Home to the past two national champions, the Big Ten is flexing its muscles on the recruiting trail with 10 teams ranked among the top 25 classes. USC still sits at No. 1, while Ohio State pushes to No. 2 after a pair of ESPN 300 additions: in-state RB Favour Akih and DE Khary Wilder.

June has already been busy and few teams have been busier than Rutgers, which leaps into the top 10 after securing double-digit commitments already this month. UCLA, Minnesota and Michigan have all broken into the top 25, helping to fortify their conference’s takeover of the class rankings.

Other conferences have teams ascending as well, such as Georgia of the SEC and SMU of the ACC. A staple near the top of the rankings under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs now sit on the cusp of the top five after landing several commitments, led by one of the top DB prospects in the nation in Justice Fitzpatrick.

Coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, SMU is showing signs it plans to be a consistent contender. The Mustangs’ defense has benefitted from many of their recent commitments, including in-state DE Hudson Woods, who displays the tools to be a disruptive pass rusher.

Here’s a look at our latest top 25.

New this ranking: SMU, UCLA, Minnesota, Michigan, Stanford

Out: Tennessee, BYU, Auburn, Boston College, Florida State

(Previous update: May 28)

Previous ranking: 1

ESPN 300 commits: 14
Top offensive prospect: OT Keenyi Pepe
Top defensive prospect: CB Elbert Hill

No program has more 2026 momentum than USC under Lincoln Riley, especially after hiring general manager Chad Bowden away from Notre Dame. The Trojans have double-digit ESPN 300 commits, with several joining the list since January. That includes two five-stars to start May in Pepe and Hill, and a pair of four-star commits who flipped from Big Ten rival Oregon: in-state defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui and quarterback Jonas Williams. Topui is a physical, aggressive defensive tackle who could develop into an interior pass-rushing headache for opposing offenses, and Williams is a true dual-threat signal-caller.

USC also made it a point to beef up in the trenches. It pulled four-star defensive tackle Jaimeon Winfield out of Texas, landed in-state defensive end Simote Katoanga and traveled to Utah to snag Corner Canyon offensive lineman Esun Tafa. To further bolster the O-line, the Trojans landed Pepe out of IMG Academy. He is huge at roughly 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, but is light on his feet as well as physical and can become a standout tackle. On the perimeter, they will not have to wait for in-state defender R.J. Sermons as the ESPN 300 CB reclassified to 2025 and will join the Trojans this fall. For 2026, they pulled Elbert Hill, the top-ranked corner, out of the Midwest. Hill possesses elite speed, having been measured at over 22 mph in game play.

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Previous ranking: 3

ESPN 300 commits: 13
Top offensive prospect: WR Chris Henry Jr.
Top defensive prospect: S Blaine Bradford

Ryan Day has the luxury of building his 2026 class around one of the most coveted players in the country: five-star receiver Henry, whose father, the late Chris Henry, was a star receiver for West Virginia and the Cincinnati Bengals. Henry Jr. stands 6-6 and has a combination of length and quickness rarely seen from high school receivers.

The rest of the Buckeyes’ class has started to take shape around Henry. The team has added a handful of ESPN 300 prospects since March, including Bradford out of Louisiana and linebacker Simeon Caldwell out of Florida. C.J. Sanna is a prospect we like on tape; he is a big, physical linebacker with excellent range and is a bit of an underrated pickup for this talented class. In-state offensive tackle Maxwell Riley is impressive changing direction and finishes plays with the type of nastiness that will endear him to fans in Columbus.

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Previous ranking: 2

ESPN 300 commits: 12
Top offensive prospect: OT Tyler Merrill
Top defensive prospect: DE Rodney Dunham

Notre Dame started the year off slowly on the recruiting trail but heated up during the spring, landing a handful of ESPN 300 prospects in April. On defense, the Irish landed Dunham, an edge player with nice length and a quick first step, and Ayden Pouncey, a rangy safety out of Florida.

On offense, ESPN 300 OT Gregory Patrick joined a class that already featured several top OL prospects including top-10 OT Merrill, who at 6-7 and 335 pounds is a massive presence with physicality and power in the run game. This group collectively can continue the school’s strong reputation as an offensive line factory.

The Irish also landed Thomas Davis Jr., whose father is former Panthers star Thomas Davis, and four-star quarterback Noah Grubbs, who already has shown impressive footwork and a sound release from the pocket.

