College Football Top 25 Rankings After the End of the 2026 Recruiting Cycle

The early stages of the college football offseason move fast, and the latest landmark to arrive is the traditional signing period.

More than anything, February's edition of national signing day is a chance to reset. Most recruiting in the 2026 cycle has been finished since December, but there's been a flurry of player movement since then.

Although the deadline to enter the portal passed in mid-January, many marquee players hadn't picked a destination. Those decisions continued well beyond the national championship—especially for the runner-up in that contest.

The ranking is based on personal projection and recent news while using B/R's Way-Too-Early 25 as a baseline comparison.

B/R's Post-NSD Top 25

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Ryan Day

1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Indiana
4. Texas
5. Oregon
6. Notre Dame
7. Miami
8. Texas Tech
9. Texas A&M
10. Oklahoma
11. BYU
12. Alabama
13. LSU
14. Michigan
15. Ole Miss
16. USC
17. Utah
18. SMU
19. Penn State
20. Houston
21. Washington
22. Iowa
23. Tennessee
24. Louisville
25. Clemson

Portal Winner: Texas Tech Red Raiders

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Joey McGuire

Don't stop me if you've heard this before, but Texas Tech landed a bunch of established talent in the transfer portal.

The highest-priced addition is Brendan Sorsby, a productive dual-threat quarterback from Cincinnati. He'll headline the Red Raiders' pursuit of another Big 12 championship and trip to the College Football Playoff.

However, there is so much more.

In particular, the edge-rushing duo of Adam Trick (Miami, Ohio) and Trey White (San Diego State) brings firepower to the defense.

Texas Tech also revamped both the receiving and linebacking corps, once again targeting proven players to contribute immediately—a formula that worked beautifully for Miami, Indiana and the Red Raiders in 2025, for example.

Spending money does not guarantee success. Yet after seeing Tech crush its evaluations last offseason, it's fair to believe the program did it again.

NSD Winner: USC Trojans

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Lincoln Riley

One recruiting crown does not save a program.

Simultaneously, it would be ridiculous to ignore what a top-ranked freshman class can provide for USC in the future. This group features three 5-star prospects, along with 10 top-100 players and a total of 22 blue-chippers.

Several will hit. Others will miss. But there's also no denying USC is bringing a strong wave of talent into the program.

The balance that must be struck—and this is easier said than done—is how USC performs in 2026 compared to the promise of this incoming group.

Lincoln Riley, through four seasons with the Trojans, owns a modest 35-18 record and a single 10-win year. Because of that limited success, patience is not exactly in overwhelming supply. He's a very expensive coach getting paid to win at elite levels, and the Trojans, so far, have missed the mark.

Signing a class of this ability, however, is a clear source of optimism.

Who's Up: Miami Hurricanes

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Mario Cristobal

Few programs are as bold—or cunning, perhaps—in this transfer-heavy era as the Mario Cristobal-led Miami Hurricanes.

At practically the last second, Duke standouts Darian Mensah and Cooper Barkate headed to the transfer portal. Both of them ultimately landed at Miami, which immediately faced criticisms of tampering. Duke and Mensah had a legal fight, settled out of court and moved forward with the QB-WR duo going to Miami.

You might hate the player and the game. Understood!

Also, the reality of this situation is what matters to our Top 25. Mensah has locked in Miami, the national runner-up in 2025, as a title contender again.

Barkate should not be overlooked here, either. He racked up 72 catches with 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns as Mensah's top target at Duke and will be the second-best receiver on the UM roster after superstar Malachi Toney.

As long as a new-look blocking unit eventually holds up well, the 'Canes are absolutely loaded all over the skill positions on offense.

Who's Stuck: Teams with QB Questions

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No topic is more influential for both Ole Miss and Tennessee than whether their signal-caller will be granted a sixth year of eligibility.

Right now, the NCAA says no.

As we've learned over the last half-decade or so, however, that may mean absolutely nothing once the courts are involved. Trinidad Chambliss and Joey Aguilar are seeking to return in 2026 but relying on legal clearance.

If they are allowed to stay in college, their respective teams will be Top 25 locks. Ole Miss would have championship upside in the SEC and nationally if Chambliss, a truly electric player, is behind center.

If not? Well, the Rebs and Vols likely will be turning to a highly recruited but unproven, young quarterback. Good teams, sure, yet not serious title threats.

Those answers will arrive soon. Hopefully. Please.