Story by
Football signing day live updates: 2026 commits, rankings for early signing period
- Story by
- Football signing day live updates: 2026 commits, rankings for early signing period
On Sunday, 12 teams will see their national championship hope live on when they hear their name called for the College Football Playoff .
A few days before that, the building blocks for those future championship dreams will be put into place.
Advertisement
The early signing period begins on Wednesday, Dec. 3 and continues through Friday, Dec. 5, with many of the top recruits from across the country putting pen to paper (and, in a rarity in 2025, paper into fax machines) to formalize their relationship with their new college home for the next three or four (or five) years. The three-day stretch has become the primary time for high-school prospects to sign with schools, effectively replacing the once-customary National Signing Day in February.
REQUIRED READING: Coaches created this college football calendar mess. It's on them to fix it
It will be a frenzied 72 hours, particularly on Wednesday, with hundreds of players signing with schools they've been committed to for weeks or months while others unveil their college decisions with news conferences, hats and, if the recent past has taught us anything, live animals.
USA TODAY Sports will be providing live updates from college football's early signing period. Follow along.
Early signing period live updates
This section will be updated as recruits are announced as signees.
Advertisement
Keisean Henderson signs with Houston
Five-star quarterback Keisean Henderson has officially signed his letter on intent with his hometown Houston. Henderson is the No. 3 overall player and the No. 2 QB in the 2026 recruiting cycle, per 247 Sports Composite rankings.
Auburn flips four-star DL from Texas
Three days after he was hired as Auburn's coach, Alex Golesh has landed a major recruit from an SEC power.
Corey Wells, a four-star defensive lineman who was previously committed to Texas, has signed with the Tigers . Wells is the No. 280 player nationally in the 2026 class in 247's composite rankings.
Tennessee flips WR Legend Bey from Ohio State
On a day when programs across the country are trying to land potential difference-makers on national title teams, Tennessee just got a legendary one.
Advertisement
The Vols have flipped four-star athlete Legend Bey, the No. 175 overall recruit in 274's composite rankings, from Ohio State. Bey had originally committed to Tennessee back in June before reversing course last month and picking the Buckeyes . Now, the Texas native is on his way back to Knoxville.
Chris Henry Ohio State
Ohio State has become a weigh station for top, NFL-bound wide receivers in recent years and in the 2026 class, that's not changing.
Chris Henry Jr., the son of late NFL wide receiver Chris Henry, has signed with Ohio State , according to a report from the Cincinnati Enquirer, a part of the USA TODAY Network. With the decision, Henry followed through on a verbal commitment he had given the Buckeyes all the way back in July 2023. The 6-foot-5 Henry is rated as the No. 10 overall player and No. 1 wide receiver in 247's composite rankings.
Advertisement
Henry, however, said on Wednesday that he had not signed yet.
"Still trying to weigh my options due to coaching changes I just want to make the right decision for my future," he wrote in a post on social media .
After his father died in Dec. 2009, when the younger Henry was just two years old, Henry was raised in Cincinnati by Adam "Pacman" Jones, his father's former teammate both with the Cincinnati Bengals and at West Virginia University.
Zion Elee signs with Maryland
The top high-school player in Maryland, and one of the best prospects nationally in the 2026 class, is staying home.
Advertisement
Zion Elee, a five-star edge rusher from Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore who's the No. 5 player in 247's composite rankings, has signed with Maryland.
It's the second consecutive year Terps coach Michael Locksley has pulled in a top-100 recruit from Maryland, having done so last year with quarterback Malik Washington .
USC flips Ohio State WR commit
One historic powerhouse has snagged a prized recruit away from one of its Big Ten foes.
USC has flipped four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt from Ohio State, with Dixon-Wyatt signing with the program Wednesday. Dixon-Wyatt, who plays at Southern California juggernaut Mater Dei High School, is the No. 135 overall recruit and No. 21 wide receiver in 247's composite rankings.
Dixon-Wyatt is one of four Mater Dei players in USC's top-ranked 2026 class.
Advertisement
Calvin Russell delays signing with Syracuse
Four days after wrapping up a disappointing 3-9 season, Syracuse got even more bad news Wednesday.
Wide receiver Calvin Russell, the No. 70 player in 247 composite rankings and the centerpiece of coach Fran Brown's 2026 recruiting class, has postponed his signing, he announced Wednesday. Russell committed to the Orange back in July, with the Miami Northwestern star choosing them over Michigan and Miami.
A report from On3 Sports added that Russell is expected to sign Friday, with Michigan and Miami described as "other factors."
Lamar Brown to hold off signing with LSU
The top-ranked player behind Jared Curtis won't be signing with a school — at least not yet.
Advertisement
Lamar Brown, the No. 2 overall player and No. 1 athlete in 247's composite rankings, is not expected to sign with LSU during the early signing period, according to a report Wednesday from ESPN . The report added that Brown plans to wait for newly hired Tigers coach Lane Kiffin to assemble his staff.
