USC’s out-of-conference football opponents this season should have pretty good recruiting classes.

You’d think — considering Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Virginia all rank in top 15 schools for spending on recruiting athletes in all sports. In 2006-07, Tennessee led the nation at $2 million. The Irish were second at about $1.75 million, the Buckeyes 10th at $1,236,800, and the Cavs 15th at $1,112,000.

With most of the costs going to travel, the median Division 1
program spent $632,600 on sports recruiting in 2006-07. Twenty one
schools spent over $1 million. The findings are published in a report from the Chronicle of Higher Education which is dated August 1, 2008.

USC spent $903,799 on recruiting in that same period, of which $268,449 was spent on women’s recruiting.

Some other familiar football opponents made the top-20 in spending, including Auburn, Nebraska, Arkansas, Illinois, Texas, and Oklahoma.

Of the six BCS conferences, the Pac-10 spent the 5th most on
recruiting, $834,700,000 — an increase of 80% from ten years before.
Oregon led the league at $1,077,300, 19th highest in the country.