With college football's national signing day next week, Alabama and Ohio State own the top two recruiting classes in the 2021 cycle.
Alabama has brought in the top-ranked recruiting class six times since 2006, the first year in which ESPN has ranked college football recruiting classes and prospects.
Owning the top class brings great expectations, and as has been the case over the past 15 years, some of these highly touted classes have delivered, while others fell short.
We take a look back at our past top-rated classes and measure how they stacked up.
1. Alabama, 2017
Top-ranked offensive signee: OL Alex Leatherwood (No. 8)
Top-ranked defensive signee: LB Dylan Moses (No. 5)
This group included 21 ESPN 300 prospects, which at the time was a record. Alabama has -- and still is -- getting outstanding production from this class. Anchored by three five-star signees, this class quickly tasted success, winning a national title their freshman season with several of these signees playing key roles, including No. 1 dual-threat QB Tua Tagovailoa. This group has already notched two SEC titles with several players still on the roster and contributing to Alabama's current No. 1 ranking. Included in that group is the other quarterback Alabama signed in 2017, current Heisman contender and former four-star prospect Mac Jones. This class produced four first-round selections in this past spring's NFL draft (Tagovailoa, Jedrick Wills Jr., Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy) with potentially several more to come.
2. Florida, 2006
Top-ranked offensive signee: WR Percy Harvin (No. 2)
Top-ranked defensive signee: DE Jermaine Cunningham (No. 29)
The first No. 1 class in the ESPN 300 era and Urban Meyer's first full class produced great return in the Swamp. Florida's class was anchored by 17 four-star prospects, including six who ranked among the top five at their position. No. 1 WR Percy Harvin was one college football's most electric playmakers during his time. This class was part of two national championships, led by Heisman Trophy winner QB Tim Tebow, arguably one of the best college football players of all time.
3. Alabama, 2015
Top-ranked offensive signee: QB Blake Barnett (No. 14)
Top-ranked defensive signee: CB Kendall Sheffield (No. 12)
Among the 18 ESPN 300 prospects signed were 10 who ranked in the top five at their respective positions. Among that group were a few missteps who moved on, but overall, they supplied plenty of impact talent, including No. 1 WR Calvin Ridley. This class contributed to a great deal of success in Tuscaloosa, winning two national championships and three SEC titles. This class played in the championship game each year and produced multiple first-round NFL draft picks, including Ridley, CB Minkah Fitzpatrick and DL Daron Payne.
4. Alabama, 2014
Top-ranked offensive signee: OT Cam Robinson (No. 3)
Top-ranked defensive signee: DE Da'Shawn Hand (No. 6)
The Crimson Tide signed the most five-star recruits in any one class with five in this cycle, including No. 1 OT Cam Robinson and top-five CB Marlon Humphrey. Much of the talent in this class helped keep Alabama rolling on the field as they contributed to two national titles as well as three SEC titles. Special teams even got a boost from this class with All-SEC punter JK Scott.
5. Alabama, 2013
Top-ranked offensive signee: RB Derrick Henry (No. 9)
Top-ranked defensive signee: LB Reuben Foster (No. 16)
Over four seasons, this class never won fewer than 11 games and took home three SEC titles as well as a national title in 2015. Headlining the class were the MVPs of two of those SEC title games (Derrick Henry in 2015 and Reuben Foster in 2016), as well as Alabama's national title win (O.J. Howard on offense and Eddie Jackson on defense). Henry would also win the Heisman Trophy, while Howard, Foster and DL Jonathan Allen would go on to be first-round draft selections.
6. Alabama, 2012
Top-ranked offensive signee: WR Chris Black (No. 22)
Top-ranked defensive signee: S Landon Collins (No. 6)
This class, comprising 13 ESPN 300 prospects, brought in some impact talent on both sides of the ball, led by No. 1 safety Landon Collins. It would also mark the start of what has been a successful pipeline of wide receivers out of Florida coming to Tuscaloosa with the signing of Amari Cooper. Over the span of four seasons, they would help win two national titles and three SEC crowns.
7. LSU, 2009
Top-ranked offensive signee: ATH Russell Shepard (No. 3)
Top-ranked defensive signee: S Craig Loston (No. 7)
The Tigers have signed four top-five classes, but this group was their only No. 1, and it was built off in-state talent. It was led by three players who ranked at the top of their positions, including WR Rueben Randle, but this class also had great depth with some of its biggest impact performers coming a little farther down. In-state four-star Morris Claiborne won the Jim Thorpe Award. Barkevious Mingo was a top-10 NFL pick. Michael Brockers developed into a top defensive tackle and first-round NFL pick as well. Over the course of four seasons, this group had three double-digit win seasons and helped LSU win the 2011 SEC title.
