Early Signing Day 2025: Winners and losers from the cycle

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The Early Signing Period has gone as quickly as it arrived.

Many of the nation’s top prospects made their decisions and signed with the programs they had been committed to for months, maybe years.

For others, last-minute decisions left them going elsewhere, as the modern era of NIL and the transfer portal continues to create a surge of commitment flips across the map.

As there is every recruiting cycle, the Early Signing Period has its share of programs that won it and others that clearly did not.

Here are the biggest winners and losers this cycle.

Winners

Notre Dame: Notre Dame’s been cooking on and off the field since Marcus Freeman took over, and this class optimizes that growth. The Fighting Irish signed multiple five-star prospects, including Rodney Dunham and Ian Premer, finishing with the No. 3 class in the cycle, its best in decades.

USC: When you’re the top class in a recruiting cycle, of course, you’re a winner. Five-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe headlines a class of 35 consisting of 21 four-star prospects.

Texas Tech: A top-20 class in this cycle, the Red Raiders have gone all in on NIL and it has shown. Tech signed 20 prospects, including a pair of elite five-star talents in offensive tackle Felix Ojo and edge LaDamion Guyton.

Vanderbilt: At first glance, Vanderbilt’s No. 31 class may not appear to be much to talk about. However, it’s their highest-rated class ever, headlined by in-state five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, who flipped away from Georgia.

Virginia Tech: James Franklin’s arrival in Blacksburg ultimately paid off in a big way for the Hokies. Their 2026 class went from one struggling to get into the top-50 to one that sits at No. 24 with eight four-star signees.

Losers

Auburn: While most SEC teams are thriving, Auburn hasn’t found that same level of success. The Tigers signed only 18 players, five of whom were ranked four-star prospects.

Baylor: The Early Signing Period was not kind to a Baylor class that had some momentum going into it. Multiple players flipped away from the Bears, leaving them with only 12 signees and the No. 83 class.

Nebraska: If it wasn’t for Penn State’s struggles, the spotlight would be squarely on Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers. Nebraska only signed 10 players, including two four-stars, in a class that ranks No. 113.

Ole Miss: The Rebels’ No. 22 class may not seem that bad, as Ole Miss also signed eight four-star prospects. However, losing Lane Kiffin took a toll, as multiple pledges flipped and the class dropped from a near-top-10 power to a team struggling to get into the top 20.

Penn State: While Virginia Tech is thriving, Penn State has sunk. The Nittany Lions had a top-20 class under Franklin, but have since fallen to No. 155, signing only two players.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Which college football programs won (or lost) early signing day 2025?

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