USDA: THE MAGAZINE — WEEK 8 RECRUITING REPORT
The recruiting race is officially starting to take shape.
Alabama holds the nation’s #1 class behind unmatched blue-chip depth, but USC is right on its heels with four five-stars and one of the most efficient elite hauls in the country. Oklahoma, Ohio State and Michigan currently round out the Top 5 — but that cutoff is anything but safe.
LSU is only 6.30 points behind Michigan. Texas and Notre Dame are still sitting on small, star-heavy classes with major room to grow. Texas A&M and Clemson are lurking outside the Top 10 with 100% blue-chip foundations. Even Ole Miss and Indiana are much more dangerous than their current rankings suggest because they simply haven’t built out their volume yet.
And this year, finishing Top 5 means more than bragging rights.
With Elite Recruiter access on the line, the battle for the fifth spot could shape recruiting power for seasons to come.
Inside the Week 8 issue:
Alabama vs USC for the top class
Ohio State’s incredible NIL efficiency
Texas locking down its home state
Notre Dame’s dangerous unfinished class
LSU’s massive QB investment
The biggest bargains and biggest spends
Geographic and positional recruiting trends
The full National Top 25
And the programs best positioned to make a late run at the Top 5
The second half of recruiting is here.
And the most important race may not be for #1.
It may be for #5.
USDA WEEK 8 RECRUITING REPORT
NATIONAL OVERVIEW + TOP 10 CLASS DEEP DIVE + THE RACE FOR A TOP-5 CLASS
Week 8 gives us the clearest picture yet of how the USDA recruiting market is developing.
The national rankings are beginning to separate programs not just by raw talent, but by how they are allocating NIL, where they are recruiting geographically, which positions they are prioritizing, and whether their classes are being built around star power, depth, or efficiency.
The Top 10 alone already shows several completely different roster-building philosophies.
Alabama is winning through overwhelming blue-chip volume.
USC has assembled the most five-star-heavy class in the Top 10.
Oklahoma is leaning heavily into its Texas/Oklahoma footprint.
Ohio State has found some of the strongest NIL value anywhere near the top of the board.
Michigan has built around home-state control and the trenches.
LSU is making massive investments in true national difference-makers.
Penn State has gone all-in on edge talent while filling the bottom of the class cheaply.
Texas has essentially put a wall around its home state.
Notre Dame has quietly assembled one of the strongest small classes in the country.
Georgia has created one of the cleanest high-floor classes in the entire Top 10.
And underneath all of that is another major storyline:
The race for a Top-5 class.
With access to the Elite Recruiter tree tied to finishing in the Top 5, the difference between finishing fifth and sixth is much bigger than a normal recruiting ranking.
That means the bottom of the Top 5 could become one of the most important races of the entire season.
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USDA WEEK 8 NATIONAL TOP 25
1. Alabama — 15 commits | 1,900 NIL | 2 5★ | 13 4★ | 221.55 pts
2. USC — 13 commits | 1,380 NIL | 4 5★ | 9 4★ | 218.20 pts
3. Oklahoma — 15 commits | 1,445 NIL | 2 5★ | 9 4★ | 4 3★ | 213.90 pts
4. Ohio State — 13 commits | 1,080 NIL | 2 5★ | 9 4★ | 2 3★ | 204.15 pts
5. Michigan — 14 commits | 1,415 NIL | 11 4★ | 3 3★ | 199.45 pts
6. LSU — 11 commits | 1,300 NIL | 3 5★ | 7 4★ | 1 3★ | 193.15 pts
7. Penn State — 13 commits | 1,070 NIL | 2 5★ | 4 4★ | 7 3★ | 187.35 pts
8. Texas — 10 commits | 1,305 NIL | 2 5★ | 8 4★ | 180.15 pts
9. Notre Dame — 9 commits | 1,065 NIL | 3 5★ | 6 4★ | 172.85 pts
10. Georgia — 10 commits | 945 NIL | 10 4★ | 170.20 pts
11. UCLA — 10 commits | 1,625 NIL | 10 4★ | 170.20 pts
12. Texas A&M — 9 commits | 1,310 NIL | 2 5★ | 7 4★ | 167.95 pts
13. Clemson — 9 commits | 885 NIL | 1 5★ | 8 4★ | 163.00 pts
14. Wisconsin — 15 commits | 1,045 NIL | 15 3★ | 158.70 pts
15. NC State — 15 commits | 1,140 NIL | 15 3★ | 158.70 pts
16. Florida — 9 commits | 1,010 NIL | 9 4★ | 158.00 pts
17. Stanford — 14 commits | 1,030 NIL | 14 3★ | 154.20 pts
18. Texas Tech — 11 commits | 705 NIL | 4 4★ | 6 3★ | 1 2★ | 152.65 pts
19. Colorado — 13 commits | 830 NIL | 13 3★ | 148.95 pts
20. Iowa State — 13 commits | 690 NIL | 11 3★ | 2 2★ | 144.55 pts
21. Vanderbilt — 12 commits | 870 NIL | 12 3★ | 142.80 pts
22. Ole Miss — 7 commits | 945 NIL | 2 5★ | 5 4★ | 139.75 pts
23. West Virginia — 16 commits | 460 NIL | 6 3★ | 10 2★ | 136.75 pts
24. Army — 11 commits | 575 NIL | 11 3★ | 135.75 pts
25. Indiana — 7 commits | 940 NIL | 1 5★ | 6 4★ | 134.80 pts
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NATIONAL SNAPSHOT
Across the Top 25 classes, there are currently 294 total commitments and 26,965 NIL committed.
