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2026 college football recruiting class rankings: top 25 schools
ESPN PLUS $ MATERIALIt has been nearly a decade since USC has signed a top-five class, and the Trojans have yet to make an appearance in the College Football Playoff, but Lincoln Riley is working to try to change the program's fortunes on both fronts.
USC is setting the pace for the 2026 recruiting cycle with a class that ranks No. 1 and is anchored by a two five-star recruits, both of whom have come on board in recent days. The combination of Keenyi Pepe and Elbert Hill has added size and speed to the class, with Pepe one of the top-ranked offensive tackles in the class and Hill the No. 1-ranked cornerback.
Notre Dame is coming off an appearance in the national championship game and working to get back there as it continues to infuse its 2026 class with more talent and jumps into the top five. The Fighting Irish have landed multiple ESPN 300 commits in the past month, including running back Javian Osborne, who is out of Texas and offers a nice blend of speed, agility and vision.
Georgia, which has been a staple among the top classes with nine straight top-five finishes, makes its first move into the top 25 of this cycle by landing five-star quarterback Jared Curtis. A former Bulldogs commit, Kirby Smart & Co. were able to bring Curtis back into the fold and his signing is arguably their most notable at the position since 2018, when they signed Justin Fields. Curtis joins a class that already featured a pair of ESPN 300 wide receivers in Brady Marchese and Vance Spafford.
Here's a look at our latest top 25.
New this ranking: Georgia, Washington, BYU
Out: South Carolina, Iowa, TCU
11. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous ranking: 19ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: RB Crew Davis
Top defensive prospect: DT Trashawn Ruffin
Unsurprisingly given his ethos, Bill Belichick is building North Carolina's 2026 class from the inside out. In-state four-star defensive tackle Ruffin flipped from Texas A&M and the 300-pounder has plenty of raw physicality to mold. Ruffin is one of several interior linemen in the class right now, and Belichick went to his former home base in Massachusetts to bring in 335-pound guard Lenneil Hall. The Tar Heels also pulled a pair of three-star corners out of California in Justin Lewis and Marcellous Ryan. High three-star athlete O'Mari Johnson further bolsters that unit as he also projects to the secondary.
Now North Carolina is beginning to layer in skill players such as three-star receiver Darrion Kirksey, who picked the Tar Heels over offers from Ole Miss and Arkansas and has outstanding short-area quickness. Davis can be a versatile back with the power to run between the tackles, but he also possesses good ball skills. As a junior, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards and also hauled in more than 50 receptions.
12. Louisville Cardinals
Previous ranking: 12ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: RB Evan Hampton
Top defensive prospect: DB Jaydin Broadnax
Jeff Brohm has raised Louisville's floor with a 19-8 record and an appearance in the ACC championship game two years ago. His 2026 class already has more than a dozen commits, with four-star defensive back Broadnax out of Florida the biggest get so far. At nearly 6-3, he has great length, balance and body control for a corner. DE Kevontay Hugan was another nice pull out of Florida. He lacks ideal length but possesses a quick first step and has been a versatile defender for his high school and was productive as a junior with more than 100 tackles with 18 sacks.
Hampton, a three-star running back, ran for 1,549 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior at in-state Owensboro High School. He's an elusive, upright runner with the ball skills to affect the pass game and also has a baseball background; he originally committed to rival Kentucky as a freshman before pursuing football. Adding more help along the line could be a focus for Louisville after Miami flipped three-star offensive tackle Joel Ervin.
13. Illinois Fighting Illini
Previous ranking: 10ESPN 300 commits: 0
Top offensive prospect: OL Casey Thomann
Top defensive prospect: LB Cam Thomas
Bret Bielema and his staff were unable to hold on to four-star corner Victor Singleton, a big early recruiting win, but they still have built a strong foundation for 2026. Four-star Thomas is a defender with an outstanding first step and could develop into an edge rusher with big upside. Tony Williams, out of Florida, is a middle linebacker with good instincts and can be a physical presence between the tackles.
The Illini have made some strong in-state additions in the trenches. At 6-7, Thomann is one of the top OL prospects in Illinois, and three-star Tony Balanganayi is an interesting big man. He projects to the defensive line, where he has shown he can be disruptive but with more mass could offer higher upside as an OL.
14. Oregon Ducks
Previous ranking: 6ESPN 300 commits: 4
Top offensive prospect: TE Kendre' Harrison
Top defensive prospect: DT Tony Cumberland
Dan Lanning's run of sustained excellence in Eugene rolls on with Oregon's 2026 class. Reeling in five-star tight end Harrison in November set the tone. The 6-6, 250-pounder is a dynamic two-sport athlete with an exceptional catch radius who is a nightmare for opposing defenses in the red zone. In late February, they added four-star defensive back Xavier Lherisse, who clocked an impressive 1.62 10-yard dash and 4.49 40-yard dash a few days later at the Under Armour Miami camp. Four-star running back Tradarian Ball adds explosiveness and excellent ball skills.