8. Florida State, 2011
Top-ranked offensive signee: ATH Karlos Williams (No. 5)
Top-ranked defensive signee: DT Tim Jernigan (No. 17)
As Florida State fans currently endure tough times, it might be comforting to remember the Seminoles signed a productive top-rated class not that long ago. They signed eight of the top-20 players within the state of Florida, all of whom were in the top five at their respective position. Karlos Williams was a versatile contributor during his career, and No. 2-ranked DT Timmy Jernigan was an all-conference performer. This class would help Florida State win the 2013 national championship and three ACC titles as well.
9. Georgia, 2018
Top-ranked offensive signee: QB Justin Fields (No. 1)
Top-ranked defensive signee: CB Tyson Campbell (No. 9)
This was a difficult class to slot, as it was a talented group, but a few significant signees have vacated, notably No. 1 overall prospect Justin Fields, who has developed into a Heisman contender with Ohio State, and third-ranked OT Cade Mays. Among the 19 ESPN 300 prospects signed in this class, many have made an impact and already played in two SEC title games. Trey Hill and Jamaree Salyer, both in-state big men who ranked among the top 25 prospects overall, have started on the offensive line, while ESPN 300 LB Azeez Ojulari has developed into one of SEC's top defenders.
10. Alabama, 2019
Top-ranked offensive signee: OT Evan Neal (No. 4)
Top-ranked defensive signee: DL Antonio Alfano (No. 28)
The story is still being written for this class, but in less than two seasons, it has shown enough to round out the top 10. This class signed a record 24 ESPN 300 prospects and included six players who were top two at their respective positions. Five-star OL Evan Neal and No. 1 kicker Will Reichard quickly worked their way into the starting lineup. A few notable names have already moved on, but key signees such as LB Christian Harris, No. 4 safety Jordan Battle and four-star WR John Metchie III are playing key roles for a team currently ranked No. 1 in college football.
11. Florida, 2010
Top-ranked offensive signee: RB Mack Brown (No. 34)
Top-ranked defensive signee: LB Ronald Powell (No. 1)
The "greatest ever" label was being thrown around by many in the industry in regards to this group, and while meeting those expectations would have been tough, this class greatly underperformed. Eleven players were ranked top-five at their position, including several at the premium positions of defensive line and secondary. DT Sharrif Floyd was a strong, consistent performer, and five-star DT Dominique Easley flashed dominance at times, but in four seasons, this class topped eight wins only once.
12. USC, 2007
Top-ranked offensive signee: RB Joe McKnight (No. 1)
Top-ranked defensive signee: LB Chris Galippo (No. 2)
This class made headlines on signing day when the top three prospects overall inked their letters of intent. This group would help the Trojans win two straight Rose Bowls. A big pickup out of Louisiana, Joe McKnight, had a productive career at running back and in the return game. While LB Chris Galippo and RB Marc Tyler showed flashes, neither performed up to expectations. DE Everson Griffen was another top signee and a strong performer for the Trojans, but overall this class never quite met the lofty expectations of being ranked No. 1.
13. Clemson, 2020
Top-ranked offensive signee: RB DeMarkcus Bowman (No. 23)
Top-ranked defensive signee: DL Bryan Bresee (No. 3)
This group is just in the midst of its true freshman season, and though time will tell if early results are any indication of future production, we have seen enough to feel this class deserves a seat at the table. Defensive linemen Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy were both five-stars and have produced to that level already. No 1 QB-PP D.J. Uiagalelei was forced into action when Trevor Lawrence was sidelined and played well, an indication the Tigers should be just fine at that position when Lawrence moves on.
14. Miami, 2008
Top-ranked offensive signee: WR Aldarius Johnson (No. 63)
Top-ranked defensive signee: LB Arthur Brown (No. 6)
The big name on the recruiting trail in this class was LB Arthur Brown, whom Miami signed out of Kansas. While he had a solid college career, most of his production came after transferring to Kansas State. The class produced some good individual talent including No. 2 OLB Sean Spence, No. 3 CB Brandon Harris and WR Travis Benjamin, but overall, this group never helped elevate Miami's program and failed to even play for an ACC title.
15. Florida State, 2016
Top-ranked offensive signee: QB Malik Henry (No. 17)
Top-ranked defensive signee: CB Levonta Taylor (No. 5)
This class signed 16 ESPN 300 prospects and was part of a 10-win season their freshman year, but the program has dramatically declined during their tenure. While some productive contributors have emerged from this group such as DE Janarius Robinson, only edge defender Brian Burns was a real impactful addition among all ESPN 300 signees. The Seminoles have struggled in recent years to sign and receive great production from a QB prospect, and this class had another key miss in the much heralded Malik Henry.