National Signing Day is just days away, and the 2026 recruiting class is close to locking in their final decisions and putting pen to paper. With decisions looming and plenty of dominos still to fall, we gathered a roundtable of Rivals analysts who live this stuff every day to break down where things stand now — and how this class could redefine the next era of the sport.
What’s the biggest storyline you’re following for National Signing Day and why?
Marcus Benjamin: How far will LSU climb? The Bayou Bengals gained a power piece in head coach Lane Kiffin, and could be the biggest riser this week. The Tigers have the 11th-ranked class and will take swings at some top recruits, including Ohio State commit Blaine Bradford.
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Top recruit Lamar Brown and four-star Havon Finney Jr. remain locked with LSU, and the potential of this class can grow tremendously in the next few days as Ole Miss commits contemplate their futures.
Greg Biggins: There are actually two big ones I’m following and they’re connected. Can Ohio State hold on to Mater Dei wide receiver commits Chris Henry and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt. There has been a lot of buzz for Oregon with Henry and USC with Dixon-Wyatt, even through both came out a week ago and said they remain solid with Ohio State. Of the two, I’ve always felt there was a better chance Dixon-Wyatt could flip since Henry has been a long time Buckeye commit and has family in the Midwest. Dixon-Wyatt, while originally from the NorCal area, has developed strong roots in Southern California and has three other teammates headed to USC. Ohio State could land both but it won’t shock us if both sign elsewhere either.
Adam Gorney: All the coaching changes could make the final few days wild and will definitely reshape the 2027 class but the biggest storyline through this week is what five-star quarterback Jared Curtis will do. He committed to Georgia twice during his recruitment but there’s a real chance the Nashville (Tenn.) Nashville Christian standout flips to Vanderbilt especially after coach Clark Lea just signed his extension. Quarterback drama is always the best kind on National Signing Day.
Sam Spiegelman: What can Texas A&M do to close out the 2026 recruiting class? The Aggies have already flipped Rivals300 wide receiver Jayden Warren away from Houston and Mike Elko‘s program has the spatula out heading into Wednesday. I still like where the Aggies are positioned with in-state for star edge KJ Ford and they will continue to recruit elite wide receiver Boobie Feaster, a USC commit, until the end. Texas A&M is also swinging away at Auburn commits like Jase Mathews and Bralan Wommack. The way the Aggie season went, there is a lot of excitement about this program from recruits across the country.
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Steve Wiltfong: Two National Signing Day storylines I’m really excited to see where it lands are Jared Curtis and Chris Henry. Curtis has obviously been committed to UGA twice but Vandy is coming strong and then with Henry I could really see Oregon flipping the long-time Ohio State commit. Both Curtis and Henry continue to have consistent dialogue with the places they’re committed to but the buzz remains real.
Which program has been the biggest surprise during the 2026 cycle?
Benjamin: Did anyone see the USC top class coming? The Trojans have had a solid year, which has helped to keep the class together. Perhaps the topsy-turvy-ness of other classes has kept recruits from wavering, but Lincoln Riley has maintained the top class in a program that just managed to stay in standard relevancy. There are no true signs of the Trojans losing the top spot, but anything can happen on National Signing Day.
Biggins: BYU has done an incredible job this cycle and are trending towards signing their best recruiting class in over 20 years. They’re currently rated No. 26 nationally and have done an incredible job keeping the top in-state talent at home. Ryder Lyons is the obvious headliner but tight end Brock Harris, offensive linemen Bott Mulitalo and Jax Tanner, tight end Ty Goettsche, defensive lineman Junior Moala and wide out Legend Glasker are all four-star prospects as well. Linebackers Adam Bywater and Kaue Akana are two more players with high ceilings who project as multi-year starters.
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Gorney: Texas always recruits well so that’s no surprise but the Longhorns’ ability to go to Florida (QB Dia Bell), California (edge Richard Wesley) and Georgia (LB Tyler Atkinson) for five-star prospects has been incredible. It speaks to coach Steve Sarkisian’s contacts across the country, his assistant coaches’ ability to go anywhere for anybody and maybe just how hard it is to keep all the top Texas prospects home. The days of former coach Mack Brown having one junior day and filling out nearly an entire recruiting class are over but Sarkisian is still getting the job done.
Simmons: North Carolina did not have a great first season under Bill Belichick, but the Tar Heels were one point away from beating Virginia, and they lost to Duke by seven, so recruits see the potential. What surprises me the most is the number of signees in this class. It will exceed 40 when all is said and done and could push for a top-15 class.
Smith: Oklahoma went through a huge overall in the front office which was seen as a gamble at the time for coach Brent Venables. But the Sooners have pushed all the right buttons and have a top-15 class. It’s an intriguing group from top to bottom that will help the program compete for championships.
Spiegelman: Texas Tech. Joey McGuire and James Blanchard stocked up NFL talent thanks to excellent evaluations. Now the Red Raiders are running toward a Big 12 championship and a top-20 recruiting class due to that, forming real relationships and having NIL resources. They’re in line to sign multiple five-stars on National Signing Day including Felix Ojo, one of the most signature recruiting victories of the cycle. They also pulled off stand out moves like dipping into South Georgia for LaDamion Guyton, who’s on track to reclassify and joining Texas Tech in weeks. They’ve also pulled off flips like Bryce Gilmore from Arkansas when the iron was hot.
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Wiltfong: I was surprised that Penn State moved off James Franklin after 12 years and six games. This was a team that played in the final four last year and a consistent contender for a New Year’s Six Bowl which in the modern landscape would put you in the playoff most years. Now who knows who their next coach will be and how many players they sign on National Signing Day.
What was the biggest “almost” story of this cycle?