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Previous ranking: 5

ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top offensive prospect: OT Leo Delaney
Top defensive prospect: S Kentavion Anderson

Clemson is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, but the Tigers are still chasing the heights of their mid-2010s success under Dabo Swinney, and their 2025 class ranked just 37th in the country. Their 2026 group is looking more promising, especially after a red-hot March in which Swinney landed eight verbals, including five ESPN 300 commits.

Much of the talent is currently concentrated on offense. Naeem Burroughs is a burner in the 100-meter dash who can take the top off a defense and has a high football IQ. Fellow receiver Connor Salmin is another big-play threat. With some new offensive weapons, the Tigers are making sure they have the time to get the ball downfield by loading up along the offensive line. Delaney, Carter Scruggs, Grant Wise, Adam Guthrie and Chancellor Barclay give the Tigers multiple ESPN 300 OLs to help reload a senior-heavy unit that is projected to lose multiple starters after 2025.

They could one day protect fellow four-star Tait Reynolds, a dual-threat QB out of Arizona who could push to be part of the long-term solution to replace Cade Klubnik. While the foundation of the class is on offense, Anderson is a key in-state pickup on the other side of the ball. With his frame (roughly 6-foot-2, 190 pounds) and range, he can be a versatile back-end defender for the Tigers.

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Previous ranking: 4

ESPN 300 commits: 6
Top offensive prospect: WR Davion Brown
Top defensive prospect: S Matt Sieg

The Nittany Lions jumped out to a fast start fueled by strong in-state recruiting and have kept that momentum going. Several of their top commits are Pennsylvania natives, including four-star Harrisburg High School teammates Kevin Brown and Messiah Mickens. Brown is a big, flexible offensive tackle, while Mickens has been a productive prep running back, which bodes well for a Penn State program that must finally replace Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton after 2025.

James Franklin also landed in-state athlete David Davis Jr., who has clocked a 20.5 mph max speed and has the cover skills to fit into the back end of a defense one day. While most of the early commits are within Penn State’s primary recruiting radius, the Nittany Lions also landed strong-armed quarterback Troy Huhn out of California. He’s a big body with good feet and brings nice upside. They also went out of state to land a potential big-play target in Davion Brown. Out of Virginia, Brown possesses excellent speed, having been recorded at over 21 mph in game play, and can do a good job of high pointing the football to win contested matchups.

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Previous ranking: 12

ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: QB Jared Curtis
Top defensive prospect: CB Justice Fitzpatrick

The Bulldogs have been a consistent staple among the top three overall classes during Kirby Smart’s tenure and look to be a contender to do so again in 2026. A big step toward finishing near the top is bringing five-star quarterback Curtis back into the mix. After a decommitment, the Bulldogs were able to fend off other suitors, most notably Oregon, and give themselves a potential impact QB for the future. Curtis might need to adjust to a relatively steep jump in competition level, but he has elite physical tools, including a smooth, quick release and the ability to change arm angles.

With three of their top four pass catchers from 2024 having moved on and the fourth likely to leave after this season, Georgia is bringing in new receiving targets with speed. Vance Spafford out of California won the fastest-man competition last summer at the UA Future 50 event, and in-state prospect Brady Marchese has been recorded hitting over 22 mph in game play. After signing two ESPN 300 TEs in their 2025 class, the Dawgs continue to restock there, adding Lincoln Keyes, who with his big frame and good body control can offer a wide catch radius.

On defense, the Bulldogs have had 11 first-round NFL draft picks over the past five years and they continue to infuse that unit with top talent, including two of the top DBs in the country in Fitzpatrick and Zechariah Fort. Fort is a safety with good range who can be active in run support. Fitzpatrick is the younger brother of former Alabama great DB Minkah Fitzpatrick; his blend of size and speed gives him equally promising impact potential.

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Previous ranking: 6

ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: RB Jonathan Hatton Jr.
Top defensive prospect: CB Victor Singleton

Mike Elko has quickly proved he can identify and recruit at a high level. He has worked fertile recruiting grounds, landing the Aggies’ top-ranked commit, defensive end Jordan Carter, out of Georgia. He landed fellow four-star defensive tackle Jermaine Kinsler out of New Jersey.

