Boise State’s Blueprint: A New Era for Group of 5 Football
In the world of college football, Boise State’s remarkable journey to the No. 3 seed in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff has not gone unnoticed. The Broncos have set a new standard for the Group of 5, a collection of 65 programs across the AAC, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt conferences. Their success story is not just about reaching the playoffs; it’s about how they got there.
Boise State’s roster was built primarily from high school recruits, with 22 of their 26 starters having signed with the program straight out of high school. This includes standout players like running back and Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty and quarterback Maddux Madsen. The Broncos have laid out a blueprint for success that other Group of 5 programs are eager to follow.
Boise State coach Spencer Danielson is keenly aware of the challenges that lie ahead. “A big push for me this offseason is fundraising,” he told ESPN. “It’s going to take everybody’s help to keep our staff and players here. But we’re no longer selling something that could happen. We’ve already done it here. A year like this year has the potential to change everything. It can catapult you to unknown waters.”
As the Group of 5 programs strive to close the gap with the Power 4 conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC), they face a host of modern recruiting challenges. These include NIL deals, free transfers, conference realignment, and a compressed recruiting calendar. The degree of difficulty in managing a roster has never been higher for these programs, which often operate with limited resources.
North Texas coach Eric Morris summed up the current state of recruiting: “We’re not recruiting the way we used to. I think now, every year you’re building a new team, and it’s almost a race to who can have the best roster in that particular season. There’s a new premium in college football.”
The pending settlement of House v. NCAA poses another challenge, potentially reshaping college athletics and introducing revenue sharing with athletes. This could be an existential threat to the Group of 5, but it also presents opportunities for programs willing to adapt.
Western Kentucky coach Tyson Helton believes that high school recruiting will become increasingly important. “The money has gotten so big from the portal; it’s not a sustainable model from the G5 standpoint,” he said. “I think you have to redirect now and go back into high school recruiting. In this next phase, everybody will have the opportunity to position themselves to be competitive. And you don’t have excuses. Nobody has an excuse.”
Recruiting Realities and Opportunities
While Power 4 programs continue to recruit high schools, the Group of 5 has seen a decline in high school recruiting classes, shrinking by 11.5% from 2019 to 2024. In contrast, the Power 4’s average high school class size has only dipped slightly, by 1.9% over the same period.
Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin has experienced the impact of this shift firsthand. His program has seen several starters and contributors transfer to Power 4 schools, including wide receivers Javon Tracy and Reggie Virgil, and defensive back Raion Strader. Martin sees these transfers as opportunities to recruit high school players who might have otherwise gone to Power 4 programs.
“If Minnesota takes Javon Tracy from us, then Minnesota’s taking one less high school receiver,” Martin said. “So, I better go get the guy that Minnesota used to get out of high school and at least have him for a couple of years. Maybe he balls out and I lose him again.”
Challenges and Adaptations
The modern landscape of college football is inspiring creativity among Group of 5 coaches. They face a growing financial gap with the Power 4, the dynamics of the transfer portal, and shifting NCAA regulations on transfers, eligibility, and compensation. These factors are driving down high school recruiting in 2025.
Texas State coach GJ Kinne highlighted the challenges of the condensed recruiting calendar. “We don’t have the capability of sending everyone out on the road right now,” Kinne said. “Not because of money or anything. But we’re signing all these midyear transfers, and we have two low-level entry-level positions in the recruiting office. Past them, it’s all coaches.”
The prominence of the December early signing period, introduced in 2017, has added to the pressure on smaller programs. Recruits are scheduling visits and committing earlier than ever before, making it difficult for programs that rely on senior year evaluations.
Despite these challenges, high school recruiting remains the most economical path to program building. However, the annual winter transfer portal presents a double-edged sword for the Group of 5. ESPN’s Max Olson reported that the number of Group of 5-to-Power 4 transfers rose to 260 in the first 29 days of this year’s portal window, up 40% from the previous year. By the time Ohio State won the national title on Jan. 20, the number had climbed to 320.
Group of 5 programs are unable to match six-figure NIL offers in the portal, leading to the loss of top talent to the Power 4 each year. The unpredictability of the portal also affects high school recruiting, as programs must quickly fill depth chart needs.
“How many high school kids you sign changes every year,” Kinne said. “Fifteen? Eighteen? Twelve? I don’t exactly know. You sign as many good ones as possible because you’re always going to have guys leave that you don’t count on leaving.”
The Future of Group of 5 Recruiting
The recruiting decline comes amid a period of sweeping change in the Group of 5, where patience has seemingly never been shorter. New coaches and those on the hot seat are increasingly favoring proven transfer talent over high school recruits, opting for short-term solutions.
“I don’t think there’s a college coach in America who doesn’t want to recruit high school and sign the majority of players from high school or junior college,” Helton said. “But there’s pressure over job security and to win right away. You have to ask yourself if you can play the long game or if you want a quick fix.”
Despite the challenges, some high school recruits are beginning to see the potential of Group of 5 programs. Memphis quarterback signee Antwann Hill chose the Tigers over Power 4 offers, drawn by the opportunity for early playing time and a fit in the team’s pass-heavy offense.
“You don’t have to go to the SEC to get the opportunity at the next level anymore,” Hill’s father said. “The ultimate goal is for him to play on Sundays, so that’s how we treated it. If you can’t get on the field at a certain school, there’s really no point in being there.”
Liberty running back signee Jaylon Coleman echoed this sentiment, choosing the Flames for system fit and early playing time. “I realized I could go play anywhere,” Coleman said. “But if I was at a bigger school, I was going to have to be a fourth string and wait, and they still might tell me to transfer out a year later.”
As the Group of 5 programs navigate the complexities of modern recruiting, they remain committed to high school recruiting as their lifeblood. Boise State’s Danielson emphasized the importance of hitting home runs with high school recruits. “No matter how these things change in the sport, we are going to recruit high school kids first and foremost. That is our life blood,” he said. “We need to hit home runs on high school kids. I believe when we do that, regardless of where college football goes, we’ll always be on the cutting edge as one of the best teams in the country.”
Originally Written by: Eli Lederman
