Late Spring and Summer months are virtual wastelands of college football news, but this is the exact time that the annual recruitment cycle begins to heat up.
The early signing period in December increased the entire process by focusing on building early relationships with recruits. While autumn visits are still valuable, summer often makes a difference. The next few months will be heavy with visits before the onslaught of commitments in late June and July. The top of the 2026 recruitment rankings will definitely shift quickly and furiously as the dominoes of commitment begin to fall, but these days they are stable enough to dive deep into the current top ten classes before they change too much.
By the time National Signature Day comes on, let’s assess whether schools will remain at the top of their class until the quick start.
Total commits: 16 (10 top 247 prospects)
Everyone following recruitment will likely have USC’s 2025 class deep inside when assessing the current recruitment cycle. The Trojans got off to a fiery hot start last year, gradually climbing up the rankings, involving blue chip prospects from across the country. Then things were unlocked at the end of the summer, and as early signing period approached, the Trojan lost four five-star commits. Two of them — defensive linemen Justus Terry and Edge Rush Isaiah Gibson, from Georgia. In total, USC had 9 or 5 star prospects that have been deprecated from the Southeastern US class from the 2025.
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Therefore, there may be some degree of surface hesitation when assessing USC’s staying power in 2026. However, this time, the Trojans have focused on placing fences around Southern California. Four of six top-rated commit plays in and around Los Angeles. USC will have to work to maintain Xavier Griffin, a five-star athlete who will star at Gainesville (Georgia) High School, but with a focus on California, they will need to give this top class the gas they need to finish at least the top 10.
Especially since it could get even better.
“Their new general manager, Chad Borden, came out and said that this 2026 crop was probably the best crop for Southern California players in the last 20 years,” said 247Sports National Scouting analyst Greg Biggins. “I haven’t looked into exactly asserting myself, but I think this is probably one of the better years for Southern California talent for some time.”
Verdict: Purchase
Total commit: 12 (4 top 247 prospects)
The report of Clemson’s end mise was highly exaggerated. Clemson gained momentum from his second ACC title in three seasons and made his appearance in the strong spring of the Recruit Trail from his first college football playoff appearance since 2020.
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All four top-ranked prospects in Clemson’s 2026 class committed in March. The Tigers are on track in Florida, a critical state within the umbrella, and always have a highly talented crop of prospects to immerse themselves in the nearby battlefield North Carolina. However, fans have pointed out the dip in quarterback recruitment since signing No. 2 QB lead Cade Klubnik in 2022.
With Klubnik reaching the finals last season, Clemson has been repeated as ACC champions and is an early favourite to return to the playoffs. These expectations should allow us to strongly launch talent acquisition efforts.
Verdict: Purchase
Total commits: 9 (7 top 247 prospects)
This is almost cut and dried. The Tigers have only made one class finish outside the top 10 since 2018. They have always had a strong presence in the recruitment field, and their efforts are only driven by a major investment in their efforts to name, image and likeness. LSU is ideally located in Louisiana, pumping up some of America’s top athletes over a year.
In fact, all nine of LSU’s in the class of 2026 are from Louisiana or nine commitments from Louisiana and adjacent states. This includes the Mississippi Tristenkids, Hattiesburg, the No. 1 wide receiver and the fourth-ranked prospect nationwide.
Verdict: Purchase
Total commit: 9 (6 top 247 prospects)
Recruitment was not a Texas A&M issue. It was 2023-24, the turbulent final year of the Jimbo Fisher era that the Aggies have soaked outside the top 10 in recent years. Even freshman coach Mike Elko was able to sign Class 9 in 2025. Texas A&M is back to its thickness a year later, thanks to the majority of the program’s national reach. Aggies currently has three four stars from California, one from New Jersey and Utah. Texas still has a wide range of talent bases.