Elko has also been able to unearth talent from more unlikely places, such as quarterback Helaman Casuga out of Utah. Casuga is not a big, physical prospect at roughly 6 feet, but he has a live arm and can get the ball out quickly. Singleton, one of the top prospects in Ohio, was a nice flip from Illinois. He has clocked a 21 mph max speed and has the type of quickness and excellent feet to thrive in man coverage. A key in-state keep is Hatton, who has an excellent blend of size (200 pounds) and speed (he was measured hitting 21 mph on film).

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Previous ranking: 19

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: WR Dyzier Carter
Top defensive prospect: ATH Chris Hewitt Jr.

The Scarlet Knights have added some top talent to their wide receiver room with Carter and Elias Coke, both of whom have been long-time commits, having joined the class before the 2024 season started. Carter is a good route runner with strong hands and could be a quick contributor once arriving. Coke is a nice target at roughly 6-2.

On defense, Joey Kopec is a two-way player in high school, contributing at RB and LB. He has good range and is effective dropping into coverage. Justin Edwards, who tallied 10 sacks as a junior, was another good addition at LB. Part of big June haul, Rinaldo Callaway III, out of Georgia, is an interesting addition to keep an eye on. A rangy edge defender, he is raw and needs development but shows a nice ceiling for development and could grow into a disruptive pass rusher. Athlete Chris Hewitt projects to the secondary.

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Previous ranking: 10

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: ATH Nasir Rankin
Top defensive prospect: LB Cam Thomas

Good recruiting starts at home, and an early priority for the Fighting Illini was in-state athlete Rankin. A two-sport star who also excels on the hardwood, the ESPN 300 prospect projects to wide receiver, where he can be a playmaker with good hands and the ability to make defenders miss after the catch. Also from in-state, big man Casey Thomann is one of the top OL prospects in Illinois, and three-star Tony Balanganayi is an interesting big man. He projects to the defensive line, where he has shown he can be disruptive, but with more mass could offer higher upside as an OL.

From within the Big Ten footprint, four-star Thomas (Ohio) is a defender with an outstanding first step and could develop into an edge rusher with big upside. Parker Crim brings good arm length, can move well and has shown he can be explosive off the ball. Tony Williams, out of Florida, is a middle linebacker with good instincts and can be a physical presence between the tackles.

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Previous ranking: 8

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OT Javeion Cooper
Top defensive prospect: DE Kamron Wilson

The Fran Brown era in Syracuse certainly isn’t boring. He led the Orange to just their second 10-win season since 2001 behind Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord, then landed a solid 2025 recruiting class. Now he’s pushing for more talent in 2026. Four-star defensive end Jarius Rodgers out of Florida is one of Brown’s biggest gets so far. The 6-5 220-pounder has tremendous length and an impressive track background. He has considerable physical tools and upside if Syracuse’s coaching staff can harness it. Wilson is another big pull out of Florida; the edge defender has good initial quickness and tallied 17 sacks in 2024.

Cooper has real upside too. He has good size (6-5, 300 pounds) yet plays with impressive balance for someone with his power and contact explosiveness. The Orange also have been active in the mid-Atlantic, landing three receivers from Delaware. Among that group is B.J. Garrett, a big target (6-3, 191 pounds) with good hands who could develop into a player in the mold of Oronde Gadsden, who had similar measurables coming out in the 2021 class.

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Previous ranking: NR

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: WR Jakai Anderson
Top defensive prospect: LB Markel Dabney

The Mustangs charged into the CFP last season and are showing signs they plan to be a consistent contender. Capitalizing on the rich talent base around them, they have added several in-state prospects, including ESPN 300 back Christian Rhodes. An explosive runner who has been recorded hitting better than 21 mph in game play, he rushed for more than 1,200 yards as a junior.

High three-star Aljour Miles II is another nice in-state add, as he is a lengthy WR with good quickness and body control. Another receiving target with big-play potential, Jakai Anderson, was pulled out of Louisiana. Not quite as big a target, he brings a good blend of speed and elusiveness and could also be productive in the return game. On defense, the addition of DE Hudson Woods is a big plus. Woods shows some savvy as a pass rusher, with active hands and good bend.

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Previous ranking: 9

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: QB Jake Fette
Top defensive prospect: DE Julian Hugo

Kenny Dillingham deftly pulled all the roster-building levers available to him as he rebuilt the Sun Devils back to national relevancy. They have an interesting 2026 class so far that includes a pair of ESPN 300 recruits. Fette, a four-star Texas native, is a dual-threat playmaker with excellent short-area quickness and a smooth, consistent release.

