USC Trojans, Oregon Ducks, Kansas Battling For Most Recruiting Class Commitments

The focus among college football programs has completely shifted to recruiting the class of 2026 with the signing periods for 2025 athletes in the rearview mirror. Outside of a spring transfer portal window, coaches around the country are currently recruiting their next incoming freshmen. Who holds the most commitments?

The Kansas Jayhawks and coach Lance Leipold lead all programs with 13 commits. Behind them, the USC Trojans currently hold 11 commitments while the Oregon Ducks are tied with Illinois for 10. While the Jayhawks might lead the way in quantity of recruits committed, the Trojans and the Ducks are pacing the country in terms of talent acquisition.

Trojans coach Lincoln Riley and his staff have invested into recruiting local high school talent. Seven out of the USC's 11 commits coming from Southern California, including four-star defensive backs RJ Sermons and Brandon Lockhart. USC is also able to recruit nationally, evidenced by the Trojans' highest-rated commit, four-star linebacker Xavier Griffin from Gainesville, Georgia.

Nov 11, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, left, and Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning talk before a game at Autzen Stadium. | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

According to On3's Industry Rankings, Oregon has the No. 1 recruiting class in 2026 with USC sitting at No. 2. However, 247Sports rankings currently have the Trojans at No. 1 while the Ducks are at No. 2. No matter the top-ranked team, both programs are recruiting some of the top prospects on the west coast and across the country.

Kansas' positioning in the recruiting rankings is another instance in which 247Sports and On3 disagree quite a bit. The Jayhawks are ranked No. 4 by 247Sports, but On3 has them down at No. 24. While Leipold and his staff have an early lead in total commitments, it appears as though On3 is valuing the quality of other team's recruiting classes over Kansas' 13 commits.

Headlining the Jayhawks class are four-star offensive lineman Kaden Snyder and four-star James Dunnigan Jr., the Jayhawks' highest-rated commit according to On3's rankings. Behind them are 11 three-stars, including EDGE Hunter Higgins, defensive lineman Landen Anderson, quarterback Jaylen Mason, and linebacker Joshua Galbreath.

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Alabama and Texas both have three prospects committed, and On3 ranks both classes above the Jayhawks' group of incoming recruits. The Crimson Tide's class of four-star cornerback Zyan Gibson, four-star EDGE Jamarion Matthews, and four-star offensive lineman Chris Booker is ranked ahead of Kansas.

Kansas and USC lead the country with the most commits through March, but plenty of time remains before recruits can put pen to paper during the Early National Signing Period. Still, other teams have also established strong starts to their recruiting classes, like Oregon, Texas A&M, Penn State, and Tennessee.

Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts against the Texas A&M Aggies in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Also close behind the Trojans and the Jayhawks are Boston College, Illinois, and Syracuse. While not traditionally considered recruiting powerhouses, Boston College, Illinois, and Syracuse all have nine commits currently, as do Texas A&M and Arkansas.

As the season goes on, however, top recruiting programs like the Georgia Bulldogs and Ohio State Buckeyes will begin to fill out their classes. In 2025, the top-five consisted of Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, and Oregon, according to 247Sports.

Where will the Trojans' 2026 recruiting class rank after the Early National Signing Period in December?