Westerly shift? Pair of Big Ten programs land atop early 2026 football recruiting rankings

USA Today

22-02-2025

Westerly shift? Pair of Big Ten programs land atop early 2026 football recruiting rankings
The 2025 recruiting cycle was full of drama, flips, decommitments and record-breaking NIL deals. Now that it's officially come to an end, why not take a look ahead?
We're still early in the cycle, but the 2026 class looks just as chaotic as the last, if not more. Some teams have already started assembling their groups, while others still have plenty of work to do.
More: Jackson Cantwell headlines USA TODAY High School Sports' 2026 football recruiting rankings
Looking at the four major recruiting sites, the USA TODAY HSS staff compiled their list of the top 15 classes this cycle (so far).
1. Oregon
Number of Commitments: 10
Highest-ranked commitment: 5-star athlete Kendre Harrison (Reidsville, N.C.)
Summary: It's still early in the cycle, but there's a clear leader in the pack: the Ducks. Harrison leads a loaded group consisting of seven four-star recruits a lone five-star. Don't expect Oregon to drop much, if at all, as the cycle continues.
2. USC
Number of Commitments: 10
Highest-ranked commitment: 5-star athlete Xavier Griffin (Gainesville, Ga.)
Summary: The Trojans may have had a down year last season, but that hasn't stopped Lincoln Riley and co. from already putting together one of the top 2026 classes. Headlined by Griffin, six pledges rank as top 150 recruits, and four rank inside the top 100.
3. Texas
Number of Commitments: 3
Highest-ranked commitment: 5-star quarterback Dia Bell (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Summary: The Longhorns may only have three commitments so far, but don't focus on that number much. Steve Sarkisian should easily put together another top-five group and the foundation is set with the likes of Bell and a pair of other four-star offensive pledges leading the way.
4. Auburn
Number of Commitments: 6
Highest-ranked commitment: 4-star EDGE Hezekiah Harris (Jemison, Ala.)
Summary: Hugh Freeze has another solid class coming together but will that talent eventually transfer to success on the field? Only time will tell, but the Tigers' 2026 group already looks promising. Of their six pledges, three rank in the top 100, and four are in the top 150.
5. Texas A&M
Number of Commitments: 9
Highest-ranked commitment: 4-star wide receiver Aaron Gregory (Douglasville, Ga.)
Summary: The Aggies are nowhere close to putting together the type of class they had in 2022, but this group is trending towards a top 10 and potentially a top 5 finish. Mike Elko's staff has put in work so far. Two of their pledges rank in the top 150, and the A&M is trending for several more of the nation's top prospects.
6. LSU
Number of Commitments: 6
Highest-ranked commitment: 4-star safety Aiden Hall (New Orleans, La.)
Summary: Is this a make-or-break year for Brian Kelly? Fans in Baton Rouge are getting restless after not making it to the College Football Playoff either of the last two seasons and losing out on Bryce Underwood. Recruiting-wise, they're off to a good start this cycle, landing a trio of top 60 players.
7. Tennessee
Number of Commitments: 7
Highest-ranked commitment: 5-star quarterback Faizon Brandon (Greensboro, N.C.)
Summary: Josh Heupel's worked his magic so far and has put together a solid class, especially on the offensive side of the ball. With another five-star talent headed to Knoxville, the Vols have their quarterback of the future surrounded by plenty of talent already.
8. Ohio State
Number of Commitments: 4
Highest-ranked commitment: 5-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Summary: Another year and another cycle where the Buckeyes land one of the nation's top receiving prospects. Ohio State's a wide receiver factory and will likely land one to two more elite talents outside before it's all said and done. Don't be shocked if the defending national champions wrap up this cycle with one of the three best classes overall.
9. Notre Dame
Number of Commitments: 7
Highest-ranked commitment: 4-star interior offensive lineman Tyler Merrill (Mechanicsburg, Pa.)
Summary: Notre Dame is known for putting together most of its class well before most teams have 10 pledges themselves. Marcus Freeman and his staff are taking it a bit slower this cycle and are off to a solid start with their seven commitments already. Of those seven, three rank in the top 200.
10. Alabama
Number of Commitments: 3
Highest-ranked commitment: 4-star athlete Zyan Gibson (Gadsden, Ala.)
Summary: Crimson Tide fans are restless, and only having three commitments so far isn't going to help. However, Kalen DeBoer and his staff are far from finished. The Crimson Tide are in the mix for several of the nation's best, and the three pledges they have so far are a good base from which to start.
11. Miami
Number of Commitments: 3
Highest-ranked commitment: 4-star linebacker Jordan Campbell (Opa Locka, Fla.)
Summary: Campbell ranks as a top 75 prospect in the class and will likely see his ranking jump as the months pass. The same can be said for the Hurricanes' class as a whole as they'll likely land several recruits in a short amount of time once they take trips down to Coral Gables.
12. Penn State
Number of Commitments: 9
Highest-ranked commitment: 4-star offensive tackle Kevin Brown (Harrisburg, Pa.)
Summary: Headlined by a pair of Harrisburg standouts in Brown and four-star running back Messiah Mickens, James Franklin's 2026 class has a heavy influence from the area. Nearly all of the Nittany Lions' nine pledges come from the Midwest or East Coast. Four-star quarterback Troy Huhn is the only one who comes from the West Coast so far.
13. Georgia
Number of Commitments: 5
Highest-ranked commitment: 4-star wide receiver Vance Spafford (Mission Viejo, Calif.)
Summary: The Bulldogs would have been much higher had five-star quarterback Jared Curtis not decommitted a few months ago. They remain in the hunt for Curtis, though, and several other elite prospects. Expect a sharp rise from the Bulldogs once the summer hits.
14. Maryland
Number of Commitments: 3
Highest-ranked commitment: 5-star EDGE Zion Elee (Baltimore, Md.)
Summary: One glance at the Terrapins class so far may not impress most people. However, they do have the cycle's top defensive prospect in Elee. He also just shut down his recruitment, meaning that Mike Locksley has the foundation settled and can build around him.
15. Oklahoma
Number of Commitments: 4
Highest-ranked commitment: 4-star quarterback Jaden O'Neal (Harbor City, Calif.)
Summary: Brent Venables has done a decent job at recruiting since coming to Norman. The Sooners are off to another good start, with three of their four pledges so far ranked as four-star prospects.
More: USA TODAY High School Sports top 100 composite recruiting rankings