They lost a key, potentially productive, target with the decommitment of Israel Briggs, but still sit in good position. The class already included another TE in Hayden Vercher, who possesses excellent ball skills and is a good route runner, with more than 1,000 yards receiving in 2024. Shortly after losing Briggs, they added ESPN 300 WR Nalin Scott, a big target at roughly 6-3, 210 pounds who moves well for his size and can be tough to tackle after the catch.

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Previous ranking: 13

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: RB Crew Davis
Top defensive prospect: DE Zavion Griffin-Haynes

Unsurprisingly given his ethos, Bill Belichick is building North Carolina’s 2026 class from the inside out. Griffin-Haynes was a key in-state keep. The aggressive, lengthy edge defender can bolster the Heels’ defensive front with the tools to be a three-down player. Four-star North Carolina defensive tackle Trashawn Ruffin flipped from Texas A&M, and the 300-pounder has plenty of raw physicality to mold. Ruffin is one of several interior linemen in the class, and Belichick went to his former home base in Massachusetts to bring in 335-pound guard Lenneil Hall.

The secondary has undergone some changes during this recruiting cycle, but Marcellous Ryan out of California remains and gives UNC a lean but fluid CB to develop. Crew Davis can be a versatile back with the power to run between the tackles, but he also possesses good ball skills. As a junior, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards and also hauled in more than 50 receptions.

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Previous ranking: 7

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OL Kaden Snyder
Top defensive prospect: CB J.J. Dunnigan

Lance Leipold is no stranger to building a program, and he’s off to a hot start in fortifying Kansas’ 2026 class. At 6-3, 190 pounds, in-state corner Dunnigan has the length to reroute receivers off the line and the straight-line speed to hang with them on vertical routes. The Jayhawks have a few offensive linemen committed, led by 6-5 Kansas native Snyder, who has an enticing combination of athleticism, pass protection skills and upside if he can continue to fill out his frame.

The Jalon Daniels era enters its sixth and final season in 2025. In-state three-star commit Jaylen Mason is an intriguing developmental option for the future at QB.

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Previous ranking: 23

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OT Bryce Gilmore
Top defensive prospect: DE Colton Yarbrough

The talk about coach Sam Pittman on the hot seat seemed to cool off entering the offseason, which will benefit recruiting and aid a 2026 class that already has a solid foundation. Four-star Dequane Prevo out of Texas is a 5-10 receiver who has outstanding balance, body control and short-area burst. Several high-three-star prospects anchor the class, including quarterback Jayvon Gilmore, a tall (6-4) but lean passer with a nice frame to develop. He has a strong arm with a smooth release and is a nice early pickup by the Razorbacks.

Yarbrough brings upside at defensive end with good first-step quickness and range. Pittman, a former offensive line coach, added some talent to that unit as well. In-state big man Tucker Young can get push and help create lanes in the run game. ESPN 300 OT Gilmore has a nice frame to develop and possesses good flexibility and aggressiveness.

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Previous ranking: 11

ESPN 300 commits: 8
Top offensive prospect: WR Tristen Keys
Top defensive prospect: CB Havon Finney Jr.

The Tigers are tough to beat for in-state talent, and they built the foundation for one of the top classes in the country on homegrown recruits. But landing Keys from nearby Mississippi delivered Brian Kelly and his staff their first five-star of the 2026 cycle. As of now, the 6-3 Keys would be the highest-rated receiver to make it to Baton Rouge since Kayshon Boutte. Keys is a long strider with long arms who prioritizes winning and is a favorite of coaches and teammates alike.

LSU also recently added wide receiver Jabari Mack (a strong route runner) and offensive tackle Brysten Martinez, a pair of in-state four-star recruits who bolster a class that now features more than half of the top 10 players from Louisiana. That includes a pair of teammates from Edna Karr High: DT Richard Anderson, a stout presence at more than 300 pounds with good initial quickness, and Aiden Hall, a safety with good length, speed and downhill physicality. Though much of their recruiting success is from within their primary recruiting footprint, the Tigers did go out west to land ESPN 300 Finney. A 2027 prospect who reclassified into the 2026 class, he has shown he can be physical in press coverage but also brings excellent speed to be able to run with receivers.