That breaks down to:
26 five-stars
135 four-stars
120 three-stars
13 two-stars
The average Top-25 class currently sits at roughly 11.8 commits and 1,079 NIL spent.
The middle of the market is beginning to become obvious.
Alabama and USC are separated by only 3.35 class points, but they are getting there very differently.
Alabama has the deeper class with 15 commitments and 13 four-stars.
USC has the higher star concentration with four five-stars among only 13 commitments.
Oklahoma and Ohio State round out the 200-point group, while Michigan sits right below that threshold at 199.45.
LSU and Notre Dame are both outperforming their class size because their top-end talent is so strong.
Georgia and UCLA provide one of the most interesting contrasts on the board.
Both have 10 four-star commitments and exactly 170.20 class points.
Georgia has spent 945 NIL.
UCLA has spent 1,625 NIL.
Same star distribution.
Same class score.
A 680 NIL difference.
That is one of the clearest examples yet of how dramatically cost efficiency can vary even when two classes look identical on the surface.
The middle of the Top 25 also shows the other extreme.
Wisconsin and NC State are tied at 158.70 with 15 three-stars each.
Stanford is sitting at #17 with 14 three-stars.
Those programs are using pure class volume to create points rather than leaning on blue-chip recruiting.
Ole Miss is the opposite.
They are only #22 because they have just seven commitments, but all seven are blue chips and two are five-stars.
Indiana is similar at #25 with one five-star and six four-stars.
Those classes are much stronger on a per-player basis than the raw national ranking would suggest.
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#1 ALABAMA
15 commits | 1,900 NIL | 2 5★ | 13 4★
Average NIL per commit: 126.7
Blue-chip rate: 100%
Class score: 221.55
Alabama has the deepest class in the country right now, and there really isn’t any filler in it.
Every one of the 15 commitments is a blue chip.
What stands out most is the defensive construction.
Alabama has already landed two elite safeties, multiple linebackers, two corners, an EDGE and a defensive tackle.
This looks less like a class built around a couple of stars and more like an attempt to replenish an entire defensive two-deep.
Carl Everett — SAM — 5★ — #6 NAT — #1 SAM — 190 NIL
Everett is the centerpiece.
He is the #6 player nationally, #1 SAM and #1 player in Georgia.
At 6’0”, 236 pounds and listed as a Thumper, he projects as the physical centerpiece of Alabama’s future linebacker group.
190 NIL is expensive, but this is one of the cases where the price is being driven by positional scarcity and true elite status.
C. Landry — SS — 5★ — #30 NAT — #1 SS — 160 NIL
Landry is arguably one of the cleaner purchases in the class.
Alabama gets a five-star, #1 positional prospect for 160 NIL.
Everett and Landry together cost 350.
That is a very reasonable total for two national-level defensive cornerstones.
The middle of the class is where Alabama’s depth really separates itself.
J. Pettis — SS — #55 NAT — 150 NIL
C. Barmore — FS — #87 NAT — 130 NIL
B. Augustine — LEDG — #125 NAT — 130 NIL
N. Gibbs — WR — #126 NAT — 120 NIL
L. Swift — CB — #173 NAT — 130 NIL
C. Doss — DT — #255 NAT — 140 NIL
Alabama is not trying to bargain-shop throughout the class.
The Tide are repeatedly paying 100-150 NIL for known four-star talent.
Trent Meeks — CB — 4★ — #327 NAT — 100 NIL
Meeks represents the bottom of Alabama’s class, and even the 15th commitment is still a four-star corner.
That tells you everything about the class floor.
CLASS IDENTITY:
Depth, defensive volume and almost no compromise.
Alabama is spending the most because Alabama is buying a huge amount of certainty.
The #1 ranking is being driven by both quality and quantity.
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#2 USC
13 commits | 1,380 NIL | 4 5★ | 9 4★
Average NIL per commit: 106.2
Blue-chip rate: 100%
Class score: 218.20
USC may have the most explosive collection of top-end talent in the entire league.
Alabama has more depth.
USC has four five-stars and six Top-100 players while spending 520 fewer NIL than Alabama.
The top four is ridiculous.
T. Kamara — QB — 5★ — #10 NAT — 150 NIL
S. Willy — LEDG — 5★ — #12 NAT — 170 NIL
K. Shackelford — DT — 5★ — #17 NAT — 160 NIL
Miguel Trapasso — DT — 5★ — #23 NAT — 160 NIL
That’s four Top-23 national recruits for only 640 combined NIL.
And the positions are exactly what you want to see at the top of a class:
Quarterback.
Edge.
Defensive tackle.
Defensive tackle.
T. Kamara — QB — #10 NAT — 150 NIL
Kamara may be one of the strongest values in the entire Top 10.
Quarterback normally carries a market premium.
USC got the #10 overall recruit and #2 quarterback for only 150.
That’s elite-player money without the elite-QB surcharge we’ve seen elsewhere.
Miguel Trapasso — DT — #23 NAT — #4 DT — 160 NIL
Trapasso is 6’5”, 297 pounds and gives USC another elite interior presence.
The bigger story is that he is paired with K. Shackelford, the #17 player nationally.
USC didn’t land one elite defensive tackle.
USC landed two.
That has the potential to change an entire future defensive front.
The class also maintains a logical western recruiting footprint.
California is heavily represented.
Nevada is represented.
Arizona is represented.
