On-field results not shaping recruiting so far for Pitt or Penn State taken in Altoona, Pa. (NCAA)

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Pat Narduzzi and James Franklin chat before a Pitt-Penn State game at Heinz Field in 2018.

ALTOONA, Pa. -- Pitt went 11-3 and won the ACC title last season, went to a New Year's Six bowl game and had the third-place finisher in the Heisman Trophy race.

Surprisingly, all of that hasn't really done much for the Panthers' recruiting so far. They are just 55th in the 247Sports class of 2023 rankings, with only one commit (a 3-star).

Penn State finished just 7-6 last season, had one of the most disappointing collapses in program history and lost its mid-level bowl game.

But none of that seems to matter when it comes to recruiting, as the Nittany Lions have been killing if thus far. They are No. 3 in the nation in the 247Sports rankings, coming on the heels of last year's No. 6 finish.

Just so Pitt fans understand, none of this is meant to be overly critical of Pat Narduzzi or the Panthers. And I'm not trying to turn this into some sort of Penn State is better than Pitt thing.

This is merely to point out the obvious -- and rather fascinating -- component that on-field results have not really been a factor in recruiting for either program.

Which is just ... weird. Because you'd think that Penn State recruiting could be struggling right now. And that Pitt would have gotten a nice bounce off its impressive season.

It just hasn't happened. Yet anyway.

Here's a look at Pitt's 2023 recruiting class, with just the one commit:

* 3-star athlete Zion Fowler (6-1, 185) from St. Peters Prep in Jersey City, N.J.

Here's a look at Penn State's 2023 recruiting class, which again ranks third in the country:

* 5-star OL Alex Birchmeier (6-6, 275) from Broad Run HS in Ashburn Va., the No. 1 prospect in Virginia and No. 16 in the nation

* 4-star OT Jven Williams (6-4, 285) from Wyommising HS in Reading, the No. 1 prospect in Pennsylvania

* 4-star DE Neeo Avery (6-5, 230) from Our Lady Good Counsel in Olney Md.

* 4-star athlete Mega Barnwell (6-6, 250) from Riverbend HS in Fredericksburg, Va.

* 3-star CB Lamont Payne (6-1, 170) from Chartiers Valley HS in Bridgeville, Pa.

* 3-star OL Joshua Miller (6-5, 320) from Life Christian Academy in Colonial Heights, Va.

* 3-star TE Joey Schlaffer (6-6, 205) from Exeter Township HS in Reading

* 3-star OT Anthony Donkoh (6-5, 310) from Lightridge HS in Aldie, Va.

HISTORICAL TRENDS

Following is how each program finished in the 247Sports recruiting rankings in recent years:

2022: Penn State 6th, Pitt 71st (Panthers only needed to sign 12 players, hence the very low rating)

2021: Penn State 21st, Pitt 29th

2020: Penn State 15th, Pitt 45th

2019: Penn State 12th, Pitt 55th

2018: Penn State 6th, Pitt 48th

2017: Penn State 15th, Pitt 37th

2016: Penn State 20th, Pitt 30th

2015: Penn State 14th, Pitt 46th

2014: Penn State 24th, Pitt 44th

2013: Penn State 33rd, Pitt 32nd

Note that you have to go back to 2013 to find a year when Pitt had a better recruiting class than Penn State, and that's when the Lions were coming off the scandal.

Look, none of this is any surprise to anyone who follows recruiting. Penn State has some distinct advantages over Pitt when it comes to recruiting, first and foremost being playing in Beaver Stadium in front of 107,000 fans every home game. Pitt draws about 40,000 fans for most games at Heinz Field, or about 60 percent capacity.

Given the historical comparisons, it really shouldn't be a surprise that Penn State is recruiting so much better than Pitt right now. However, the Lions are coming off back-to-back seasons of finishing 4-5 and 7-6, yet still have been able to put together top 10 recruiting classes.

Pitt is coming off its best season since 2009, and yet the Panthers have only one commit thus far.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

Narduzzi and Pitt deserve a lot of credit for what they pulled off in 2021. It definitely was a case of doing more with less.

Go back and look at the Panthers' recruiting rankings in recent years, and it's pretty darn impressive that they were able to win an ACC title. Their highest recruiting class in recent years was 29th, and they were 45th, 55th and 48th the three previous years.

Conversely, if you look at James Franklin and Penn State, it has clearly been a case of doing less with more. The Lions went 11-11 over the past two seasons despite recruiting classes that ranked 21st, 15th, 12th and 6th.

Ouch.

All of that is a big reason why so many Penn State fans have grown disillusioned with Franklin. He has always been a terrific talent acquirer, but he hasn't maximized the talent the past two years. Of course, Franklin did lead the Lions to three New Year's Six bowls from 2016-19, and those teams were loaded with talented players who did produce on the field.

Recruiting is a fluid thing, and it's not really wise to try and draw concrete conclusions about any coach or any program when it comes to recruiting.

Still, here are two closing thoughts when it comes to Penn State and Pitt.

If Narduzzi could find a way to up the ante in recruiting and bring in significantly better classes, one would think he could have the Panthers as a perennial top 20 team.

That's easier said than done, however, given that Pitt has not really been a power player in recruiting for a long while.

On the flip side, given that Penn State's roster is always loaded with outstanding recruits, just think how good the Lions could be if Franklin actually improves as a coach in the other areas where he's not as effective. That would include game management, being ready to play from the outset and making adjustments quicker.

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