Charlie Weis brought the mystique back to Notre Dame and the blue-chippers followed.

The first group of Florida recruits Urban Meyer truly can call his own left no doubt that the coach with the Midwestern roots could clean up in the Southeastern Conference.

Weis and Meyer rode the momentum of successful debut seasons right into signing day, scoring high marks Wednesday with stellar recruiting classes.

Under Weis, the Fighting Irish reversed a recent trend and came away with a class ranked in the top 10 by all the analysts.

“I told everyone in this class that this was going to be the class that started Notre Dame back to the top,” Weis said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance to compete this year or next year. I’m talking about perennially being at the top.”

Florida did even better under Meyer. When it comes to recruiting, the Gators are at the head of the class for 2006 – at least according to many of the experts. But their coach is withholding judgment for now.

“I do not say they’re a great class because you evaluate that in three years,” Meyer said. “It’s a good class. If they graduate, win championships and if they’re fortunate enough they go to the NFL, that’s how you evaluate a class.”

Wide receiver Percy Harvin, considered the No. 1 recruit in the country by Rivals.com, puts on a Florida cap to show his college choice in the file photo from Dec. 19.

Max Emfinger and Tom Lemming of College Sports Television ranked Florida No. 1. Rivals.com and Allen Wallace of SuperPrep Magazine and Scout.com had the Gators No. 2.

As usual, national champion Texas and Southern California reloaded their talented rosters.

Rivals.com declared the Trojans the recruiting champs for the third straight year.

“The hottest school in the country, period,” Bobby Burton of Rivals.com said. “And it has been for three years.”

SuperPrep/Scout.com also gave USC a slight edge over Florida.

Penn State, which had a resurgence under coach Joe Paterno and aided by an excellent 2005 recruiting class, has another promising group headed to Happy Valley.

And Meyer had to have a big year just to keep up with his rivals. Florida State, LSU, Auburn and Alabama all came away with highly ranked classes, too.

Weis came to Notre Dame and Meyer to Florida after the 2004 season with well-earned reputations as offensive gurus, but some questions about how well they’d recruit in their new jobs.

Weis, a longtime NFL assistant, was hired in December 2004 and didn’t have a chance to immediately immerse himself in recruiting because he was busy helping the Patriots win a third Super Bowl in four seasons.

Taking over for Tyrone Willingham, the former New England offensive coordinator did his best to work the phones, but in the end last year’s recruits weren’t up to traditional Notre Dame standards.

Once Weis was able to focus all his attention on his alma mater, he quickly built a reputation as a relentless recruiter, securing a dozen commitments before he coached a game.

Then Weis went out and returned Notre Dame to national prominence with a 9-3 season and No. 9 final ranking. With an offense that turned quarterback Brady Quinn into a star, the Fighting Irish are back in style.

“The best class they’ve had in at least a decade,” Emfinger said.

Offensive lineman Sam Young, a 300-pounder from Florida considered one of the top 20 players in the country, and running back James Aldridge of Indiana are the jewels of Notre Dame’s class.

Meyer’s 9-3 debut with Florida wasn’t met with as much euphoria as Weis’ first season, but this recruiting class should ease any worries Gator Nation might have about the Ohio native.

Florida signed receiver Percy Harvin from Virginia, rated the top player in the country by Rivals.com, and highly touted quarterback Tim Tebow of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

“It’s the same recipe for success that Pete Carroll uses at USC,” Burton said. “Take care of home base and then go to the rest of the nation to get the best of the best.”

Carroll and Texas coach Mack Brown are college football’s current kings of signing day.

And the Rose Bowl rivals were at it again Wednesday, signing classes that should keep the Longhorns and Trojans in championship contention for years.