Then USC selectively reaches nationally for premium talent in Georgia, Texas and Florida.
That is a very sustainable national recruiting model.
Dominate the West.
Travel for elite prospects.
Dalton Doucet — TE — 4★ — #288 NAT — #5 TE — 65 NIL
Doucet shows why USC’s average spend remains manageable.
He is a four-star tight end and Top-5 positional prospect for only 65 NIL.
USC is not paying everybody like a five-star.
The Trojans are spending aggressively at the very top and then finding multiple low-cost blue-chip commitments underneath.
CLASS IDENTITY:
Elite star power, premium positional value and outstanding NIL efficiency.
USC is only 3.35 class points behind Alabama despite having two fewer commitments.
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#3 OKLAHOMA
15 commits | 1,445 NIL | 2 5★ | 9 4★ | 4 3★
Average NIL per commit: 96.3
Blue-chip rate: 73.3%
Class score: 213.90
Oklahoma is building perhaps the most regional class of the Top 5 outside of Texas.
This is essentially a Texas/Oklahoma recruiting operation.
A massive portion of the class comes directly from Texas, with additional commitments from Oklahoma itself.
Instead of scattering resources nationally, Oklahoma has attacked its natural footprint extremely hard.
Brenton Lemon — LT — 5★ — #14 NAT — #2 LT — 210 NIL
Lemon is the class centerpiece.
At 6’7”, 277 pounds, he is one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the nation.
210 NIL is expensive, but elite tackles are among the hardest positions to replace.
Oklahoma also landed D. Sutphin, a four-star right tackle at 180 NIL.
That gives OU potentially elite bookends.
T. Coffey — WILL — 5★ — #16 NAT — 170 NIL
Oklahoma’s two five-stars are ranked #14 and #16 nationally.
That’s an elite top pair.
The difference between Oklahoma and USC is what happens after the stars.
USC remains almost entirely in four-star territory.
Oklahoma starts mixing in inexpensive developmental players.
A. Talouse — 3★ — 50 NIL
J. Jameson — 3★ CB — 30 NIL
S. Gammon — 3★ — 15 NIL
O. Machado — 3★ — 10 NIL
That’s only 105 NIL for four roster spots.
Juan Jameson — CB — 3★ — #878 NAT — 30 NIL
Jameson is a perfect example of Oklahoma’s developmental strategy.
Nobody is expecting him to carry the class.
He is an inexpensive lottery ticket who allows Oklahoma to preserve money for Lemon, Coffey and Sutphin.
If one or two of those inexpensive three-stars eventually develop into major contributors, the roster economics become extremely favorable.
CLASS IDENTITY:
Regional domination, selective premium spending and cheap developmental depth.
Oklahoma is paying big where it believes talent is difficult to replace, then protecting the budget elsewhere.
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#4 OHIO STATE
13 commits | 1,080 NIL | 2 5★ | 9 4★ | 2 3★
Average NIL per commit: 83.1
Blue-chip rate: 84.6%
Class score: 204.15
Ohio State may be the biggest value story anywhere near the top of the rankings.
The Buckeyes are #4 nationally despite spending only 1,080 NIL.
And the top of the class is absurd.
B. Zimmerman — DT — 5★ — #3 NAT — 150 NIL
Cedric Gainwell — CB — 5★ — #4 NAT — 170 NIL
Ohio State has two of the top four recruits in the entire country for 320 combined NIL.
Cedric Gainwell — CB — #4 NAT — #2 CB — 170 NIL
Gainwell is the #1 player in Virginia.
At 6’0”, 174 pounds, he’s an elite corner at one of the most valuable defensive positions.
Pair him with Zimmerman, the #3 overall player and #1 DT, and Ohio State has future building blocks at both corner and defensive tackle.
Then the class gets even more interesting because the prices collapse.
B. Calcaterra — HB — #34 NAT — 55 NIL
A Top-35 national player for 55 is one of the biggest bargains we’ve seen.
K. Flaherty — CB — 60 NIL
E. Tolzien — RG — 60 NIL
J. Gentile — MIKE — 60 NIL
Q. Mahoney — FS — 75 NIL
Ohio State is consistently finding four-star talent at prices below what has become the standard USDA four-star market.
Roy Stump — CB — 3★ — #603 NAT — 30 NIL
Stump is a developmental piece at almost no cost.
H. Bannon — TE — 3★ — #1304 NAT — 0 NIL
Bannon is essentially a free roster lottery ticket.
Ohio State’s geography also deserves credit.
The class includes New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
The Buckeyes are recruiting nationally without appearing to pay a severe national recruiting premium.
CLASS IDENTITY:
Elite top-two stars, bargain four-stars and very little wasted NIL.
Ohio State’s 83.1 NIL-per-commit number is one of the most impressive numbers in the entire Top 10.
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#5 MICHIGAN
14 commits | 1,415 NIL | 11 4★ | 3 3★
Average NIL per commit: 101.1
Blue-chip rate: 78.6%
Class score: 199.45
Michigan is the complete opposite of USC and Ohio State.
There is no five-star headliner.
Instead, Michigan has built a huge middle class of good four-star talent.
Eleven of fourteen commitments are four-stars.
The class also has a very clear geographic identity.
Michigan has done an outstanding job keeping talent inside the state.
C. Hood — CB — Michigan
B. McElroy — DT — Michigan
T. Thompson — FS — Michigan
A. Tavares — WILL — Michigan
M. Punga — CB — Michigan
S. Corp — WILL — Michigan
M. Sun — RT — Michigan
R. Gainwell — WILL — Michigan
Eight in-state players among the visible commitments.
