EXPOSED: ESPN Caught TANKING BYU, Big 12's Recruiting Rankings, Strength of Schedule In Favor of SEC Money

The phenomenon of a recruit's ranking dropping after they commit to a Big 12 school, particularly to programs like BYU, has become a hot topic and a source of frustration for fans. While recruiting services would deny any intentional bias, the perception is widespread and supported by recent examples.The core of the issue stems from the differing ways recruiting services, like Rivals, On3, and 247Sports, evaluate and update their rankings. Initial evaluations are based on pure talent, film, and camp performances. However, once a player commits, their ranking can be influenced by a number of factors, including:The "Blue-Blood" Effect: There's a widely acknowledged belief that a player who commits to a traditional powerhouse like Alabama, Ohio State, or USC often sees their ranking solidify or even get a small bump. The logic, from the services' perspective, is that if an elite program with a history of developing NFL talent is chasing a player, it validates their skill.The Big 12/Non-Blue Blood Effect: The opposite is often perceived to be true for Big 12 schools, and it's a sentiment that has gained traction with recent events. Five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons, a top-tier prospect in the 2026 class, saw his ranking on Rivals reportedly plummet from a five-star to a four-star immediately following his commitment to BYU.The "Exposure" Factor: Recruiting services place a heavy emphasis on their own camp series and national events for evaluation. If a player commits to a school that doesn't actively push them to attend these events, or if the player isn't seeking that kind of exposure after their commitment, their ranking may stagnate or drop.Lack of Transparency: Fans and analysts have criticized these services for a lack of transparency when rankings change. In the case of Ryder Lyons, his downgrade occurred without any new on-field performance or a clear scouting report to justify the change, leading to accusations of bias against BYU and the Big 12 as a whole.While recruiting services would argue these are simply fluid re-evaluations based on a continuous process, the timing of these ranking changes—so often following a commitment to a school outside of the traditional elite tier—has created a narrative of bias and has led fans to question the integrity of the entire system.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYTime to fuel up and turn it up with 5-hour ENERGY®️ Transfusion! Go to https://5hourenergy.com today and use my promo code LOCKEDONGOLF to receive 20% off your order. This offer is only valid until September 30th on one order and cannot be used with other promotions. The code is not good on subscription orders.  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at www.monarchmoney.com/lockedoncollege for 50% off your first year.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.