The New Standard: Early Signing Day’s Top 10 Recruiting Classes for 2026

The first day of the College Football Early Signing Period for the 2026 recruiting class was less about drama and more about confirmation, solidifying the new power structure in the NIL and transfer portal era. The narrative shifted decisively away from the SEC’s long-standing dominance, spotlighting the financial and cultural muscle of the Big Ten’s newest members.

The final rankings, based on the Industry Composite Score, reflect a recruiting landscape where elite talent acquisition requires both high-end coaching stability and massive financial backing.

Here is the definitive ranking and analysis of the Top 10 recruiting classes after Day 1 of the 2026 Early Signing Period:

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Rank	Team	Conference	5-Stars	4-Stars	Total Commits	Top Commit (Composite Rank)	Class Focus
1	USC Trojans	Big Ten	1	21	35	OT Keenyi Pepe (No. 5)	Volume, Offensive Line
2	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	Independent	4	15	27	Edge Rodney Dunham (No. 8)	Elite Quality, Defense
3	Oregon Ducks	Big Ten	5	11	21	Edge Anthony Jones (No. 19)	Quality, Defensive Playmakers
4	Georgia Bulldogs	SEC	1	19	30	TE Kaiden Protho (No. 48)	Depth, Defensive Backfield
5	Alabama Crimson Tide	SEC	3	10	21	RB Ezavier Crowell (No. 29)	Blue-Chip Top-End Talent
6	Ohio State Buckeyes	Big Ten	1	14	27	WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (No. 47)	Offensive Skill, FLIP
7	Tennessee Volunteers	SEC	2	13	28	QB Faizon Brandon (No. 7)	Offensive Firepower, QB
8	Texas A&M Aggies	SEC	1	21	27	DL/ATH Lamar Brown (No. 2)	Defensive Line, Texas Talent
9	Texas Longhorns	SEC	3	10	23	QB Dia Bell (No. 9)	Quarterback and Skill
10	Miami Hurricanes	ACC	1	19	30	WR Calvin Russell (No. 23)	Florida Perimeter Talent

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1. 🥇 USC Trojans: The End of the SEC’s Reign

Head Coach: Lincoln Riley

Key Commit: OT Keenyi Pepe (No. 5 Overall)

The Story: USC’s rise to the No. 1 spot is the most significant takeaway from the 2026 cycle. They are the first non-SEC school to claim the top-ranked class since 2008, officially snapping the SEC’s near two-decade-long recruiting monopoly. Lincoln Riley made a clear pivot this cycle, prioritizing the physical needs of the Big Ten:

• Trench Warfare: The class is massive on the offensive line, headlined by five-star Keenyi Pepe and multiple other top-100 prospects, signaling a direct intention to compete physically with teams like Michigan and Ohio State.

• Volume and Depth: With 35 signees, the Trojans have restocked the roster with high-level talent, particularly securing in-state players they had been missing in previous cycles. This is the foundation Riley needs to make a true national title push.

2. ☘️ Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Marcus Freeman’s Quiet Masterclass

Head Coach: Marcus Freeman

Key Commit: Edge Rodney Dunham (No. 8 Overall)

The Story: Notre Dame’s class is a testament to quality over the raw composite score, boasting four five-star prospects—the most in the top 10 rankings. Marcus Freeman and his staff executed a flawless signing day, securing every single commit without a single de-commitment or flip, a feat of stability unmatched by any other program.

• Defensive Focus: The core of the class is built on defense, featuring five-star edge rushers and safeties, re-emphasizing Notre Dame’s identity as a program built on defensive line play and intelligence.

• Stress-Free Signing: Their ability to secure all 27 signees early demonstrates remarkable staff stability and deep commitment from the players, contrasting sharply with the chaos experienced by programs with recent coaching changes.

3. 🦆 Oregon Ducks: The Quality Over Quantity King

Head Coach: Dan Lanning

Key Commit: Edge Anthony Jones (No. 19 Overall)

The Story: Oregon finished with the highest average rating per recruit among the top programs, proving Dan Lanning is one of the elite closers in the country. The Ducks landed five five-star prospects from across the country, highlighting the national reach and financial appeal of the program, backed by the Phil Knight/Nike influence.

• National Reach: Oregon’s five-stars hail from five different states (including Texas, North Carolina, and Maryland), showcasing their success in pulling elite talent from traditional SEC/Big Ten recruiting territories.

• Immediate Impact: The class is top-heavy with playmakers like safety Jett Washington and edge rusher Anthony Jones, suggesting several true freshmen could contribute immediately to a program already built for the expanded playoff.