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Previous ranking: 15

ESPN 300 commits: 5
Top offensive prospect: OT Jackson Cantwell
Top defensive prospect: LB Jordan Campbell

Despite a rocky finish to the 2024 season, the Hurricanes are trending in the right direction. They’re coming off a 10-win season, former QB Cam Ward was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and they’ve reeled in two consecutive top-15 recruiting classes. Mario Cristobal’s 2026 class is working to match or even exceed those groups.

The Hurricanes are adding pieces to field a dominant offensive line. They could lose several projected 2025 starters after this season but are adding big men who can step in and project a bright future in the trenches. In addition to landing the top-rated interior OL in the 2025 class, they have added several OLs to their 2026 class, led by No. 1 tackle Jackson Cantwell. Much like current standout OT Francis Mauigoa, who was a five-star himself and a Year 1 starter, Cantwell could step in at one of the tackle spots upon arriving in South Florida. He is a massive presence at roughly 6-7 and 320 pounds and carries his size well. In addition to being powerful, he possesses good quickness and flexibility, and much like Mauigoa is being projected to be a high NFL draft pick.

QB Dereon Coleman has room for growth but has a quick release and accuracy. Four-star Miami native Jordan Campbell is 6-2, 220 pounds with the versatility to make plays in pursuit and the bend and power that portend a potential impact pass rusher. He’s a candidate to take a leap with college coaching.

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Previous ranking: 14

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: RB Evan Hampton
Top defensive prospect: DB Jaydin Broadnax

Jeff Brohm has raised Louisville’s floor with a 19-8 record and an appearance in the ACC championship game two years ago. His 2026 class already has more than a dozen commits, with four-star defensive back Broadnax out of Florida the biggest get so far. At nearly 6-3, he has great length, balance and body control for a corner. LB Karsten Busch is a nice addition from within the state who will help on defense. He possesses nice size and the ability to be a physical, downhill presence versus the run. Sam Dawson is another in-state defensive add. He is a DT with active, heavy hands and good power who can help stuff the run as well.

Evan Hampton, a three-star running back, ran for 1,549 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior at in-state Owensboro High School. He’s an elusive, upright runner with the ball skills to affect the pass game and also has a baseball background; he originally committed to rival Kentucky as a freshman before pursuing football. Adding more help along the line could be a focus for Louisville after Miami flipped three-star offensive tackle Joel Ervin.

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Previous ranking: 17

ESPN 300 commits: 8
Top offensive prospect: QB Dia Bell
Top defensive prospect: DT Corey Wells

As Texas tackles the 2025 season led by one of the most high-profile signings in recent years in quarterback Arch Manning, the Longhorns continue to build for the future as well, including another five-star QB. Bell brings valuable experience, having faced quality competition during his time in high school. He has shown good accuracy and deep-ball touch, and as a junior threw for more than 2,500 yards and completed 70% of his passes.

The Horns also added potential targets including ESPN 300 WRs Chris Stewart and Jermaine Bishop Jr. Stewart brings big-play speed, and Bishop is a quick, fluid target who can create after the catch. To protect their new offensive weapons, they have also landed some top in-state OLs, including top-10 OG Nicolas Robertson, a powerful big man with good feet.

Texas hit the transfer portal hard to address needs along the defensive line for this season, especially interior DL, but there are young pieces for that unit in the 2026 class. Dylan Berymon has been a standout on the camp circuit the last two offseasons and seems to keep rising to whatever challenge is thrown at him. Corey Wells is another 300-pounder who can bend well and be disruptive.

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Previous ranking: NR

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: OT Micah Smith
Top defensive prospect: DE Anthony Jones

The DeShaun Foster era got off to a rocky start, but the Bruins are showing some ascension. In recruiting, the former running back knows the importance of a good O-line and pulled a pair of ESPN 300 OLs out of Florida in Micah Smith and Johnnie Jones. Known as Champ, Smith was an Under Armour All-American as a junior and has shown he can play against top competition and be a well-rounded OT. Tight end Camden Jensen should help propel the run game as well, as he is a good blocker.

The Bruins have added multiple WRs in this class, including in-state four-star Kenneth Moore. Onetime SMU commit Yahya Gaad has a sturdy, muscular build with a good initial burst and is a DE who can set the edge and be tough against the run.