That is a major territorial win.
Bret Crumpler — MIKE — 4★ — #49 NAT — #1 MIKE — 120 NIL
Crumpler may not carry a fifth star, but he is the #1 player nationally at his position.
That makes him an elite positional recruit regardless of star label.
Michigan is also building heavily through the offensive line.
J. Rozeboom — RG — #44 NAT — 150 NIL
M. Sun — RT — #276 NAT — 115 NIL
P. Simonson — LG — 70 NIL
M. Wooden — RG — 65 NIL
E. Kelly — RG — 70 NIL
Five offensive linemen already.
Add in multiple linebackers and defensive tackles, and the roster-building philosophy becomes pretty clear.
Michigan is emphasizing the line of scrimmage.
Rudy Gainwell — WILL — 4★ — #341 NAT — 70 NIL
Gainwell is a good example of Michigan using moderate NIL to retain an in-state four-star.
He doesn’t have the national ranking of the headliners in other classes, but he adds depth to a position Michigan is clearly prioritizing.
CLASS IDENTITY:
Home-state control, roster depth and line-of-scrimmage recruiting.
Michigan lacks the five-star ceiling of several classes above it, but very little about the class feels random.
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#6 LSU
11 commits | 1,300 NIL | 3 5★ | 7 4★ | 1 3★
Average NIL per commit: 118.2
Blue-chip rate: 90.9%
Class score: 193.15
LSU is one of the most top-heavy classes in the league.
The Tigers have only 11 commitments, but their first three are:
J. Pinner — WR — 5★ — #5 NAT — 145 NIL
Mike Downs — QB — 5★ — #13 NAT — 310 NIL
K. Willie — DT — 5★ — #26 NAT — 190 NIL
That’s three Top-26 national recruits at three premium positions.
Receiver.
Quarterback.
Defensive tackle.
J. Pinner — WR — #5 NAT — #1 WR — 145 NIL
Pinner might be one of the strongest elite-player values in the entire Top 10.
He is the #5 player in the nation, the #1 wide receiver and the #1 recruit in Louisiana.
LSU keeps its best local receiver home for 145.
That’s outstanding business.
Mike Downs — QB — #13 NAT — #3 QB — 310 NIL
Downs is the other extreme.
310 NIL is the single biggest investment among the highlighted recruits.
LSU has clearly decided that Downs is its quarterback.
At 6’3”, 205 pounds with the Backfield Creator archetype, he projects as a potential centerpiece of the offense.
The price is enormous.
But quarterback is the one position where a massive premium can still make sense if the player becomes a multi-year starter.
K. Willie — DT — #26 NAT — #5 DT — 190 NIL
Willie is 6’4”, 299 pounds and gives LSU another premium interior defender.
He is also part of a much larger positional pattern.
LSU already has K. Willie, D. Lindsay and K. Roe at defensive tackle.
This isn’t random accumulation.
LSU is intentionally rebuilding the interior defensive line.
After the stars, LSU becomes dramatically more economical.
D. Lindsay — DT — 100 NIL
D. Clemons — RT — 120 NIL
D. North — FS — 65 NIL
J. Saunders — MIKE — 65 NIL
J. Nall — LT — 80 NIL
F. Rountree — REDG — 80 NIL
CLASS IDENTITY:
Superstar-heavy with strategic bargain hunting underneath.
LSU has spent nearly half of its total class budget on three players, but still managed to add seven more four-stars.
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#7 PENN STATE
13 commits | 1,070 NIL | 2 5★ | 4 4★ | 7 3★
Average NIL per commit: 82.3
Blue-chip rate: 46.2%
Class score: 187.35
Penn State has one of the most unusual class structures in the Top 10.
The top is legitimately elite.
The bottom is almost entirely developmental.
The defining feature is EDGE.
Mitch Lovelace — LEDG — 5★ — #27 NAT — 180 NIL
S. Tonga — REDG — 5★ — #31 NAT — 180 NIL
G. Amerson — LEDG — 4★ — #224 NAT — 115 NIL
Three edge rushers.
Two five-stars.
Penn State has essentially recruited both sides of a future pass rush at the same time.
Mitch Lovelace — LEDG — #27 NAT — #3 LEDG — 180 NIL
Lovelace is 6’3”, 245 pounds and a Speed Rusher.
180 NIL makes sense here.
This is a five-star player at one of the most valuable defensive positions.
S. Tonga — REDG — #31 NAT — 180 NIL
Tonga gives Penn State the opposite edge.
That creates the possibility of two elite rushers eventually being on the field together.
Then the spending drops.
R. Treggs — HB — 4★ — 95 NIL
P. Uzomah — TE — 4★ — 90 NIL
G. Amerson — EDGE — 4★ — 115 NIL
J. Michaels — WR — 4★ — 80 NIL
And then even further.
C. Washington — SS — 3★ — 30 NIL
C. Rozehoom — RG — 3★ — 5 NIL
S. Casillas — MIKE — 3★ — 5 NIL
Stephen Merritt — QB — 3★ — #1183 NAT — 50 NIL
Merritt is almost the exact opposite of LSU’s quarterback strategy.
LSU paid 310 for an elite five-star quarterback.
Penn State paid 50 for a developmental three-star.
That tells you exactly where the two programs chose to allocate their money.
CLASS IDENTITY:
Elite pass rush at the top, bargain developmental depth at the bottom.
Penn State is using a true barbell strategy.
