In recruiting, the narrative can often be more powerful than the numbers. And that feels especially true in the battleground state of Texas.



A popular line of thinking that has endured in these post-realignment years is that Texas A&M joining the SEC in 2012 has helped knock down a fence around the state, allowing SEC schools to infiltrate and more easily swipe elite talent. The dynamics of recruiting in the Lone Star State have absolutely changed over these past seven years. But has the threat of an SEC takeover in Texas actually come true?



That’s probably a loaded question, because recruiting trends are sort of like economic ones: So many things are happening concurrently that affect the landscape. Devotees of the Aggies and Longhorns might not agree on a conclusion, either, because how you see it depends on your vantage point.



But this is what the numbers tell us. Since 2013, Texas A&M has caught up to Texas when it comes to signing in-state...