Most of the time, positive on-field results don’t impact recruiting in a given cycle. Most of the time, it’s the following cycle when a staff has an entire year to sell the success.

But there are exceptions and certainly there are programs that need some on-field success to “right the ship” a bit in terms of avoiding the uncertainty that upsets the balance of the comfort level of prospects.

Regardless, here are three programs that could use a good 2016 season and if they get it, it will directly impact their recruiting in a positive manner.

1. TEXAS A&M

Obviously things haven’t been trending in the right direction in College Station, either on or off the field. The Aggies didn’t close very well during the 2016 cycle, but a reversal of fortunes on the field this coming season, thus avoiding speculation about head coach Kevin Sumlin’s job, will have a direct impact on the recruiting efforts of Texas A&M this cycle.

2. SOUTH CAROLINA

New Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp is on the other end of the spectrum from Sumlin. There are no concerns about his job security at all in Year 1 and he has a good enough coaching staff assembled to where South Carolina will win its share of recruiting battles. On-field expectations aren’t going to be terribly high this coming season, though, so if Muschamp and company can get the Gamecocks to a bowl (they were 3-9 this past season) and show life on offense (dispelling some of the narrative about not being able to put points on the board), then that can only help South Carolina in the 2017 class and an extremely important 2018 cycle when the talent in the Palmetto State cycles back up in a big way.

3. AUBURN

It’s hard to say that Auburn has to win X games to do well on the recruiting trail. The Tigers on-field performance rarely has a huge impact on the program’s ability to recruit. That being said, Auburn must show progress under Gus Malzhan this coming season or traditionally (we saw it with Tommy Tuberville and Gene Chizik) Auburn University won’t hesitate to make a change. That’s just how things go on The Plains and obviously a coaching change would impact AU recruiting this cycle.