How well does the NFL Draft reflect the strength of college football programs? This correlation is pretty scary, at least for the 2024 NFL Draft.
The simple fact is that the college teams with the most NFL-caliber players are the best college teams. This may sound obvious, but the concept that strategy, teamwork, team cohesion, and heart are essential ingredients to winning in college football is ignored by the obvious truth that the best talent wins. Masu.
Which school took the most players in the draft that ended Saturday? The correlation is spot on, with the University of Michigan and the Wolverines winning the national championship.
It can also be used in the Pac-12. Below is a ranking of the number of players drafted by each Pac-12 team. Listed in descending order of draft eligibility and where that team finished in his 2023 standings.
— 1. Washington – 10 players drafted. Pac-12 Finish: 9-0, won conference championship game.
— 2. Oregon State – Eight players drafted. Pac-12 finish: 8-1, 2nd place, lost in conference championship game
— 3. USC – Seven players were drafted. Pac-12 Finish: 5-4, tied for 4th place
— 4. Utah – Five players drafted. Pac-12 Finish: 5-4, tied for 4th place
— 5. Arizona – Three players drafted. Pac-12 Finish: 7-2, 3rd place
— 5. Oregon State – Three players drafted. Pac-12 Finish: 5-4, tied for 4th place
— 5. Washington State – Three players drafted. Pac-12 Finish: 2-7, tied for 9th place
— 8. UCLA – Two players drafted. Pac-12 Finish: 4-5, tied for 7th place
— 9. Cal – 1 player drafted. Pac-12 Finish: 4-5, tied for 7th place
— 9. Stanford – 1 draft pick. Pac-12 Finish: 2-7, tied for 9th place
— 11. Arizona State – 0 draft picks. Pac-12 Finish: 2-7, tied for 9th place
— 12. Colorado – 0 draft picks. Pac-12 finish: 1-8, last place
This shows almost exactly the correlation between a team's standings and the number of players drafted. The only slight exceptions are Arizona State, which was slightly better than its draft numbers, and Washington State, which was slightly worse than its draft numbers. You could argue that USC should have drafted seven players and finished higher, but critics have said all season that the Trojans have underperformed based on their talent. Ta.
This correlation extends to the national level.
Here is an overview of the schools that drafted the most players this year and how each team will perform in the 2023 season.
—1. Michigan State – 13 players drafted: National Champions
—2. Texas – 11 players drafted: National semifinalist, got to the Washington 11-yard line in the final minute but lost to Washington by six points.
—3. Washington – 10 players drafted: National runner-up
—3. Alabama – 10 players drafted: Reached national semifinals, lost to Michigan in overtime.
—3. Florida State – 10 players drafted; still frustrated by not being invited to the four-team national playoffs despite an undefeated regular season
—6. Georgia – 8 players drafted: The Bulldogs were undefeated and ranked No. 1 for most of the season until losing to Alabama in the SEC title game. 4th in the final AP poll.
— 6. Oregon State – Eight players drafted: Lost to Washington by three points in the Pac-12 title game, missing out on a spot in the four-team national championship playoffs.
— 6. Penn State – 8 players drafted: No. 10 in final CFP rankings.
In the final Associated Press poll, the top seven teams were ranked among the top seven teams by number of draft picks.
The incident has been resolved.
If you're interested, here's a breakdown of the draft by conference for the final year of the Pac-12.
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