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#8 TEXAS
10 commits | 1,305 NIL | 2 5★ | 8 4★
Average NIL per commit: 130.5
Blue-chip rate: 100%
Class score: 180.15
Texas has one of the most geographically dominant classes anywhere in the league.
Every single commitment shown is from Texas.
All ten.
And this is not a class of local leftovers.
Eight of the ten are Top-100 national recruits.
V. Troyer — CB — 5★ — #2 NAT — #1 CB — 165 NIL
Troyer may be the single strongest value at the very top of any class.
The #2 player in the entire country.
The #1 corner.
The #1 player in Texas.
165 NIL.
That’s an elite result.
Chuck Faulk — FS — 5★ — #24 NAT — #2 FS — 200 NIL
Faulk gives Texas an elite secondary pairing with Troyer.
Texas now owns both an elite five-star corner and an elite five-star safety from its own state.
E. Cutrera — REDG — 4★ — #33 NAT — 200 NIL
Cutrera is one of the best examples of why star rating alone can be misleading.
He’s technically a four-star, but he’s the #33 player nationally.
Texas paid 200 NIL for him, which is more than several five-stars have cost elsewhere.
But Top-35 players are not ordinary four-stars.
D. Briscoe — WILL — #50 NAT — 120 NIL
J. Trueblood — LT — #63 NAT — 130 NIL
R. Soria — WILL — #88 NAT — 80 NIL
M. Centeno — HB — #89 NAT — 85 NIL
B. Iorio — TE — #99 NAT — 105 NIL
That’s eight Top-100 players among ten commitments.
Eric Potts — MIKE — 4★ — #160 NAT — #9 MIKE — 90 NIL
Potts is one of the cleaner lower-cost pieces.
A Top-10 positional linebacker for 90 is solid value.
CLASS IDENTITY:
Complete territorial domination.
Texas is not just recruiting its state well.
Texas is currently walling off the state while taking many of its best players.
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#9 NOTRE DAME
9 commits | 1,065 NIL | 3 5★ | 6 4★
Average NIL per commit: 118.3
Blue-chip rate: 100%
Class score: 172.85
Notre Dame may be the most dangerous unfinished class in the Top 10.
Only nine commitments.
Three five-stars.
Six four-stars.
Zero developmental takes.
And six Top-100 players.
The three five-stars are especially impressive.
Lee Nwaneri — CB — 5★ — #15 NAT — 145 NIL
T. Hyde — DT — 5★ — #19 NAT — 160 NIL
F. DuVall — FS — 5★ — #21 NAT — 155 NIL
Three Top-21 players.
Total cost: 460 NIL.
That is extremely efficient.
Lee Nwaneri — CB — #15 NAT — #3 CB — 145 NIL
Notre Dame went directly into Georgia and landed a national Top-15 corner for 145.
At a premium position, that’s a major recruiting victory.
F. DuVall — FS — #21 NAT — #1 FS — 155 NIL
DuVall is the #1 free safety in the country.
Notre Dame now has a five-star corner and five-star safety in the same class.
And the four-star depth is strong.
G. Bobo — SS — #60 NAT — 115 NIL
B. Sierra — FS — #77 NAT — 120 NIL
M. Jewel — RT — #96 NAT — 130 NIL
J. Helms — C — #116 NAT — 115 NIL
E. Sturgis — SAM — #140 NAT — 50 NIL
J. Cushenberry — WILL — #206 NAT — 75 NIL
Sturgis at 50 NIL is one of the strongest four-star bargains in the class.
Notre Dame is also doing this nationally.
Georgia.
New Jersey.
California.
Pennsylvania.
Ohio.
Missouri.
The Irish aren’t leaning on one dominant home pipeline.
CLASS IDENTITY:
National reach, elite defensive backs and almost no wasted NIL.
If Notre Dame adds four or five more players without sacrificing quality, this class could move substantially higher.
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#10 GEORGIA
10 commits | 945 NIL | 10 4★
Average NIL per commit: 94.5
Blue-chip rate: 100%
Class score: 170.20
Georgia may have the highest floor of any class in the Top 10.
There is no five-star superstar.
There also isn’t a single non-blue-chip player.
Ten commitments.
Ten four-stars.
Less than 1,000 NIL.
The visible class includes:
K. Igwenagu — HB — #62 NAT — 90 NIL
C. Barnes — CB — #92 NAT — 100 NIL
Matt Huff — WILL — #199 NAT — 110 NIL
J. Brink — SAM — #212 NAT — 75 NIL
J. Gallo — CB — #213 NAT — 100 NIL
B. Law — RT — #236 NAT — 120 NIL
C. Nienhuis — RG — #242 NAT — 110 NIL
M. Bales — REDG — #264 NAT — 95 NIL
T. Wile — CB — #272 NAT — 80 NIL
The tenth recruit is not visible in the screenshot, but the national overview confirms Georgia has 10 four-stars and 945 total NIL.
The nine visible players account for 880 NIL, meaning the final commitment accounts for 65.
K. Igwenagu — HB — #62 NAT — 90 NIL
This is quietly one of the best purchases in the class.
Top-65 player.
Top-5 running back.
Only 90 NIL.
Matt Huff — WILL — #199 NAT — 110 NIL
Huff is the #15 WILL and #6 prospect from Alabama.
He’s a good representation of the class as a whole.
Good ranking.
Useful position.
Reasonable cost.
Georgia has also taken at least three corners:
C. Barnes
J. Gallo
T. Wile
Add multiple linebackers and edge players and the defensive emphasis becomes obvious.