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Previous ranking: NR

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OT Andrew Trout
Top defensive prospect: CB Justin Hopkins

The Gophers don’t have a class that will be heavy with ESPN 300 commits, but they’re assembling a strong group anchored by a plethora of high three-star prospects. CBs Justin Hopkins and Chance Payne are good examples of that, as is edge defender Aaden Aytch. A prospect with a lean build who needs to continue to develop, Aytch brings a high ceiling as he has good length, displays wiry strength, can redirect well and can be a factor in pursuit.

Beefing up the offensive line, the Gophers have several commits within the unit, led by the No. 1 player in the state, Andrew Trout, an ESPN 300 OT.

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Previous ranking: NR

ESPN 300 commits: 4
Top offensive prospect: QB Brady Smigiel
Top defensive prospect: DE McHale Blade

The Wolverines signed the No. 1 QB for the 2025 cycle in Bryce Underwood and he carries high expectations, but they continue to add talent to the position and landed ESPN 300 signal-caller Brady Smigiel. The onetime Florida State commit is not only an accurate passer, but he also plays with the confidence and swagger that will be needed battling with five-star Underwood.

After losing two DLs in the first round of the NFL draft, Michigan added several DLs to this class, including ESPN 300 DE McHale Blade. Four-star DE Tariq Boney is a player to keep an eye on. He lacks ideal length but can be a well-rounded technician and a quick contributor. After scoring from off the beaten path with former standout TE Colston Loveland (Idaho), the Wolverines hope to strike big again from that same region with Matt Ludwig out of Montana. He is a versatile player with good ball skills who can be tough after the catch and fights for yards.

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Previous ranking: 16

ESPN 300 commits: 4
Top offensive prospect: TE Kendre’ Harrison
Top defensive prospect: DT Tony Cumberland

Dan Lanning’s run of sustained excellence in Eugene rolls on with Oregon’s 2026 class. Reeling in five-star tight end Harrison in November set the tone. The 6-6 250-pounder is a dynamic two-sport athlete with an exceptional catch radius who is a nightmare for opposing defenses in the red zone. In late February, the Ducks added four-star defensive back Xavier Lherisse, who clocked an impressive 1.62 10-yard dash and 4.49 40-yard dash a few days later at the Under Armour Miami camp. Four-star running back Tradarian Ball adds explosiveness and excellent ball skills.

While the commitment of five-star DE Richard Wesley was short-lived, the Ducks still have a strong defensive line foundation within this class. They secured the top two big men in-state, in ESPN 300 DTs Cumberland and Viliami Moala. The latter is a massive 300-pounder who not only brings jolting power but is light on his feet for his size and can be a handful in the heart of the trenches. DE Dutch Horisk will arrive from one of the top programs in California (St. John Bosco), where he will have been a multiyear starter and is a sound football player who uses his hands well. As a junior he had nine TFLs and four sacks.

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Previous ranking: 24

ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top offensive prospect: OT Kodi Greene
Top defensive prospect: DE Derek Colman-Brusa

Jedd Fisch did an excellent job bringing in talent at Arizona and is now working to retool Washington’s roster and get the Huskies back into the playoff hunt. The Huskies won a key recruiting battle by pulling away Greene, an ESPN 300 OL, from rival Oregon. He is a 300-pounder who moves very well for his size with good quickness and the one-time Washington resident can be a key option in the trenches. The Huskies went east to land their QB in Derek Zammit, a tough, smart player with a smooth, quick release. He should continue to improve with the tools to develop into a productive starter.

Washington landed several commitments in the secondary, including in-state Durr, who has good size at roughly 6 feet and is smooth in his movements. He could develop at cornerback or safety.

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Previous ranking: NR

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: ATH Ryelan Morris
Top defensive prospect: LB Waswa Lugolobi

The Cardinal are working to bounce back from a 3-9 campaign, and their 2026 class is showing the tools to make future improvements. A key pickup was ESPN 300 athlete Ryelan Morris, a flip from Baylor. Although he is diminutive, he is versatile in how he can be utilized within an offense. He is quick with good hands and best projects as a slot receiver, where he can be dangerous after the catch.

