How the SEC's new bowl system can be used as a recruiting weapon

Among numerous factors influencing where the conference places teams from the new six-team pool for bowl games, minimizing recruiting risk is possible for the SEC.

The Big 12 has a big problem, and the new SEC bowl pool system will make postseason recruiting inroads in the state of Texas much more difficult moving forward.

The recruiting rise of the Texas A&M Aggies after the move to the SEC, the subsequent de-emphasis of recruiting in Texas for the Oklahoma Sooners and the continued struggles of the Texas Longhorns have led to a major talent drain for the Big 12 Conference, with much of the talent heading to the SEC.

Of the top 30 players in the state of Texas, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, 11 of them are committed to SEC schools, including nine pledged to the Aggies. The Big 12, meanwhile, has six, with none of the top 15 players pledged to its member institutions.

The elite talent in the state isn't headed to other conferences, either -- recent Texas running back decommit Jordan Stevenson pledged to the Wisconsin Badgers, making him the only top-30 player going to a conference other than the Big 12 or SEC.

Non-conference matchups could help provide the head-to-head boost that Big 12 schools need in recruiting, but the SEC now possesses the ability to limit risk in that regard.

The upcoming bowl games marked the first time the SEC put six teams into a pool instead of the bowls getting their choice in a descending order. After the College Football Playoff and the New Year's games select their teams, the Capital One Bowl gets the first choice.

Then theOutback Bowl in Tampa (vs. Big Ten), Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville (vs. ACC/Big Ten), TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl in Jacksonville (vs. ACC/Big Ten), AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis (vs. Big 12), Texas Bowl in Houston (vs. Big 12) and Belk Bowl in Charlotte (vs. ACC) all draw from a six-team pool.

The conference then consults with the member institutions and officials representing the bowl games to determine placement.

"This bowl process gives us the best opportunity to address several issues that impact SEC fans, including the creation of intriguing matchups, the accommodation of travel for fans, reduced ticket obligations for our schools and a variety of assignments to help prevent repetitive postseason destinations," said retiring SEC commissioner Mike Slive when the new ties in were announced.

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How the SEC's new bowl system can be used as a recruiting weapon