National signing day for the 2016 recruiting cycle is already in the books, which means that the eyes of coaching staffs across the country have already turned toward 2017.
And if this past signing day was any indication, the Big Ten appears poised to make some noise, with the conference fresh off a cycle that saw five programs sign top-25 classes.
While much of the league's collective success on the recruiting trail can be attributed to each program's respective value, it's also worth noting that two Big Ten teams—Penn State and Nebraska—managed to ink top-25 hauls despite enduring subpar 2015 seasons on the field.