Biggins: Top-100 quarterback Ryder Lyons nearly committed to Oregon before ultimately deciding on BYU. The Ducks looked to be in a good spot with Lyons for much of the Spring and even tabbed as the team to beat. Lyons visited the campus multiple times, had a great relationship with Duck OC/QB coach Will Stein and raved about the culture as well as his fit in the offense. Ultimately, BYU was able to rally and land Lyons and the Ducks pivoted and were able to pick four-star Bryson Beaver.
Gorney: Oregon already has five five-star prospects – the most of any team in the country – but the Ducks’ recruiting class could be even higher and maybe even No. 1 in the country if five-star edge rusher Richard Wesley stayed committed. Wesley famously jumped in a pool with coach Dan Lanning to announce his pledge but he didn’t clear that decision with those close to him back home and so he backed out of it and ended up at Texas. It was a rare miscalculation by both sides as everybody got caught up in the moment as Wesley would’ve been the sixth five-star for the Ducks.
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Simmons: Jackson Cantwell to Georgia. Miami did a tremendous job of closing on the No. 1 prospect in the country, but Cantwell was telling many people, including Jared Curtis, other Georgia commits, and people on the staff in Athens that he was going to be a Bulldog. That never happened, he has not wavered since his commitment and Mario Cristobal probably has a plug-and-play five star at tackle next fall.
Spiegelman: The biggest almost story was when No. 1 overall prospect Lamar Brown almost didn’t take his final official visit to LSU on June 20. When Brown left College Station, the Sunday prior, he had planned to commit to the Aggies in July and was no longer intending to make that local official visit to LSU. Frank Wilson and the rest of the Tigers’ staff had other plans, and the rest is history.
Wiltfong: The biggest almost story is Luke Wafle almost landed at Ohio State. That was a real back and forth in the final days before he picked USC. He gave USC a silent coming out of his trip. Ohio State didn’t take no for an answer and made a counter offer that landed his verbal. USC then responded and got it back their way. And in the middle of it all Penn State took a big swing that gave him a lot to think about. North Carolina also threw a lot of money at Wafle. But once he committed to USC he hasn’t wavered.
Which class outside of the top 15 are you most excited about?
Benjamin: For me, it’s the North Carolina class. The coach who many consider the GOAT assembles his first ‘real’ recruiting class, and his assemblage of 29 three-stars is bound to produce an under-the-radar gem. Non-blue-chippers like DQ Forkpa and recently-added Kymistry Young could be stars in the ACC, and four-star Kenton Dopson can make an immediate impact.
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Biggins: I really like Washington’s class a lot and could see them jumping in to the top 15 ultimately if the Huskies can close on a few players on National Signing Day. Offensive lineman Kodi Greene is the top tackle out West and a player we think can come in and immediately challenge for playing time. Brian Bonner is the most versatile running back in the region and actually started out as a receiver before moving to running back full time as a junior. Landing Derek Colman-Brusa was a huge in-state coup and we love his wrestling background and the way he plays. In corner Rahsjon Duncan and safety Gavin Day, the Huskies have the two most physical players at their respective positions in the region.
Smith: Illinois is my pick here. Bret Bielema has a few players in this class that I see having All-Big Ten type potential under his coaching. Belleville (Ill.) West cornerback Nick Hankins, cornerback Jakwon Morris and ATH Nasir Rankin are all players that had lots of options. The future is bright for the Illini if this class pans out.
Spiegelman: I really love the top-25 recruiting class that SMU has put together. Garin Justice should be a recruiter of the year candidate with the offensive line haul heading to the Hilltop, headlined by Drew Evers along with intriguing eval’s in Max Wright, Evan Goodwin and Pupungatoa Katoa. I’m a huge fan of Aljour Miles, Jakai Anderson and Zachery Turner as pass catchers, too.
What will be your lasting memory from this 2026 recruiting cycle?
Biggins: I think whether they finish with the No. 1-ranked class or not, USC is bringing in a ton of local talent and looks set up very well for the future. In years past, the Trojans seemed more inclined to recruit nationally and that’s still a formula we would recommend but the bulk of their class should be closer to home. USC suffered a ton of out of state defections the last few years, especially in places like Georgia and Florida. This year, there was a strong emphasis on recruiting local talent and focusing on those players who always dreamed of playing in the Cardinal and Gold. It’s much easier to keep tabs on players just a few miles from campus and easier to hold on to those kids as well who always wanted to be Trojans their whole life.
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Gorney: This has more to do with the 2026 college football season where we witnessed the shocking collapse of Penn State and its firing of coach James Franklin only to see him get hired at Virginia Tech a few weeks later. Or Brian Kelly’s ouster at LSU and then see Lane Kiffin take the job when he was coaching an 11-1 Ole Miss team. From Billy Napier at Florida to Hugh Freeze at Auburn and others, those coaching moves will have a lasting impact on a lot of moves in the 2026 class but maybe none bigger than Franklin, who had a bunch of former Penn State commits follow him to Blacksburg.
Smith: The thing I’ll remember most from this cycle is something that hasn’t quite happened yet. It’s the run that I anticipate LSU to go on now that coach Lane Kiffin has been hired. Kiffin will have some heavy hitters in the recruiting world on staff. Combine that with LSU’s resources and access to talent. You’ll get explosive results right away on National Signing Day.
Spiegelman: Finding out that Felix Ojo was heading to Lubbock. The five-star offensive tackle, declared Texas as his leading school time and time again dating back to his junior season but Ojo’s Texas Tech official visit had truly set the bar for the elite offensive line prospect. That was a sign of a huge change in the recruiting dynamic across the Big 12 and the country — the Red Raiders were going to compete with the Big Ten and the SEC and raced pass both Texas and Ohio State for Ojo to let the world know.