4. 🐶 Georgia Bulldogs: The Unflappable Machine

Head Coach: Kirby Smart

Key Commit: TE Kaiden Protho (No. 48 Overall)

The Story: Despite losing a key quarterback prospect (Jared Curtis) to Vanderbilt in a shocking flip right before signing day, Kirby Smart’s recruiting machine barely skipped a beat. Georgia still secured a top-five class with an impressive haul of 20 four-star prospects.

• Defensive Backfield Reload: The class is strong in the defensive backfield, which is crucial for Smart’s scheme.

• Depth and Development: While they didn’t land a massive haul of five-stars, Georgia’s strength lies in consistently signing a high volume of elite four-stars who fit the program’s profile, ensuring continuous high-level depth.

5. 🐘 Alabama Crimson Tide: Kalen DeBoer’s Stamp

Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer

Key Commit: RB Ezavier Crowell (No. 29 Overall)

The Story: Concerns about Kalen DeBoer’s ability to recruit at an elite level are officially put to rest. Alabama signed three five-star prospects and secured a top-five ranking, demonstrating their continued ability to attract premier talent despite the transition from the Nick Saban era.

• In-State Dominance: A critical factor was retaining in-state five-star running back Ezavier Crowell and defensive prospects, confirming that the Alabama brand remains potent locally.

• High-Value Defense: The class is heavily weighted toward defense, with five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin leading a group of recruits who fit the speed and aggression needed in the new-look SEC.

6. 🌰 Ohio State Buckeyes: The Skill Factory Reloads

Head Coach: [Coach Name, assumed to be Ryan Day]

Key Commit: WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (No. 47 Overall)

The Story: Ohio State maintains a strong presence in the top 10, but the class suffered a setback with the departure of long-time offensive coordinator Brian Hartline (to South Florida), which caused some late-cycle uncertainty. Despite this, the Buckeyes secured a phenomenal class rich in offensive skill talent.

• Skill Positions: The class is loaded with speed and receiving threats, including the highly-rated wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and an elite group of offensive skill players that continue to feed the program’s “Wide Receiver U” reputation.

7. 🔥 Tennessee Volunteers: Heupel’s Offensive Core

Head Coach: Josh Heupel

Key Commit: QB Faizon Brandon (No. 7 Overall)

The Story: Josh Heupel continues to demonstrate his recruiting prowess by locking down one of the nation’s best offensive hauls. Landing two five-stars—quarterback Faizon Brandon and wide receiver Tristen Keys—gives the Volunteers a true foundation for their high-octane offense for the next three to five years.

• Quarterback Security: Brandon is an ideal fit for Heupel’s up-tempo system, addressing the single most important position for the program’s long-term success. The class provides an immediate injection of speed and playmaking ability, which is vital in the modern SEC.

8. ⚔️ Texas A&M Aggies: Built on Defense

Head Coach: [New Coach Name, Lane Kiffin assumed in previous context]

Key Commit: DL/ATH Lamar Brown (No. 2 Overall)

The Story: While the class saw some movement due to recent coaching changes, the Aggies managed to secure a top-10 class, primarily by retaining the commitment of Lamar Brown, the consensus No. 2 overall player in the class.

• Game Wreckers: The foundation of this class is the defensive line, a continuation of the program’s philosophy. Locking down Brown gives the Aggies a generational talent to build their defensive front around as they prepare for the SEC schedule.

9. 🤘 Texas Longhorns: Quarterback Foundation

Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian

Key Commit: QB Dia Bell (No. 9 Overall)

The Story: The Longhorns solidified their future at the most critical position by signing five-star quarterback Dia Bell out of Florida. The class is small but elite at the top, focusing on playmakers and offensive weapons needed for the high-powered Sarkisian offense.

• Quality over Quantity: The class features three five-star prospects among only 23 total signees, indicating a strategy of targeting elite players who can immediately upgrade the roster as they fully integrate into the SEC.

10. 🌴 Miami Hurricanes: Building the Trenches

Head Coach: Mario Cristobal

Key Commit: WR Calvin Russell (No. 23 Overall)

The Story: Miami rounds out the top 10, emphasizing the program’s return to consistent top-tier recruiting. The class is big on overall numbers and focuses on securing the top talent in the state of Florida.

• Offensive/Defensive Line: Mario Cristobal continues his mission of building the lines of scrimmage, a non-negotiable for success in the expanded Big Ten. While the class features Florida skill players like wide receiver Calvin Russell, its long-term impact will be judged by the development of the trench talent.