Offensive and defensive linemen laid the initial foundation for this class, although Lanning and the Ducks will need to work hard to keep it that way as rivals work to pull talent away, as USC did in flipping four-star defensive tackle Tomuhini Topui. They did secure the top two big men in-state, in ESPN 300 DTs Cumberland and Viliami Moala.
15. Georgia Bulldogs
Previous ranking: NRESPN 300 commits: 4
Top offensive prospect: QB Jared Curtis
Top defensive prospect: S Zechariah Fort
The Bulldogs have been a consistent staple among the top three overall classes during Kirby Smart's tenure and look to be a contender to do so again in 2026. A big step toward finishing near the top again is bringing five-star quarterback Curtis back into the mix. After a decommitment, the Bulldogs were able to fend off other suitors, most notably Oregon, and give themselves a potential impact QB for the future. Curtis might need to adjust to a relatively steep jump in competition level, but he has elite physical tools, including a smooth, quick release and the ability to change arm angles.
With three of their top four pass catchers from 2024 having moved on and the fourth likely to leave after this season, Georgia is bringing in new receiving targets with speed. Vance Spafford out of California won the fastest-man competition last summer at the UA Future 50 event and in-state prospect Brady Marchese has been recorded hitting over 22 mph in game play. After signing two ESPN 300 TEs in their 2025 class, the Dawgs continue to restock there, adding Lincoln Keyes, who with his big frame and good body control can offer a wide catch radius. On defense, Fort is a safety with good range who can be active in run support.
16. Auburn Tigers
Previous ranking: 13ESPN 300 commits: 5
Top offensive prospect: WR Devin Carter
Top defensive prospect: DE Hezekiah Harris
Though other teams have more total commits at this stage, Hugh Freeze has done a great job attracting premium talent to the Plains as he rebuilds the Tigers. In-state defensive talent forms the early foundation, with commitments from Harris and linebackers JaMichael Garrett and Shadarius Toodle. Harris is a lengthy edge defender with good power and range. Toodle and Garrett are highly productive players who have combined for more than 200 tackles and 20 tackles for loss in their careers.
Freeze then added four-star Carter out of Douglasville (Georgia) High School in January. The son of 1990 NFL first-round running back Dexter Carter, Devin is one of the faster receivers in the class and pairs his speed with fluid, smooth route-running ability.
17. Miami Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 15ESPN 300 commits: 4
Top offensive prospect: RB Javian Mallory
Top defensive prospect: LB Jordan Campbell
Despite a rocky finish to the 2024 season, the Hurricanes are trending in the right direction. They're coming off a 10-win season, former QB Cam Ward was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and they've reeled in two consecutive top-15 recruiting classes. Mario Cristobal's 2026 class isn't particularly deep yet, but he's laying a solid foundation.
QB Dereon Coleman has room for growth but has a quick release and accuracy. Four-star Miami native Campbell is 6-2, 220 pounds with the versatility to make plays in pursuit and the bend and power that portends a potential impact pass rusher. He's a candidate to take a leap with college coaching. The Hurricanes landed a trio of offensive linemen recently, including 6-6 tackle Joel Ervin, who flipped from ACC rival Louisville.
18. Tennessee Volunteers
Previous ranking: 14ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top offensive prospect: QB Faizon Brandon
Top defensive prospect: LB Braylon Outlaw
Brandon, a five-star quarterback, is the headliner, and rightfully so. He's a strong, accurate passer who fits Tennessee's offense perfectly. His commitment was big initially but seems even more impactful now after the well-publicized split with Nico Iamaleava.
In-state four-star receiver Tyreek King (Knoxville Catholic) pairs well alongside Brandon. He is a quick, fluid target who has clocked in-game speeds faster than 21 mph. They also added 6-3 wide receiver Tyran Evans out of North Carolina in January, and likely aren't done at the position. Keep an eye on in-state offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda, who is a massive presence (6-7, 330 pounds) for the Vols to develop.
19. Florida State Seminoles
Previous ranking: 18ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top offensive prospect: ATH Efrem White
Top defensive prospect: S Tedarius Hughes
The Seminoles are coming off a disastrous 2-10 season and a disappointing No. 26 finish in the 2025 recruiting cycle after losing several ESPN 300 commitments down the stretch. Florida State also took a hit when four-star 2026 quarterback Brady Smigiel decommitted in late January. Despite the challenges, they are still scoring some victories on the recruiting trail.