Verdict: Purchase
Total commits: 13 (2 top 247 prospects)
Let’s not get in the way. Kansas won’t finish in the top 10. But the top 25 is certainly on the table, which is a big deal for the Jayhawks. Their current class is supported by solid state crops, including a four-star commitment at athlete JJ Dunigan and offensive tackle Kaden Snyder. Those well-known early pledges gave Lance Leipold and his staff early momentum in the state and surrounding areas such as Oklahoma and Iowa.
“This is probably one of the good years for the talent in Kansas in the state,” Biggins says. “They are building new facilities and new stadiums. I think Kansas has new energy. Do you think they’ll end up in the top 10? No, but I think they’ll have the opportunity to have the best class for a long time.”
Verdict: Sale
Total commits: 8 (5 top 247 prospects)
Oregon is not only a top-10 finishing rock, but also has a first-place rise. Few schools have hired ducks under the supervision of Dan Lanning. Manager Dan Lanning led Oregon to the Big 10 title in his first year at the conference and led his first round by as the overall seed of the 12-team first year college football playoffs. Oregon already has three top 50 prospects committed, each coming from a different state and in the top group for more people. Certainly, Phil Knight’s money is a huge boon, but the energy from Running and his staff makes a real difference.
“As a staff member, they’re probably hiring harder than anyone else,” Biggins said. “It starts with running at the top, then all the assistants, they kick everyone out. They’re not just one coach assigned to the area. They’ll be like two or three coaches who will hire each top kid.
Verdict: Purchase
Total commit: 12 (0 Top 247 Leads)
Like Kansas, Louisville’s lofty rankings are primarily due to the amount of prospects in the class. It’s not that cardinals lack quality. They have done a great job in the state so far. There, they hold commitments from four of Kentucky’s top 10 prospects. Director Jeff Brom’s deep bond is rewarded in that respect.
It’s difficult for Louisville to rank near this high, but the Cardinals have a lot of modern adoption.
“[Recruits] Biggins said people visiting campus talk about these Big Fortune 500 types of companies that are really invested in Louisville. “Not only basketball, but also soccer now. We have facilities. Everything is like a setup. If they keep winning the game, they have to be strong.”
Verdict: Sale
Total commit: 9 (5 top 247 prospects)
Despite modern success under the supervision of James Franklin, Penn State has not had a top-10 recruitment finish since 2022. This will change this cycle and freshen up Pennsylvania’s college football playoff debut. The Nittany Lions emphasize recruitment in Pennsylvania itself, and diverge from there. Four of Pennsylvania’s top 10 prospects have committed to Pennsylvania, and the Nittany Lions are considered the favorite of top-rated in-state product Joey O’Brien. Also in Pennsylvania is Daniel Jennings, West Virginia’s No. 1 player with 2026 recruits being harvested.
“I think Pennsylvania is a modest, very strong state to start a pipeline,” Biggins said. “Pennsylvania is doing well locally, first of all. The national reach and brand are strong, high energy staff and wins at Fifield. It’s the perfect recipe for why Pennsylvania should always be in the top 10 and top 15.”
Verdict: Purchase
Total commits: 8 (2 top 247 prospects)
Tennessee has adopted a slow-burn approach to adopt. Vols rarely puts pressure on recruits to make early commitments. This means that much of their movement comes from late summer to fall. So it’s a good indication that Tennessee, a traditional recruiting power, is off to such a good start.
He’s the type of guy who wants other players as he’s caught up in quarterback Faison Brandon, the number one lead in the nation. Having such a prolific magnet requires you to pay dividends when Tennessee begins the push process.
Verdict: Purchase
Total commits: 10 (1 top 247 prospects)
Illinois has been appointed legal Big Ten candidates under coach Brett Bilema, who has a track record in player development, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. So, recruiting is important, but Bilema has done a great job with every talent he can accumulate, and he and his staff have done a good job of getting off to a fast start in recruiting on the 10-week breakout season.
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Illini has already landed Ohio cornerback Victor Singleton, the No. 57 cornerback nationally in the class of 2026, the No. 57 outlook and the solid core of Illinois-based athletes.
Verdict: Sale
