-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter)

No. 25: Cal Golden Bears (17 total signees)

-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter)

This was easily one of the more entertaining National Signing Days in history.

-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter)

Recruiting rankings are an inexact science, and even the experts will admit that. It is virtually impossible to measure heart, work ethic, mental focus and self-awareness in 17- and 18-year-old kids. Especially, in the face of the most important decision they will ever make.

-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter)

What a difference a weekend can make.

The Oregon Ducks entered the weekend as the clear-cut No. 1 team in the Pac-12 North and a likely preseason top five team nationally for 2012. The Washington Huskies still had holes to fill on the coaching staff and in the ’12 recruiting class.

-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter)

-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter)

With the BCS National Championship in the rearview, recruiting now takes center stage for the next three weeks.

-by Braden Gall (follow at @BradenGall)

There is no doubt this is the Era of the Quarterback.

-by Braden Gall (follow at @AthlonBraden)

The recruitment of the nation’s No. 4 prospect, two-way star lineman Arik Armstead, has been anything but smooth.

Pep bands, cheerleaders, tailgating, student sections, cornhole and especially rivalries. All of which makes college football the greatest sport on the planet. The Athlon Sports editorial staff put its collective heads together and ranked the Top 25 rivalries in college football: