As the calendar closes on the 2025 class, and we look at the ESPN Junior 300 and the top junior prospects, colleges are actively building out solid foundations for their 2026 classes as well.
Unsurprisingly, top-ranked Oregon is off to a fast start reloading its roster in Eugene. Elsewhere, there are programs hoping to return to glory, including Florida State and USC.
Here are the 10 best 2026 class thus far:
1. Texas A&M Aggies
Mike Elko's short tenure in leading programs as a head coach has quickly proved his ability to identify talent and recruit at a high level. He has the Aggies in the mix at the top of the SEC, has a top-10 class for 2025 and is off to an excellent start for 2026. While surrounded by top talent, he is working all fertile recruiting grounds, such as Georgia, where he has landed multiple ESPN Junior 300 prospects (including defensive end Jordan Carter). He pulled a QB out of Utah in Helaman Casuga, who has shown he can go through progressions and get the ball out quickly. Elko has also tapped into some of the local talent, and expect that number of Lone Star State commits to rise over the coming months.
2. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks are currently leading the nation on the field but also setting the tone of the recruiting trail for 2026. Big men are establishing the foundation for this class with more than half of Oregon's commits projected to the offensive or defensive lines. Two of their commits are out of California power program Mater Dei, in offensive lineman Kodi Greene and defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui. The latter is a big body with good initial quickness who also contributes at fullback. Viliami Moala can give them another disruptive interior presence on defense as he is a powerful and active 300-pound lineman. Over the summer, Oregon beat in-state Texas among other programs for running back Tradarian Ball, a Texarkana product. Ball is an explosive runner with excellent ball skills and has more than 500 yards both rushing and receiving this season.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions' fast start is being fueled by strong in-state recruiting. Pennsylvania is home to a pair of highly rated offensive tackles, and PSU has landed one thus far in Kevin Brown, who is big player with good flexibility and body quickness. The Nittany Lions are poised to lose both of their current leading rushers prior to the arrival of the 2026 class. While they have a pair of backs committed for 2025, they are adding even more talent at the position with Messiah Mickens. He is out of the same high school as Brown (Harrisburg) and has been a consistently productive player throughout his prep career. While much of this early class is from within the state or Penn State's primary recruiting radius, it did go out west to land QB Troy Huhn out of California. Already a strong-armed passer, he has a big frame to further develop.
4. Auburn Tigers
The on-field product has not been what Auburn fans expect, but Hugh Freeze is attracting plenty of talent to the Plains. The Tigers not only have a top-five class for 2025 but are also among the fast starters for 2026. In-state defensive talent anchors the class with commitments from defensive end Hezekiah Harris and linebackers JaMichael Garrett and Shadarius Toodle. Harris is a lengthy edge defender with good power and range. Toodle and Garrett are proving to be highly productive players with a nose for the ball. They have combined for more than 200 tackles and 20 TFLs in their careers.
5. South Carolina Gamecocks
Shane Beamer has the Gamecocks ranked in the 2025 class rankings and is adding optimism for the future with a strong start for 2026. J'Zavien Currence, is out of the same high school as former Gamecocks star Jadeveon Clowney and gives them a versatile defensive back with his blend of size, versatility and speed. Defensive end Keenan Britt lacks ideal height but has good arm length and initial quickness; plays with leverage; and can be disruptive presence with his blend of speed and power.
6. Tennessee Volunteers
The Vols have set themselves up nicely for the post-Nico Iamaleava era with a commitment from five-star QB Faizon Brandon. The strong-armed passer is completing over 70% of his passes this season and could arrive following Iamaleava's departure or get a season to further develop behind the current Tennessee signal caller. The Vols' top five receivers this season, in terms of production, will all be gone or soon ready to depart over the next two seasons, so the Vols added a top, local receiver for the future in Tyreek King (Knoxville Catholic). He is a quick, fluid target who has consistently been measured running faster than 21 mph in game play.
7. Florida State Seminoles
There's no better time to look toward the future for Seminoles fans as the program suffers through a disappointing season. Fans won't feel the impact of this group for a bit, but it does include some promising player to help turn the program around. Brady Smigiel is a potential answer at quarterback, which is a position of need. He's a competitive player with good anticipation and timing as a passer. He has been highly productive as a junior and has thrown for just shy of 10,000 yards in his high school career. In-state athlete Efrem White projects as a receiver but has been a jack-of-all-trades in his high school career, playing quarterback, corner and returner. He's slightly built at 155 pounds but possesses good speed with excellent quickness and can create and make plays with the ball in his hands.
8. USC Trojans
The Trojans' Big Ten transition hasn't been smooth, but they continue to battle for talent to try to return the program back among the elite in college football. They have been active in the talent-rich state of Georgia, recently pulling ESPN Junior 300 linebacker Xavier Griffin out of the Peach State. He possesses great length and good range, and can provide versatility in how he's used within the front seven. In-state corner Brandon Lockhart has excellent height (measuring close to 6-foot-3) and for a tall defender, he's smooth in his movements. He needs to fill out but has shown he can use his size to be aggressive in press coverage and high-points the ball well. On offense, wide receiver Ja'Myron Baker is a good early in-state addition. He won't wow with his measurables, but he is a good route runner with quick hands who can add quality depth and be a productive pass catcher.
9. LSU Tigers
The Tigers are always tough to beat for homegrown talent. So far, that has held true, will all of the commits being in-state prospects. Athlete Jakai Anderson can be a vertical threat and a productive return man, as he possesses very good game speed, running faster than 21 mph. While projected to offense, he could also end up contributing at cornerback. On the defensive line, Richard Anderson is a stout presence at more than 300 pounds but also has good initial quickness. Out of the same high school, Edna Karr, LSU also added Aiden Hall, a safety with not only good length and speed but one who has also shown he can be a physical presence who will come downhill and defend the run.
10. Arkansas Razorbacks
Hot seat talk surrounding head coach Sam Pittman has seemed to cool, which will benefit recruiting and help aid a 2026 class that already has a solid foundation to build on. Several high-three-star prospects anchor the class, including quarterback Jayvon Gilmore, a tall (6-foot-4) but lean passer with a nice frame to develop. He has a strong arm with a smooth release and is a nice early evaluation and pickup by the Razorbacks. Colton Yarbrough brings upside at defensive end with good first-step quickness and range. An offensive line coach himself, Pittman has landed in-state big man Tucker Young, who can get push and help create lanes in the run game.