It depends, for websites like Rivals and Scout it is all about subscriptions. The more subscriptions your fans buys the higher the stars of your team's talent will receive. For sites like ESPN its all about web hits, which fans are going to their site - making sure those fans are satisfied customers. It also is about contracts with conferences and teams too. Fox is going to say great things and rate talent higher for the Big 12, Pac-10, and the Big 10. ESPN will feature UT, BYU, PAC-10, and the ACC, rating talent higher than should be...I would include SEC but everyone has skin in with them so they get praise everywhere. TCU and Boise State talent will always be rated medium high because of the success these teams both have had but TCU's alumni base size as well as Boise State's base is not going to raise any stars or scales over the teams that they need to have greater good fortunes. And if Boise State or TCU should ever have a bad year, oh my, those entertainment groups have no connections to TCU and Boise State so I imagine both teams would be crucified, not only in recruiting ratings but also in their articles. It's all about the money $$$$$.