CLASS IDENTITY:
No superstars.
No weak links.
Georgia has essentially bought an entire four-star recruiting class for less than 95 NIL per player.
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THE RACE FOR A TOP-5 CLASS
The most important recruiting battle over the second half of the cycle may not actually be for #1.
It may be for #5.
With access to the Elite Recruiter tree attached to a Top-5 class finish, there is a massive difference between finishing fifth and finishing sixth.
That turns the bottom of the Top 5 into a real race.
CURRENT TOP 5
1. Alabama — 221.55
2. USC — 218.20
3. Oklahoma — 213.90
4. Ohio State — 204.15
5. Michigan — 199.45
The current cutoff is Michigan at 199.45.
But that position is nowhere close to secure.
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POLE POSITION
ALABAMA — 221.55
15 commits
2 5★
13 4★
Alabama already has both volume and quality.
That is important because the programs chasing them still need to add players, while Alabama has already banked 15 blue chips.
The Tide aren’t merely holding #1 because of a couple five-stars.
They’ve already accumulated 15 players without taking a single three-star.
That gives Alabama one of the safest floors in the entire race.
At this point, Alabama doesn’t necessarily need another massive recruiting run to remain comfortably in the Top 5.
A few additional quality commitments could make them extremely difficult to dislodge.
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USC — 218.20
13 commits
4 5★
9 4★
USC is in similarly strong shape.
Four five-stars gives USC the best star concentration among the current Top 10, and the Trojans are already at 13 commitments.
The difference between USC and Alabama is only 3.35 points.
USC is therefore fighting two races simultaneously:
The race for #1.
And the race to make absolutely certain it never gets dragged toward the Top-5 cutoff.
Given the existing class quality, USC would likely need a significant late collapse to fall completely out of this group.
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OKLAHOMA — 213.90
15 commits
2 5★
9 4★
4 3★
Oklahoma is also sitting in a strong position because the Sooners already have 15 commitments.
OU doesn’t have USC’s four five-stars or Alabama’s perfect blue-chip rate, but it has already accumulated significant volume.
That matters.
Programs such as Texas and Notre Dame still have substantial class growth available, but Oklahoma already has a 213.90 foundation.
The challenge for OU is that the bottom of the class contains four three-stars.
If the teams behind them continue stacking four- and five-stars, Oklahoma may need another premium commitment or two to protect its position.
Still, with 213.90 already on the board, Oklahoma has created significant separation from the cutoff.
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OHIO STATE — 204.15
13 commits
2 5★
9 4★
2 3★
This is where the race starts getting much more interesting.
Ohio State is currently fourth, but the Buckeyes are only:
4.70 points ahead of Michigan.
11.00 ahead of LSU.
16.80 ahead of Penn State.
24.00 ahead of Texas.
Ohio State absolutely has Top-5 quality, but unlike the first three, there isn’t much breathing room.
The good news is that the Buckeyes have been extremely efficient.
Their class already includes the #3 and #4 national prospects, and they’ve spent only 1,080 NIL overall.
That leaves Ohio State positioned to continue adding players without having already exhausted enormous amounts of its recruiting capital.
A couple additional four-star wins probably provide the buffer they need.
Another elite recruit could move Ohio State from defending fourth to challenging the Top 3.
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THE CURRENT CUT LINE
MICHIGAN — 199.45
14 commits
11 4★
3 3★
Michigan currently owns the seat everybody wants.
But this is probably the most vulnerable position among the current Top 5.
The Wolverines have already reached 14 commitments, meaning much of their class volume has already been reflected in the score.
And they still don’t have a five-star.
That matters because several teams immediately behind Michigan have smaller classes and significantly more elite talent.
Michigan’s strength is its floor.
Eleven four-stars is an excellent foundation.
But the Wolverines may need another high-end recruiting win rather than simply continuing to add developmental depth.
Right now Michigan isn’t just trying to climb.
Michigan is trying to defend #5 from several classes that have more room to grow.
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FIRST TEAM OUT
LSU — 193.15
11 commits
3 5★
7 4★
1 3★
LSU is only 6.30 points behind Michigan.
And LSU has three fewer commitments.
That makes the Tigers the most immediate threat to crash the Top 5.
This is exactly the type of class that could move quickly.
Three five-stars are already secured.
The Tigers still have room to add volume.
And the foundation of the class is overwhelmingly blue-chip.
LSU doesn’t need a complete recruiting explosion.
A couple quality commitments could be enough to move them past Michigan depending on what Michigan adds.
Among the teams currently outside the Top 5, LSU has the clearest immediate path into it.
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RIGHT ON THE FRINGE
PENN STATE — 187.35
13 commits
2 5★
4 4★
7 3★
Penn State is 12.10 points behind Michigan.
That’s still absolutely reachable.
But Penn State’s path is different from LSU’s.
With 13 commitments already, simple volume probably isn’t enough.
The Nittany Lions need quality.
Their class is extremely top-heavy with two five-star edge rushers, but seven of the 13 commitments are three-stars.
Another five-star or a couple high-level four-stars could move Penn State significantly.
A handful of additional three-stars probably won’t.
Penn State needs recruiting wins that materially change the profile of the class.
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THE BIGGEST TOP-5 WILDCARD
TEXAS — 180.15
10 commits
2 5★
8 4★
Texas may be the most dangerous team currently sitting outside the immediate fringe.
The Longhorns are 19.30 points behind Michigan.
That sounds significant until you remember Texas has only 10 commitments.
