Consistently Superior Outcomes College football schools gain national recognition and strong recruitment possibilities by routinely producing outstanding outcomes on the field. Every year, the University of Texas rates "top-5" in recruiting classes. And yet, despite this abundance of talent, most UT fans know that the school's football team usually finishes below.500 every season. Similarly, even though Florida State has some of the best athletes in the country playing for one of the top programs, the Seminoles' record is only twice out of the last 30 years have they finished with a winning record. The key to success in college football is not just finding and developing talented players, but also putting them in the right positions on the field. It is very difficult to win games if you run the ball well but can't protect the quarterback or stop the pass attack. Most successful programs combine a strong offense with a solid defense, and over time this strategy will lead to many victories. There are several factors that go into determining how successful a program is including: competitive balance, stadium quality, academic reputation, alumni support, and media coverage. In general, schools at the top of these rankings are able to attract high-quality recruits and build competitive teams each year. Those at the bottom often find it difficult to keep their stars off the transfer market.