BCS conference class rankings

— -- Each Wednesday, ESPN RecruitingNation updates its national class rankings and its conference class rankings.

Conference rankings: American | ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC

American

The American is now led by South Florida who has edged its way into the top spot. The Bulls have a class that features a pair of ESPN 300 prospects and recently added three-star WR Tyre McCants. After the departure of head coach Charlie Strong, Louisville, which will be leaving for the ACC, saw its class fall out of the national rankings and drop to No. 2 in the conference. Rutgers, which will move to the Big Ten, fell to the No. 3 spot, but remains close behind the top two teams.

ACC

Newly crowned BCS national champion Florida State has enjoyed recent success on the recruiting trail and sits in the ACC's top spot. The Seminoles ended 2013 by picking up RB Dalvin Cook and then kicked off the New Year by adding ESPN 300 prospects Lorenzo Featherston and Travis Rudolph. Miami has slipped some nationally, but still sits comfortably in the conference's No. 2 slot. No. 4-ranked Virginia recently added in-state ESPN 300 WR Jamil Kamara. Pitt sits inside the top-10 after adding WR Adonis Jennings, its second ESPN300 commitment in the last month.

Big 12

Newly named Texas head coach Charlie Strong will take over the conference's top ranked class. The Longhorns' rival Oklahoma sits close behind them at No. 2. The Sooners recently added ESPN 300 RB Joe Mixon and four-star OG Natrell Curtis to help them close some distance. Baylor sits at No. 3 and Oklahoma State, which had DE commit Jordan Brailford move into the ESPN 300, sits at No. 4.

Big Ten

The Big Ten didn't see much movement within its rankings in this update. Ohio State, holding steady in the top spot, recently strengthened its class with a pair of in-state ESPN 300 pick ups in athlete Marshon Lattimore and safety Erick Smith. New Penn State head coach James Franklin takes over the No. 3 class in the conference. Michigan State and Nebraska both moved in the top 40, giving the Big Ten seven programs with nationally ranked classes.

Pac-12

Arizona State sits at No. 1, but in-state rival Arizona made a run at the top spot. The Wildcats had landed a verbal from ESPN 300 CB Jalen Tabor, but his quick decommitment keeps them at No. 2. Oregon, which recently added four-star OLB Jimmie Swain IV, holds steady in the No. 3 spot. USC, which had OT commit Chris Brown move into the ESPN 300, sits close behind the Ducks at No. 4. UCLA moved up into the top five with a class that features six ESPN300 prospects.

SEC

As signing day rapidly approaches, the race in the SEC is very competitive with an impressive seven classes in the top-10 nationally. Alabama remains atop the class rankings, possessing a real strong class that features 17 ESPN 300 prospects including four five-stars. Texas A&M started 2014 off strong landing a pair of offensive weapons in five-star athlete Speedy Noil and WR Frank Iheanacho and sits at No. 2. LSU, with a class that features top-ranked prospect RB Leonard Fournette is at No. 3. The Tigers saw a trio of commits get bumps in the updated player rankings, helping them to move up. Florida, with recent additions like new five-star CB Jalen Tabor and ESPN 300 DL Gerald Willis III, now sits at No. 5. Auburn, which had QB commit Sean White move into the ESPN 300, currently sits at No. 6 in the SEC. With the departure of head coach James Franklin, Vanderbilt suffered multiple decommitments and fell in the rankings to No. 14.