"What twists and turns still remain for college football's 2026 recruiting cycle? Time will tell. The 2026 class is settled (for now) earlier than any class in recent memory. But the 59 days between now and the start of the early signing period Dec. 3 leave plenty of time for campus trips, surprise flips and all the traditional late-cycle recruiting drama."
"As for what happens from here, there are two prevailing opinions across the industry: The final eight weeks of the 2026 cycle will be quiet. Programs have exhausted their budgets for the 2026 class and are turning their attention (and resources) toward the transfer portal and 2027 recruits. Prospects who agreed to deals in the spring will be less inclined to flip and wary of stipulations related to returning early payments"
The 2026 recruiting class was largely set earlier than normal as top programs front-loaded deals and NIL payments before the House settlement allowed direct athlete payments on July 1. Many high-profile programs locked commitments during spring and early summer, leaving most classes sorted before Week 1. With 59 days until the early signing period on Dec. 3, prospects still have opportunities for campus visits and late decisions. Industry opinion is split: some expect a quiet finish due to spent budgets and focus on the portal and 2027, while others anticipate aggressive late spending and surprise flips.
Read at ESPN.com
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