As the SEC took control of college football, demographic shifts helped fuel that dominance by ensuring the region was flush with a large percentage of the country's best high school football prospects. To compound the issue, the North started leaking too much of its best talent.

What did it amount to? Sustained success for the South.

In Episode 3 of The 25 Year Winter, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis examine how recruiting realities combined with more Northern shortcomings contributed to the South's reign over college football from 1998-2022. The South had the better prospects, and was more aggressive in how it built rosters.This is the players episode.

Thanks for joining us.

Producer: Michael Henahan.