And every one is a blue chip.
Eight are currently Top-100 national recruits.
Texas has five fewer commitments than Alabama and four fewer than Michigan.
There is a huge amount of ranking upside still available through normal class growth.
Texas doesn’t necessarily need another five-star spree.
If it simply adds four or five recruits comparable to the ones already committed, the Longhorns could move very quickly.
Their current #8 ranking is partly a volume issue.
The talent profile already looks like a potential Top-5 class.
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NOTRE DAME — 172.85
9 commits
3 5★
6 4★
Notre Dame is even more extreme.
The Irish are currently ninth.
But they only have nine players.
Three are five-stars.
All nine are blue chips.
Notre Dame has six fewer commitments than Alabama.
Five fewer than Michigan.
Four fewer than Ohio State.
So #9 is somewhat misleading.
The ranking is low because the class is incomplete, not because the class is weak.
If Notre Dame adds four quality four-stars, the class could move dramatically.
Add another five-star somewhere in that run, and the Irish become a legitimate threat to everybody around the Top-5 line.
Notre Dame probably has one of the highest ceilings among the unfinished classes.
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OUTSIDE THE TOP 10 — BUT VERY MUCH ALIVE
TEXAS A&M — #12 — 167.95
9 commits
2 5★
7 4★
This is the most obvious one.
Texas A&M has the exact kind of profile that can skyrocket.
Only nine commitments.
Two five-stars.
Seven four-stars.
100% blue-chip rate.
A&M is only 31.50 points behind the current Top-5 cutoff despite having five fewer commitments than Michigan.
If A&M simply reaches normal class volume while maintaining anything close to its current quality, the Aggies could make a serious jump.
They’re much more dangerous than the #12 beside their name makes them look.
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CLEMSON — #13 — 163.00
9 commits
1 5★
8 4★
Clemson is another class where the ranking is being suppressed by volume.
Nine players.
Every one a blue chip.
The Tigers don’t have A&M’s second five-star, but they have an extremely clean foundation.
A couple premium wins plus normal four-star volume could move Clemson into the Top 10 very quickly.
A larger late run could make the Top-5 conversation interesting.
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UCLA — #11 — 170.20
10 commits
10 4★
UCLA is fascinating because the Bruins are tied with Georgia in class score despite spending far more NIL.
That makes their efficiency questionable.
But in terms of the rankings race, they are still positioned well.
Ten four-stars is a legitimate foundation.
The issue is ceiling.
To move from the fringe of the Top 10 into the Top 5, UCLA probably needs more than just additional four-star volume.
A major five-star win would completely change the profile of the class.
Two could transform it.
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FLORIDA — #16 — 158.00
9 commits
9 4★
Florida is another class that is better than its ranking initially looks.
Nine commits.
Nine four-stars.
The Gators are simply small right now.
There is no five-star headliner yet, which limits their current ceiling, but this is exactly the type of class that can make a major jump once it gets from nine commitments into the 13-15 range.
Florida probably needs at least one premium recruiting victory to become a realistic Top-5 threat.
But a Top-10 surge is very attainable through normal volume.
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THE DEEP SLEEPERS
OLE MISS — #22 — 139.75
7 commits
2 5★
5 4★
Don’t let #22 fool you.
This may be the most deceptive ranking in the entire Top 25.
Ole Miss has seven commitments.
Every single one is a blue chip.
Two are five-stars.
They are 59.70 points behind Michigan, but they also have seven fewer commitments.
That’s an enormous amount of remaining class volume.
If Ole Miss starts stacking commitments, they could fly through the rankings.
A Top-5 finish would require a huge second half.
But a move from #22 into the Top 10 is very realistic if the quality holds as volume arrives.
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INDIANA — #25 — 134.80
7 commits
1 5★
6 4★
Indiana has a similar story.
The Hoosiers are last among the Top 25 listed, but they only have seven players.
All seven are blue chips.
The difference is that Ole Miss has two five-stars while Indiana has one.
Still, the current ranking is largely a reflection of quantity.
Indiana could jump a massive number of spots without doing anything extraordinary other than continuing to sign players at its current quality level.
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WHY ELITE RECRUITER CHANGES EVERYTHING
Normally the difference between finishing #5 and #6 would mostly be cosmetic.
Here it isn’t.
A Top-5 recruiting class can unlock access to the Elite Recruiter tree.
That means this year’s recruiting results can influence future recruiting cycles.
So there is a compounding effect.
Finish Top 5.
Gain access to additional recruiting advantages.
Use those advantages to improve future classes.
That makes the battle around #5 potentially one of the most important long-term races in USDA.
Michigan isn’t simply defending a ranking.
LSU, Penn State, Texas, Notre Dame and the others aren’t simply chasing bragging rights.
They’re fighting over access to a tool that can change their recruiting ceiling going forward.
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TOP-10 MARKET PICTURE
Alabama has the highest total spend at 1,900 NIL.
Texas has the highest average spend per commitment at 130.5.
USC has the most five-stars with four.
USC and Alabama are the only Top-10 programs with both a 100% blue-chip rate and 13 or more commitments.
Ohio State is spending only 83.1 per player despite having two of the top four recruits nationally.
Penn State is even slightly lower at 82.3 per player, but the reason is different.
Penn State has seven three-stars lowering its average, while Ohio State has nine four-stars and two five-stars.
Notre Dame is only at nine commitments but already has three five-stars and six four-stars.
Texas has eight Top-100 recruits in a ten-player class.
