B1G Recruiting: For the first time in nearly a decade, Ohio State may not land the conference’s No. 1 class

Michigan couldn’t beat Ohio State on the field this season, but it’s getting closer to ending the Buckeyes’ run as the conference’s premier program on the recruiting trail this cycle.

Ohio State has owned the B1G’s No. 1 recruiting class each of the last eight seasons, beginning in 2011. Teams have come close to dethroning the Buckeyes, but they’ve continually brought in the best talent and flexed their muscle over the rest of the league.

That all could be coming to an end this season, though. There is still time to make up ground, but with the Early Signing Period a few days away, it appears that the Wolverines may actually sit atop the B1G recruiting standings for the 2019 cycle.

Currently, Michigan has 25 commits in the class, which ranks eighth nationally and first in the B1G. Ohio State is second in the conference and No. 10 in the country. Per 247Sports, the Wolverines have 262.32 points credited to their recruiting class while the Buckeyes have 255.99.

While Jim Harbaugh hasn’t been able to land any 5-star prospects — losing Dax Hill to Alabama — the Wolverines still have 14 4-star players headed to Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes presently have two 5-star players and 10 4-star athletes in the class.

Michigan would have loved to get the win on the field over the Buckeyes this season, but beating Ohio State on the recruiting trail is a significant accomplishment, especially for the future trajectory of the program.

There’s still some time left in the cycle. We’ll see if Michigan can hang on to the B1G’s best recruiting class.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB