ANN ARBOR — Night game, in-state rival, primetime national audience.

It’s essentially a recruiting infomercial, which is why Michigan’s recruiting visit list for Saturday’s game against rival Michigan State was chock full of impact players. Jim Harbaugh wanted recruits to soak up the atmosphere, see the players sprint out of the tunnel and tap the banner, and partake in the game-day activities.

Among the visitors Saturday were Amon-Ra St. Brown, the nation’s top-ranked wide receiver; Devontae Dobbs, one of the top-ranked offensive lineman in the 2019 class; offensive lineman Justin Rogers, the state’s top-ranked player for 2020; class of 2018 members and safeties Bryan Addison and Julius Irvin; cornerback Chris Smith, who’s committed to Georgia; Tennessee commit Shocky Jacques-Louis, an athlete; and 2018 UM commits Cameron McGrone, a linebacker, quarterback Kevin Doyle, and defensive backs Gemon and German Green.

“The night games in the past have been good for Michigan and recruiting,” said Scout.com recruiting analyst Allen Trieu. “They host an in-state rival and the atmosphere [was] an impressive one, so I think it's equally important for recruiting efforts that the team put on a good performance.”

Winning can be a secondary factor for recruits. Simply experiencing the aura of a night game and viewing the program’s culture firsthand is paramount. For example, Ohio State’s loss to Oklahoma this year did not have a negative impact. Interviews with recruits who visited revealed that, if anything, the Buckeyes strengthened their influence.

“I think the results of individual games are routinely overblown by fans, but anytime you can get a bunch of top prospects into your building and into a great environment it is going to help you,” said Rivals recruiting analyst Marc Givler. “Winning or losing isn’t as important as the environment. If there’s a great environment, the kids are going to have a good time regardless [of the game’s outcome].”

That fact is one reason why Michigan is becoming more receptive to the changing realities in college football -- night games and alternate uniforms. The current crop of high school players are enamored with primetime and wearing uniforms with an Oregonish appeal.

The focus shifts a little when you’re dealing with Michigan-born players and the Michigan State game.

“In-state recruiting is kind of funny in that kids rarely grow up in neutral households,” Trieu said. “A lot of these kids grew up as either fans of Michigan or Michigan State. In the past, there have been kids who grew up fans of one school only to attend the other. That said, I do think you can change perceptions. I think Michigan State did it recently, and now Michigan is trying to change it back.”

From 2007 to 2016, Michigan State beat Michigan seven times, yet the Spartans only had a better recruiting class twice, according to Rivals.com’s rankings. Last year, Michigan signed seven of the top 10 players in the state. Michigan State signed two.

The Wolverines already have three of the top five for the current recruiting cycle, though with the early signing period a little more than two months away, Michigan State’s 2018 class is ranked 22nd, two spots ahead of Michigan. It’s not a red flag for the Wolverines -- yet. The concern for Michigan isn’t that Michigan State is in front, it’s that UM is so far outside the top 10.

“I don't think this class is likely to finish as highly as the last couple classes because it is going to be smaller,” Trieu said. “They have some highly-ranked targets that they sit highly with -- tight ends Mustapha Muhammad and Luke Ford, several defensive tackles. So if they land a handful of those kids, it will help. I see them finishing a little higher, but not pushing into the top five as in previous years.”

Givler also pointed to the class size while noting that the substance will be there. What Michigan lacks in depth in 2018, it’ll make up for by being selective and filling exact needs.

And don’t forget about the future.

“Michigan is off to a phenomenal start in 2019,” Givler said, “and should re-emerge towards the top of the rankings.”

Contact Kyle Rowland at krowland@theblade.com, 419-724-6110 or on Twitter @KyleRowland.

First Published October 8, 2017, 4:23 a.m.