For the sake of rankings...it matters. If you win the recruiting battle, it gives your team a look...the same recruiting pundits arent much different than the voters. So you get a good class...means your team is pretty good, you got talent... we'll rank you accordingly. You have a great recruiting class...you get a little extra shine on that ranking...not you're seen as a little bit better than some other schools...then ranked a little higher...means you have less spots to jump to get into the playoff. Now you still have to win but starting higher in the rankings..helps. Winning the recruiting battle is the first phase to winning...because style points matter.