The arrival of major college football’s early signing period Wednesday offered a stark reminder for fans across the country.
If recruiting rankings offer any accurate gauge in the era of the NCAA transfer portal, those teams competing for College Football Playoff berths now should keep contending for years to come.
Texas, Georgia and Alabama of the Southeastern Conference and Oregon and Ohio State of the Big Ten are all on track to earn playoff invitations, and those five schools also are atop the team recruiting standings — in that order — for the 2025 signing cycle after day one of three in the early signing period.
It represents one more example of how the SEC and Big Ten have separated themselves from all the other leagues — even the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big 12, the other two within the so-called Power Four of Division I’s Football Bowl Subdivision.
Steve Wiltfong, vice president of recruiting and the transfer portal for On3.com, said it’s apparent why those programs continue recruiting so well.
“First and foremost, those are the programs with the most resources,” Wiltfong said. “They’re the programs that are having the most success on the field and in the NFL draft.”
The order of those top classes remains in flux. The identity of the No. 1 class, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports.com, may not be determined until Friday because of the uncertainty surrounding a couple of top-10 prospects.
Manchester (Georgia) defensive tackle Justus Terry, the nation’s No. 10 overall recruit according to the 247Sports composite rankings, isn’t expected to announce his college choice until Friday. Terry is considering a trio of SEC teams: Auburn, Georgia and Texas.
David Sanders of Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the nation’s No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 5 overall recruit in his class. Sanders is committed to Tennessee, but he wasn’t expected to sign Wednesday as Ohio State continues to pursue him.
Terry was the rare prospect delaying his decision.
Most top recruits already committed to a school well before the signing period, continuing a trend that took effect from the time a December signing date was added in 2017 to the traditional February signing period. This year, that early signing period was moved up a few weeks so that it would take place before the transfer window opens Monday.
This signing period also comes in the era of booster collectives and name, image and likeness opportunities allowing prospects to profit off their brand. LSU coach Brian Kelly called it “unlike any recruiting period that I’ve ever been involved in” and opened his news conference Wednesday by saying it “feels more like Tax Day than it does signing day.”
“It’s not just about finding the right fit academically,” said Kelly, whose class ranked ninth as of Wednesday afternoon. “It’s not just about finding the right fit where you can develop holistically and graduate and play for a championship. It’s about, ‘What’s the most money I can get?’ That’s unfortunate, but it’s the world we live in. You have to be able to adapt, and you have to be able to realign and be prepared.”
AP photo by John Bazemore / Georgia football coach Kirby Smart reacts on the sideline during an SEC game against visiting Tennessee on Nov. 16.While most prospects committed to schools months ago, some of them changed their minds down the stretch.
Oregon arguably had the best day of anyone in flipping prospects.
The Ducks landed the No. 11 overall prospect when cornerback Na’eem Offord made a switch from Ohio State. Oregon also added one of the nation’s top 10 quarterback recruits in Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who initially committed to California.
Oregon’s class now includes three of the nation’s top six cornerback prospects in Offord, Dorian Brew and Brandon Finney.
Perhaps the most notable development in the weeks leading up to the signing period was quarterback Bryce Underwood’s decision last month to stay in his home state and play for Big Ten member Michigan after initially planning to play at LSU.
“It’s huge,” said Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore, who capped his first regular season as Michigan’s head coach with last Saturday’s win at Ohio State as the team improved to 7-5. “He’s an excellent player, obviously.”
Underwood’s switch brought late momentum for Michigan, which didn’t come close to repeating as conference or national champion this season but will end up with a top-10 recruiting class this year after finishing outside the top 15 the past two signing cycles.
Michigan’s recruiting emergence wasn’t the only surprise.
Auburn was sixth in the rankings as of Wednesday afternoon despite posting a fourth consecutive losing season.
“I’ve been very clear since my arrival that I thought it would take three top-10 classes to overhaul our roster, to get it to where it’s apples to apples with the elite in the country,” said Hugh Freeze, whose second season leading the Tigers ended with Saturday’s Iron Bowl rivalry loss at Alabama. “And man, today’s one of those days where the first emotion you probably feel is relief, and excitement is the next one.”
Florida, yet another SEC team, was the fastest-rising program in the recruiting rankings after third-year head coach Billy Napier earned a vote of confidence earlier this fall and freshman quarterback DJ Lagway helped the Gators win three straight games to close the regular season.
“I’m calling it the DJ Lagway effect,” Andrew Ivins, director of scouting for 247Sports, said of the Gators’ surge. “They went from outside the top 50 to knocking on the door for a top-10 recruiting class. We haven’t really seen that type of push ever.”
While Georgia awaits Terry’s decision, the Bulldogs signed two other Peach State prospects who were rated among the nation’s top nine recruits. Defensive lineman Elijah Griffin of Savannah Christian Prep is third overall, while edge rusher Isaiah Gibson of Warner Robins is ninth.
Alabama’s class is headlined by quarterback Keelon Russell, the nation’s No. 2 overall prospect. Ohio State has two top-10 overall recruits in cornerback Devin Sanchez (sixth) and quarterback Tavien St. Clair (seventh).
“There’s a swagger about him, there’s a confidence about him,” Alabama first-year coach Kalen DeBoer said. “He’s been a major part of bringing and keeping this class together, which is what you want out of any leader, but especially out of your quarterback.”
Texas added three prospects from the top 25 by getting safety Jonah Williams (eighth), wide receiver Kaliq Lockett (22nd) and defensive lineman Lance Jackson (25th) to stay home in the Lone Star State and join the Longhorns.