National Signing Day 2026 Announcement Schedule, Predictions and More

The college football recruiting landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, due in no small part to the rise of NIL. With many top recruits committing well before their final high-school seasons, the regular national signing day has become an anticlimactic affair.

Of the top 200 recruits in the 2026 cycle, per 247Sports' composite rankings, only one remains unsigned. Most major programs are already heavily focused on their 2027 classes.

However, this doesn't mean that the national signing period, which will open on Wednesday, February 4, is completely meaningless. Several uncommitted recruits will make their announcements on Wednesday or in the days that follow.

Here's a look at how the 2026 cycle is shaping up and a couple of unsigned recruits to know.

Updated 2026 Class Rankings

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1. USC

2. Alabama

3. Oregon

4. Notre Dame

5. Ohio State

6. Georgia

7. Tennessee

8. Texas

9. Texas A&M

10. Miami

11. LSU

12. Michigan

13. Washington

14. Florida State

15. Oklahoma

16. Florida

17. North Carolina

18. Texas Tech

19. Clemson

20. South Carolina

21. BYU

22. Mississippi

23. Illinois

24. West Virginia

25. SMU

Dylan Berymon, DL, Ouachita Parish

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Of this year's top unsigned recruits, 4-star defensive lineman Dylan Beerymon of Ouachita Parish High School (Monroe, LA) is the best available. The 191st-ranked prospect on 247Sports' board, Berymon only became available after decommitting from Texas in November.

Berymon is a promising player who should generate headlines on national signing day.

247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks called Berymon a "scheme-versatile defender who can two-gap with size and strength, but a penetrator by nature who disrupts timing in the run game."

According to Sam Spiegelman of Rivals and On3, Berymon plans to announce his decision on Wednesday. It appears to be a two-school race for the talented defender's services.

"Right now, it is going to be between Kentucky and Nebraska," Berymon told Rivals' Chad Simmons in December.

The Cornhuskers are making a late push, too.

It wouldn't be a total shock to see Kentucky sign Berymon after its successful late push to land 4-star corner Andre Clark Jr. However, the prediction here is that Berymon decides to go with Nebraska.

Prediction: Nebraska

Brandon Smith, RB, Central East

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One thing about the recruiting process has not changed. Nothing is official until recruits are signed—and even then, there's no guarantee that a player suits up for a specific program.

4-star running back Brandon Smith of Central East High School (Fresno, CA) had been committed to Arizona after previously picking San Diego State. However, he was released from that commitment in mid-January.

Now, it seems that the 6'0", 185-pound prospect is headed to Oregon instead. A couple of days after announcing his release from Arizona, Smith announced that he had committed to the Ducks.

Of course, there's still time for Smith to change his mind once again. According to 247Sports, he's also received offers from Cal, San Jose State, Utah, UNLV, Boise State, and others.

The prediction here, though, is that Smith sticks with his latest commitment and becomes a Duck. According to Zachary Neel of Duck Wire, Smith is expected to officially sign with Oregon on Wednesday.

Prediction: Oregon