Having had a reputation for fielding excellent OLs not long ago, the Cardinal are looking to rebuild that unit into a strength with several big men committed. Jalayne Miller out of Arizona possesses good feet and flexibility, and Blaise Thomassie could be a sleeper add from this class. He performed very well at a loaded New Orleans Under Armour camp between his junior and senior years. He possesses good body quickness and is very good with his hands and could develop at guard or center.

An appeal of the NCAA’s landmark antitrust settlement won’t stop college teams from paying current athletes starting July 1, but it will pause the NCAA’s plans to begin paying former athletes.

Several college athletes filed the appeal Wednesday, claiming the deal violates Title IX law. Now the roughly $2.8 billion in negotiated back damages will sit while the appeal works through the system.

Attorney John Clune told ESPN he filed the claim in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of several clients who also raised objections to how the back payments would be shared among athletes earlier this year.

The overwhelming majority of the $2.8 billion pot of damages — up to 90% — is expected go to football and men’s basketball players, according to the terms of the settlement. The lawyers and sports economists who decided how to divvy up the funds argued that the money each sport generated through television contracts should be an important factor in determining which athletes deserved the biggest portion of the money.

Clune argues that because the broadcast rights money would have been flowing directly from the school to the athletes if they had been paying them fairly in the past, the schools would have to share that money equitably between men and women to comply with Title IX laws.

“We support a settlement of the case, just not an inaccurate one that violates federal law,” Clune said in a statement sent to ESPN on Wednesday. “The calculation of damages is based on an error to the tune of 1.1 billion dollars. Paying out the money as proposed would be a massive error that would cause irreparable harm to women’s sports.”

Title IX requires schools to provide equal academic opportunities to men and women on their campuses. Playing sports has always been part of that protected academic opportunity during the law’s 50-plus year history, which means colleges have been required to provide roster spots and scholarship dollars in an equitable fashion to men and women. Leaders of the Department of Education during the last few years have disagreed on whether new revenue share payments between schools and athletes should also be considered a benefit that is related to education.

Several attorneys presented arguments similar to the case made in Wednesday’s appeal to Judge Claudia Wilken at a preliminary hearing for the settlement in September 2024 and again at a final approval hearing in April. Wilken decided that the application of Title IX law was outside the scope of the settlement.

“Title IX was deliberately ignored,” Clune said. “The parties and court acted like it was already addressed when it clearly was not. Complying with Title IX was a problem in this settlement, so they just chose to ignore it. That can’t stand.”

More than a dozen groups of athletes filed objections to the settlement before Wilken approved the deal last Friday. Those groups are eligible to appeal her decision to a higher court. A complex appeals process can often take months, if not years, to complete.

The NCAA agreed to pay out the $2.8 billion to athletes over the course of the next 10 years. According to the terms of the settlement, those payments will not start until the appeals have been resolved.

Deion Sanders posted on social media Wednesday that “everything is OKAY” after he has not attended football camps in Boulder, Colorado, this spring.

The Colorado coach’s health has come into question because of his extended absence. Sanders wrote on X that he was “truly blessed for the abundance of well wishes, for all the thoughts and all of the prayers. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!”

Wow, I am truly blessed for the abundance of well wishes, for all the thoughts and all of the prayers. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! 🙏🏾

I can assure you all that everything is OKAY and will continue to be so. God got me like no other. I have so much more work to do to Glorify…

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) June 11, 2025

A source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday that Sanders has been ill and out of the office recently. His son Deion Sanders Jr. posted a livestream video on YouTube over the weekend in which he said his father remains at home in Texas and was “feeling well,” according to USA Today, which first reported on Deion Sanders’ absence and health.

Sanders, 57, wrote that he is “excited to get back to Colorado to be at home with my staff, team & all associated to our program.” He said that once he arrives back in Boulder that he will provide updates. He concluded his post with, “Until then, I’M COMING BABY, #CoachPrime.”

The school had no comment Wednesday or a reason for his absence.

Sanders, 57, has dealt with issues surrounding his left foot since having two toes amputated in 2021 because of blood clot issues while at Jackson State. He missed media day in 2023, his inaugural year at Colorado, after a procedure to remove a blood clot from his right leg and another to straighten toes on his left foot.

As part of the contract extension he signed in March, Sanders is required to operate a minimum of three on-campus football camps.

The Buffaloes are set to begin Year 3 under Sanders on Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech at Folsom Field.

Information from ESPN’s Heather Dinich and The Associated Press was used in this report.