Georgia has 10 four-stars for only 945 total NIL.
Michigan is the only Top-5 class without a five-star.
LSU owns the largest individual expenditure among the highlighted prospects with Mike Downs at 310.
USC’s four five-stars cost only 640 total NIL.
Notre Dame’s three five-stars cost only 460.
Ohio State’s two Top-4 national players cost only 320.
Those are dramatically different market outcomes.
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GEOGRAPHIC TRENDS
Texas has the clearest territorial stranglehold.
All ten current Texas commitments shown are from Texas.
Eight are Top-100 recruits.
Michigan has also done extremely well protecting its home state, with eight visible commitments coming from Michigan.
Oklahoma is leaning heavily into Texas and Oklahoma rather than chasing recruits nationwide.
USC has maintained a strong western footprint through California, Nevada and Arizona, then selectively gone national for premium players.
Notre Dame is doing almost the opposite.
The Irish class is scattered nationally, pulling elite players from Georgia, New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Missouri.
Alabama is recruiting throughout the Southeast while reaching heavily into Texas and Florida.
Ohio State’s class is perhaps the most geographically balanced, drawing from Ohio while also landing elite talent from New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
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POSITIONAL TRENDS
Defensive recruiting is driving several elite classes.
Alabama is stacking linebackers and defensive backs.
USC has two elite defensive tackles plus a five-star edge.
Ohio State’s two five-stars are a defensive tackle and cornerback.
Michigan has loaded up on linebackers, defensive linemen and offensive linemen.
LSU has three defensive tackles.
Penn State has three EDGE commitments.
Texas has an elite corner and safety pairing.
Notre Dame has a five-star corner, five-star defensive tackle and five-star safety.
Georgia has already taken at least three corners.
The overall Top-10 market is clearly placing a premium on:
Defensive line.
EDGE.
Cornerback.
Offensive tackle.
Quarterback remains its own unique economy.
USC paid only 150 for T. Kamara.
LSU paid 310 for Mike Downs.
Penn State paid 50 for developmental three-star Stephen Merritt.
Three completely different approaches to the most important position on the roster.
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TOP-5 RACE — WEEK 8 SNAPSHOT
POLE POSITION:
Alabama
USC
Oklahoma
IN THE TOP 5, BUT STILL NEED TO FINISH:
Ohio State
CURRENTLY HOLDING THE CUT LINE:
Michigan
IMMEDIATE CHALLENGER:
LSU
FRINGE:
Penn State
HIGH-UPSIDE CHASERS:
Texas
Notre Dame
OUTSIDE TOP 10 WITH REAL SURGE POTENTIAL:
Texas A&M
Clemson
UCLA
Florida
DEEP SLEEPERS WHOSE RANKING IS BEING HELD DOWN BY LOW VOLUME:
Ole Miss
Indiana
The most important number going forward isn’t necessarily #1.
It’s #5.
Because there are multiple programs with a realistic path to that final Elite Recruiter seat, and several of the most dangerous challengers haven’t even reached double-digit commitments yet.
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WEEK 8 SUMMARY
Alabama currently owns the #1 class because no other program has matched its combination of volume and blue-chip depth.
USC is right behind and has arguably the strongest concentration of elite talent, with four five-stars among only 13 commits.
Oklahoma has built an extremely coherent regional class centered around Texas and Oklahoma, with huge investments at offensive tackle and linebacker.
Ohio State may be the biggest NIL-efficiency story in the Top 10, landing two of the top four players nationally while spending only 1,080 total.
Michigan has no five-stars, but its 11 four-stars, in-state dominance and heavy investment in the trenches have produced a very strong and identity-driven class.
LSU’s class is built around three national stars, including the most expensive highlighted player in the market, five-star QB Mike Downs at 310 NIL.
Penn State has concentrated its premium resources on pass rushers and filled much of the rest of the class with inexpensive developmental players.
Texas has produced one of the strongest territorial recruiting performances anywhere in USDA, with all ten commitments coming from Texas and eight ranking inside the national Top 100.
Notre Dame may have the most dangerous unfinished class.
Nine commits.
Three five-stars.
Six four-stars.
No filler.
Georgia rounds out the Top 10 with perhaps the cleanest floor in the group: ten commitments, ten four-stars and only 945 NIL spent.
The biggest overall Week 8 takeaway is that there is no single winning NIL strategy yet.
Alabama is buying depth.
USC is buying elite talent efficiently.
Oklahoma is protecting its footprint.
Ohio State is exploiting value.
Michigan is building identity and depth.
LSU is making huge bets on stars.
Penn State is concentrating resources.
Texas is dominating geography.
Notre Dame is cherry-picking nationally.
Georgia is stacking affordable blue chips.
And then there is the Top-5 race.
Alabama, USC and Oklahoma have created the strongest early separation.
Ohio State is in good position but still has work to do.
Michigan currently owns the most valuable seat on the board.
LSU is only 6.30 points behind.
Penn State is still within striking distance.
Texas has only 10 commits and already sits at 180.15.
Notre Dame has only nine and already sits at 172.85.
Texas A&M and Clemson both sit outside the Top 10 with nine-player, blue-chip-heavy classes that could rise quickly.
Even Ole Miss and Indiana are much more dangerous than their current ranking suggests because of how little class volume they have accumulated so far.
That is what makes Week 8 so interesting.
The race isn’t just about who finishes #1.
It is about who gets through the door at #5.
And with Elite Recruiter access on the line, that battle could have consequences far beyond this single recruiting class.