The first 24 hours of Signing Day 2025 have been wild—maybe even a little overwhelming. The chaos seems to mirror the unpredictable college football coaching carousel this year.
Major changes at several SEC and Big Ten schools have blue-chip recruits second-guessing their choices. On top of that, the new revenue share model is letting some unexpected programs make real moves.
Let’s dig into the biggest stories, wild flips, and how all this might shake up different college football programs. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get into it.
Unprecedented Moves and Surprising Flips
This year’s signing day has delivered some genuine curveballs. Georgia, shockingly, signed just one five-star recruit after quarterback Jared Curtis flipped to Vanderbilt.
That’s a huge drop for a program used to raking in five-stars—18 in the last five cycles, to be exact. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, just landed their first-ever five-star prospect. That’s a sentence I never thought I’d write.
Houston’s Big Win
Houston managed to sign the nation’s No. 1 overall player, quarterback Keisean Henderson. That almost never happens—usually, the top recruit ends up in the SEC.
The only similar case in the past seven years was Travis Hunter, who picked Jackson State over FSU. Could Henderson’s decision signal a shift in recruiting power? Maybe, but it’s early.
Massive Recruiting Classes
West Virginia turned heads by signing a jaw-dropping 46 players—the largest class since 247Sports started tracking in 2010. That’s…a lot of new faces.
Meanwhile, Bill Belichick’s first full class at North Carolina ballooned to 39 players. Programs seem to be betting big on volume, hoping to find future stars in the mix.
USC’s Path to the No. 1 Class
USC looked like a lock to sign the No. 1-ranked class for the first time since 2006. But Oregon still has a shot if they can flip five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. from Ohio State.
As of early Thursday, Henry hadn’t signed with the Buckeyes, so rumors are swirling. If he flips to Oregon, the Ducks could snag the top class. Otherwise, USC hangs onto the crown.
Impact of Coaching Changes
Coaching shake-ups have really thrown a wrench into this year’s recruiting. Ohio State’s Brian Hartline, a recruiting ace, left to coach USF, which left recruits like Chris Henry Jr. rethinking things.
That’s opened the door for other programs—Oregon, Texas, you name it—to try to swoop in on top talent. It’s a scramble.
LSU’s In-State Talent
Lane Kiffin jumped to LSU, lured by Louisiana’s deep pool of homegrown talent. Louisiana produces more NFL players per capita than anywhere else, after all.
But Kiffin’s start in Baton Rouge could get rocky if five-star defensive linemen Lamar Brown and Richard Anderson choose to leave the state. LSU usually keeps its best, but this year? Who knows.
Virginia Tech’s Resurgence
James Franklin has put the ACC on notice with Virginia Tech’s recruiting efforts. The Hokies shot up into the top 25 after flipping four-star linebacker Terry Wiggins from Penn State.
Franklin’s made a quick impact, delivering Virginia Tech’s highest-ranked class in the 247Sports era. Not bad for a program that’s been off the radar lately.
Florida’s Defensive Wins
Jon Sumrall, the new guy at Florida, spent signing day playing defense—literally and figuratively. He managed to keep four-star wide receiver Davian Groce, cornerback CJ Bronaugh, and edge rusher KJ Ford committed to the Gators.
Holding onto those guys is huge for Florida’s future. It’s not easy with so many schools circling.
Challenges at Penn State
Penn State’s having a rough go this cycle. The Nittany Lions are sitting at No. 150 in the rankings after signing just two players on Wednesday.
That’s the first time a Big Ten school has finished with single-digit signees since recruiting went digital. The ongoing coaching search isn’t helping—uncertainty makes it tough to close deals.
Future Implications
Penn State’s recruiting woes could haunt them for years. Transfers might help, but the pool of high-level Big Ten players is small and pricey.
It stings even more because Penn State started the season with a top 10 class and seemed poised to contend for No. 1 in 2027. Now? It’s anyone’s guess.
Wider Distribution of Top Talent
This year, top recruits are spreading out more than ever. Programs like West Virginia, North Carolina, and Houston—schools that usually aren’t in the conversation—are making real gains.
It’s creating a bit more parity in college football. Maybe, just maybe, some fresh faces will get their shot at glory.
Programs on the Rise
Several programs are right on the edge of landing their best-ever recruiting classes in the 247Sports era. Here are some names to keep an eye on:
- Washington (No. 13)
- Texas Tech (No. 19)
- BYU (No. 20)
- Illinois (No. 21)
- Virginia Tech (No. 22)
- SMU (No. 24)
- West Virginia (No. 25)
- Minnesota (No. 29)
- Syracuse (No. 30)
Oregon (No. 2) and Notre Dame (No. 3) have locked up top spots. Tennessee (No. 7) just had its best class since 2015, which is saying something.
If you’re curious about the bigger storylines from signing day—like Chris Henry’s recruitment or the wild chase for the No. 1 class—check out CBS Sports for the details.
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