re: Comparing conferences: A different look

Here's a stone cold hard fact.

Every National Champion since 2002 has had at least one top five recruiting class, as rated by Rivals (2002-2010) or 247 Sports (2011-present)

2002 - Ohio State (#5 class in 2002)
2003 - LSU (#1 class in 2003)
2004 - *USC (#3 class in 2003, #1 class in 2004)
2005 - Texas (#1 class in 2002)
2006 - Florida (#2 class in 2003, #2 class in 2006)
2007 - LSU (#2 class in 2004, #4 class in 2007)
2008 - Florida (#2 class in 2006, #1 class in 2007, #3 class in 2008)
2009 - Alabama (#1 class in 2008, #1 class in 2009)
2010 - Auburn (#4 class in 2010)
2011 - Alabama (#1 class in 2008, #1 class in 2009, #5 class in 2010, #1 class in 2011)
2012 - Alabama (#1 class in 2009, #5 class in 2010, #1 class in 2011, #1 class in 2012)
2013 - Florida State (#2 class in 2011, #3 class in 2012)
2014 - Ohio State (#5 class in 2012, #2 class in 2013, #3 class in 2014)

Based on that, here are the teams that can say they have a shot in 2015 if this trend continues:

Alabama (#1 2012, #1 2013, #1 2014, #1 2015)
Texas (#2 2012)
Florida (#3 2012, #3 2013)
Florida State (#4 2012, #4 2014, #3 2015)
Ohio State (#5 2012, #2 2013, #3 2014)
Michigan (#4 2013)
Notre Dame (#5 2013)
LSU (#2 2014, #5 2015)
Texas A&M (#5 2014)
USC (#2 2015)
Tennessee (#4 2015)

Or, to compare conferences:

SEC - 5 contenders
Big Ten - 2 contenders
PAC 12 - 1 contender
Big XII - 1 contender
Independents - 1 contender

Let's be clear of the difference between making the playoffs and winning the title.