be alarming. Again, re-read that SBNation article 1,000 times over-and-over if you need proof that only those factories will be the best fit.

A shift in the paradigm is gradually taking place though. It may be cyclical like recruiting, but it may be a trend that’s here to last. Recruits should take a long and hard look at the schools ranked in the Top 100 team recruiting rankings that are climbing the charts. If you think that the SEC, Pac-12, Big-12, ACC and Big-10 are the only validation for your recruitment, think again.

Take a look at the 34 non-Power 5 teams that are currently on 247’s Top 100 Recruiting Rankings (as of 10/27).

40. Houston
49. BYU
51. Western Michigan
56. SMU
63. Louisiana Tech
64. Cincinnati
65. Toledo
66. Colorado State
68. Boise State
70. Tulane
71. Miami(OH)
72. Old Dominion
75. East Carolina
77. Southern Mississippi
78. Georgia Southern
79. Western Kentucky
80. Marshall
81. Appalachian State
82. South Florida
83. Memphis
84. Nevada
86. Arkansas State
87. Texas State
88. Rice
89. Temple
90. Tulsa
91. Navy
92. Florida International
93. Louisiana-Lafayette
94. San Diego State
96. Buffalo
97. Bowling Green
99. Ball State
100. Middle Tennessee State