In-state athlete White projects as a receiver but has been a jack-of-all-trades in his high school career as a quarterback, corner and returner. Though he's undersized at 155 pounds, his speed, quickness and creativity make him dangerous in space. Fellow four-star athlete Darryon Williams has the elusiveness and ball skills to develop into a valuable receiver in the open field once he gets to campus. The Seminoles further bolstered their class by adding a trio of in-state prospects early in 2025: offensive tackle Xavier Payne, running back Amari Thomas and linebacker Karon Maycock, who can close well and be a physical hitter.
20. Washington Huskies
Previous ranking: NRESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: OT Kodi Greene
Top defensive prospect: DE Derek Colman-Brusa
Jedd Fisch did an excellent job bringing in talent at Arizona and is now working to retool Washington's roster and get the Huskies back into the playoff hunt. The Huskies won a key recruiting battle by pulling away Greene, an ESPN 300 OL, from rival Oregon. He is a 300-pounder who moves very well for his size with good quickness and the one-time Washington resident can be a key option in the trenches. The Huskies went east to land their QB in Derek Zammit, a tough, smart player with a smooth, quick release. He should continue to improve with the tools to develop into a productive starter.
Washington landed several commitments in the secondary, including in-state Durr, who has good size at roughly 6 feet and is smooth in his movements. He could develop at cornerback or safety.
21. Boston College Eagles
Previous ranking: 20ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OG Marek Jin
Top defensive prospect: DE Mason Leak
Bill O'Brien has injected new life into Boston College by returning the program to its local roots. That has continued so far in 2026, with most of BC's commits hailing from Massachusetts, Connecticut or New York. A key add from that Northeast footprint is Jin, an ESPN 300 OL. At their height, the Eagles built a reputation for developing NFL-caliber talent, particularly along the offensive line and on defense, and just recently had two offensive linemen drafted into the NFL. Jin, who played both ways in high school, fits that mold but projects to the offensive line, where he can be very productive with a nice blend of flexibility and mobility.
On defense, Leak is an interesting prospect who probably will need developmental time but flashes very good raw tools and could in time be a breakout player from this class.
22. Arkansas Razorbacks
Previous ranking: 17ESPN 300 commits: 0
Top offensive prospect: WR Dequane Prevo
Top defensive prospect: DE Colton Yarbrough
The talk about coach Sam Pittman on the hot seat seemed to cool off entering the offseason, which will benefit recruiting and aid a 2026 class that already has a solid foundation. Four-star Prevo out of Texas is a 5-10 receiver who has outstanding balance, body control and short-area burst. Several high-three-star prospects anchor the class, including quarterback Jayvon Gilmore, a tall (6-4) but lean passer with a nice frame to develop. He has a strong arm with a smooth release and is a nice early pickup by the Razorbacks.
Yarbrough brings upside at defensive end with good first-step quickness and range. Pittman, a former offensive line coach, also landed in-state big man Tucker Young, who can get push and help create lanes in the run game.
23. BYU Cougars
Previous ranking: NRESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: TE Brock Harris
Top defensive prospect: DT Bott Mulitalo
The Cougars finished 63rd in the 2025 cycle but are capitalizing on in-state talent to compete for one of the top classes in the Big 12 in 2026. Harris is the top-rated player in the state of Utah and one of the top TE prospects in the country. He has excellent size at roughly 6-6 and is smooth in his movements with excellent ball skills. Harris could be a highly productive target in BYU's passing attack.
Mulitalo, the top-ranked defensive player in the state, can offer versatility along the line and, in camp evaluations, has demonstrated an intense demeanor with the ability to take and apply coaching well. The Cougars also stayed in-state to land a QB to develop in Kaneal Sweetwyne, who has a rangy frame with quick feet and can be a dual-threat option with nice upside as a passer.
24. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Previous ranking: 22ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: WR Dyzier Carter
Top defensive prospect: ATH Chris Hewitt Jr.
The Scarlet Knights have added some top talent to their wide receiver room with Carter and Elias Coke, both of whom have been long-time commits, having joined the class before the 2024 season started. Carter is a good route runner with strong hands and could be a quick contributor once arriving. Coke is a nice target at roughly 6-2.
On defense, Joey Kopec is a two-way player in high school, contributing at RB and LB. He has good range and is effective dropping into coverage. Athlete Hewitt projects to the secondary.
25. Baylor Bears
Previous ranking: 24ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: ATH Ryelan Morris
Top defensive prospect: CB Jamarion Vincent
Baylor picked up London Smith, a wide receiver with strong ties to the program; his father was a two-sport star (football and basketball) at Baylor and his mother was a national champion triple jumper for the Bears. London is a quick, smooth target with good body control.
Athlete Morris, who can be a versatile offensive weapon, adds some potential firepower. Vincent, an ESPN 300 CB, possesses coveted size (6-2) and blends that with good speed and is smooth in his movements.