Brown, a Baton Rouge native, committed to LSU and then-head coach Brian Kelly on July 10, choosing the Tigers over Texas A&M and Miami.
Jared Curtis signs with Vanderbilt
The top recruit in the country is officially off the board.
Quarterback Jared Curtis, the No. 1 overall player in 247's composite rankings, signs with Vanderbilt, one day after flipping to the Commodores from Georgia. The Nashville native is the highest-ranked recruit in Vanderbilt history and gives coach Clark Lea a nice potential succession plan once Diego Pavia (we think) runs out of eligibility this season.
Carter Meadows signs with Michigan
Carter Meadows, the No. 2 edge rusher and No. 6 overall player in the 2026 class, signs with Michigan and coach Sherrone Moore. Meadows is one of the more physically impressive players in the class, standing at 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds.
Dia Bell signs with Texas
Whenever Arch Manning leaves Texas, the Longhorns will have at least one enticing option to replace him at quarterback. Dia Bell, the No. 9 overall player and the No. 4 quarterback in 247's composite rankings, has signed with Texas, becoming the first player to sign with the Longhorns on what should be a busy Wednesday for coach Steve Sarkisian's program.
Faizon Brandon signs with Tennessee
Josh Heupel's quarterback-friendly system at Tennessee may soon include an impressive young passer. Faizon Brandon, the No. 7 overall player and No. 3 quarterback in 247's composite rankings, has signed with the Vols, giving the program an intriguing option to play at the game's most important position in the years to come.
Jackson Cantwell signs with Miami
Throughout his coaching career, Mario Cristobal, a former offensive lineman himself, has been praised for his work with offensive linemen. On Wednesday, he got a pretty impressive one to join his team.
Advertisement
Jackson Cantwell, the No. 4 overall player in 247's composite rankings, has signed with Miami. In their announcement of his signing, the Hurricanes listed the Missouri native at 6-foot-8 and 330 pounds.
Early signing period: Player rankings for 2026 class
This section will be updated live as players sign.
Here's the full list of the top 100 players in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings :
5-star recruits
-
Jared Curtis (No. 1 QB), signs with Vanderbilt
-
Lamar Brown (No. 1 athlete), LSU commit
-
Keisean Henderson (No. 2 QB), signs with Houston
-
Jackson Cantwell (No. 1 OT), signs with Miami
-
Zion Elee (No. 1 edge rusher), signs with Maryland
-
Carter Meadows (No. 2 edge rusher), signs with Michigan
-
Faizon Brandon (No. 3 QB), signs with Tennessee
-
Savion Hiter (No. 1 RB), Michigan commit
-
Dia Bell (No. 4 QB), signs with Texas
-
Chris Henry Jr. (No. 1 WR), signs with Ohio State
-
Tristen Keys (No. 2 WR), signs with Tennessee
-
Rodney Durham (No. 3 edge rusher), signs with Notre Dame
-
Felix Ojo (No. 2 OT), signs with Texas Tech
-
Ezavier Crowell (No. 2 RB), signs with Alabama
-
LaDamion Guyton (No. 4 edge rusher), signs with Texas Tech
-
Immanuel Iheanacho (No. 1 IOL), signs with Oregon
-
Xavier Griffin (No. 1 LB), signs with Alabama
-
Kendre Harrison (No. 1 TE), Oregon commit
-
Kodi Greene (No. 3 OT), signs with Washington
-
Tyler Atkinson (No. 2 LB), signs with Texas
-
Ian Premer (No. 2 TE), signs with Notre Dame
-
Jalen Lott (No. 3 WR), Oregon commit
-
Mark Bowman (No. 3 TE), USC commit
-
Khary Adams (No. 1 CB), signs with Notre Dame
-
Jorden Edmonds (No. 2 CB), signs with Alabama
-
Anthony Jones (No. 5 edge rusher), signs with Oregon
-
Kelvin Obot (No. 4 OT), signs with Utah
-
Richard Wesley (No. 6 edge rusher), signs with Texas
-
Richard Anderson (No. 1 DL), LSU commit
-
Bralan Womack (No. 1 S), signs with Mississippi State
-
Joey O'Brien (No. 2 S), signs with Notre Dame
-
Jireh Edwards (No. 3 S), signs with Alabama
-
Ekene Ogboko (No. 5 OT), signs with Georgia
-
Brandon Arrington (No. 2 athlete), signs with USC
4-star recruits
-
35. Kaiden Prothro (No. 4 TE), signs with Georgia
-
36. Jett Washington (No. 4 S), Oregon commit
-
37. Darius Gray (No. 1 IOL), signs with South Carolina
-
38. Ryder Lyons (No. 5 QB), BYU commit
-
39. Ethan Feaster (No. 4 WR), signs with USC
-
40. Cederian Morgan (No. 5 WR), signs with Alabama
-
41. Chauncey Kennon (No. 3 S), signs with Florida State
-
42. Khary Wilder (No. 2 DL), signs with Ohio State
-
43. KJ Edwards (No. 3 RB), signs with Texas A&M
-
44. Luke Wafle (No. 7 edge rusher), signs with USC
-
45. Salesi Moa (No. 3 athlete), Tennessee commit
-
46. Elbert Hill (No. 4 CB), signs with USC
-
47. Davon Benjamin (No. 5 S), signs with Oregon
-
48. Jaimeon Winfield (No. 3 DL), signs with USC
-
49. Davian Groce (No. 6 WR), signs with Florida
-
50. Cincere Johnson (No. 3 LB), signs with Ohio State
-
51. Sam Greer (No. 6 OT), signs with Ohio State
-
52. Jamarion Matthews (No. 4 DL), signs with Alabama
-
53. Nolan Wilson (No. 5 DL), signs with Alabama
-
54. Deuce Geralds (No. 6 DL), LSU commit
-
55. TJ White (No. 4 LB), signs with Tennessee
-
56. Zyan Gibson (No. 5 CB), signs with Alabama
-
57. Tony Cumberland (No. 7 DL), signs with Oregon
-
58. Justice Fitzpatrick (No. 6 CB), Georgia commit
-
59. Somourian Wingo (No. 7 WR), signs with Miami
-
60. Bryce Perry-Wright (No. 8 DL), signs with Texas A&M
-
61. Naeem Burroughs (No. 8 WR), signs with Clemson
-
62. Kevin Brown (No. 7 OT), signs with West Virginia
-
63. Devin Jackson (No. 6 S), Oregon commit
-
64. Jay Timmons (No. 7 CB), signs with Ohio State
-
65. Joel Wyatt (No. 4 athlete), signs with Tennessee
-
66. Jermaine Bishop (No. 5 athlete), signs with Texas
-
67. Trenton Henderson (No. 8 edge rusher), LSU commit
-
69. Jett Thomalla (No. 7 QB), signs with Alabama
-
70. Calvin Russell (No. 9 WR), Syracuse commit
-
71. Blaine Bradford (No. 7 S), signs with Ohio State
-
72. Jake Kreul (No. 9 edge rusher), signs with Oklahoma
-
73. Keenyi Pepe (No. 8 OT), signs with USC
-
74. Jonathan Hatton Jr. (No. 4 RB), signs with Oklahoma
-
75. Caden Harris (No. 8 CB), signs with Georgia
-
76. John Turntine III (No. 9 OT), signs with Texas
-
77. Brian Bonner (No. 5 RB), signs with Washington
-
78. Talanoa Ili (No. 5 LB), USC commit
-
79. Izayia Williams (No. 6 LB), signs with Florida State
-
80. Tommy Tofi (No. 3 IOL), Oregon commit
-
81. Ayden Pouncey (No. 8 S), signs with Notre Dame
-
82. J'Zavien Currence (No. 9 S), signs with South Carolina
-
83. Brysten Martinez (No. 10 OT), signs with LSU
-
84. Aaron Gregory (No. 10 WR), signs with Texas A&M
-
85. Kentavion Anderson (No. 10 S), signs with Clemson
-
86. Brayden Rouse (No. 7 LB), signs with Tennessee
-
87. James Johnson (No. 9 DL), signs with Texas
-
88. Jordan Smith (No. 11 S), signs with Georgia
-
89. Jamarion Carlton (No. 10 DL), signs with Texas
-
90. Gabriel Osenda (No. 11 OT), signs with Tennessee
-
91. Aiden Harris (No. 11 DL), signs with South Carolina
-
92. Craig Dandridge (No. 11 WR), signs with Georgia
-
93. Havon Finney (No. 9 CB), LSU commit
-
94. Chase Campbell (No. 12 WR), signs with Texas Tech
-
95. Jase Mathews (No. 13 WR), Auburn commit
-
96. Julian Walker (No. 10 edge rusher), Michigan commit
-
97. Jaquez Wilkes (No. 8 LB), signs with Auburn
-
98. Pierre Dean (No. 11 edge rusher), signs with Georgia
-
99. Derrek Cooper (No. 6 RB), signs with Texas
-
100. Victor Singleton (No. 10 CB), signs with Texas A&M
REQUIRED READING: College football bowl projections: CFP race, postseason lineup down to final weekend
Early signing period: Team rankings 2026 class
This section will be updated live as class rankings shift
Advertisement
Here are the top 10 teams in the 2026 class rankings, according to 247Sports' Composite rankings :
-
USC (35 commits)
-
Oregon (21 commits)
-
Notre Dame (27 commits)
-
Alabama (22 commits)
-
Tennessee (27 commits)
-
Georgia (30 commits)
-
Ohio State (27 commits)
-
Texas (24 commits)
-
Texas A&M (26 commits)
-
Miami (30 commits)
To see the full rankings, click here .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Football Signing Day live updates for 2026 commits, team rankings
