Breaking down the top Group of Five recruiting classes in 2026

It remains a challenge for non-Power Four college football programs to consistently recruit high school talent. Identifying underrated talent is key, as is fending off other programs who begin to take notice down the stretch. According to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, an equally weighted formula that utilizes the three major recruiting services, there is no Group of Five program that currently has a top-50 class in the 2026 cycle. There are some programs that have built respectable pledge lists to this point, though.

Below are the top 2026 Group of Five classes to date, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings:

1. USF — 85.408

33 total commits
Top Commit: S Amari Jones, No. 765 NATL. (No. 71 S)
National Class Ranking: No. 62

To no surprise, head coach Alex Golesh and his staff in Tampa have honed in on recruiting local. Of the 33 commits in the class, 16 are in-state, headlined by Jones, safety CJ Cresser and quarterback Rhys Brush, the No. 73 signal-caller in the nation. USF racked out plenty of commits in the spring. Jones and Alabama receiver Josiah Dozier, the two highest-ranked recruits in the class, both pledged in April. The class also includes kicker Gaston Gramatica, the son of former longtime NFL kicker Martin Gramatica.

2. UNLV — 84.312

22 total commits
Top Commit: WR Jesse Harden, No. 570 NATL. (No. 90 WR)
National Class Ranking: No. 69

Dan Mullen is in the Sin City and ready to lead UNLV in the Group of Five this fall. The longtime SEC skipper has shown his recruiting chops in the past, and he’s compiled 22 pledges to date ahead of his first campaign with the Rebels. Five receivers are in the class, headlined by Harden, a Plant City (Fla.) product. Quarterback Derek Garcia is also at the top of the class after committing in early May. He is the No. 47 QB in the cycle. Seven of the top 10 commits in the class are on the offensive side of the ball.

3. Temple — 83.890

24 total commits
Top Commit: DL Jude Okeleke, No. 667 NATL. (No. 68 DL)
National Class Ranking: No. 70

There’s a heavy Northeastern flavor when looking at Temple’s 2026 class to date. Okeleke, the No. 3 recruit in Connecticut, is flanked by a slew of commits from the likes of Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Receiver Coen Logan and offensive tackle John Watkins, both of whom play for Baltimore powerhouse St. Frances Academy, committed in June and highlight the pledge list alongside quarterback Brady Palmer, who plays for St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the top programs in Florida.

4. Appalachian State — 83.722

21 total commits
Top Commit: QB Nathan Bernhard, No. 769 NATL. (No. 41 QB)
National Class Ranking: No. 72

Head coach Dowell Loggains has scoured the East Coast to rack up commitments this cycle. That’s of course except for Bernhard, who hails from Ashland, Ohio. The one-time Michigan target committed to the Mountaineers in April and is currently the nation’s No. 41 quarterback. The Sunshine State linebacker duo of Michael McClenton and Bryant Junius flank Bernhard at the top of the class. The Carolinas currently account for 10 of the 21 commits in the class.

5. Boise State — 83.700

19 total commits
Top Commit: WR Terrious Favors, No. 574 NATL. (No. 91 WR)
National Class Ranking: No. 73

Boise State continues to do well with local targets and will battle UNLV for the top class in the Mountain West down the stretch this cycle. Favors is set to make the trek to Idaho from Atlanta, he’s currently the No. 63 prospect in Georgia and one of the top Group of Five commits in the 2026 class. Despite losing a pledge from touted quarterback Bryson Beaver to Oregon, the Broncos now have a pair of signal-callers at the top of their class alongside Favors: Utah three-star Tradon Bessinger and California three-star Jackson Taylor. They are the No. 44 and 45 quarterbacks in the cycle. Seven Californians are in the class.

6. Memphis — 83.392

18 total commits
Top Commit: CB Johnny Moody, No. 1,141 NATL. (No. 114 CB)
National Class Ranking: No. 74

The usual recruiting honey holes in the Southeast have led head coach Ryan Silverfield and his staff to a majority of their commitments so far this cycle. Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida are all represented in the 18-man class. June brought Memphis 11 commitments, including Moody, receiver Jude Hall and receiver Zechariah Jenkins. Back in January, the Tigers landed quarterback Gavin Owens, a 6-foot-4 signal-caller who plays for Rabun Gap-Nacoochee in Georgia.

7. Miami Ohio — 83.216

24 total commits
Top Commit: QB Tommy Carr, No. 922 NATL. (No. 51 QB)
National Class Ranking: No. 75

Carr, the younger brother of current Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr and grandson of legendary Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, committed to the Redhawks in February. He’s a top-20 recruit in Michigan and the No. 51 quarterback in the nation. Michigan and Ohio account for 16 of the 24 commits in the class thus far. Other top commits include receiver Will Pressley, offensive tackle Tommy Fraumann and receiver Justen Hodge.

8. Washington State — 83.167

19 total commits
Top Commit: IOL Kingston Fotualii, No. 1,331 NATL. (No. 118 IOL)
National Class Ranking: No. 76

As Wazzou continues to adjust in the ever-changing Group of Five landscape, head coach Jimmy Rogers and Co. have compiled 19 commits so far this cycle. Fotualii, the No. 13 player in Washington, is currently one of just two in-state prospects in the class. Edge rusher Jacob Lopez-Veasey is, surprisingly, one of four Texans in the mix for the Cougars. The wide receiver duo of Maurice Purify II, the No. 14 player in Nebraska, and Hudson Lewis, the No. 4 player in Idaho, also sit near the top of the class in Pullman.

9. Tulsa — 82.888

18 total commits
Top Commit: RB Keilan Chavies, No. 820 NATL. (No. 52 RB)
National Class Ranking: No. 78

Like many programs in Oklahoma and Texas, Tulsa’s 2026 class is jam-packed with recruits from those two states. Chavies, the No. 113 player in the Lone Star State, is one of eight Texans in the mix for head coach Tre Lamb and the Golden Hurricane. Local three-star safety Daijon Gaines is the No. 22 player in Oklahoma and one of five in-state commits in the class. Four receivers are in the class, highlighted by Xavier Green.

10. Tulane — 82.733

17 total commits
Top Commit: WR Trez Davis, No. 381 NATL. (No. 58 WR)
National Class Ranking: No. 79

Head coach Jon Sumrall and the Green Wave landed a humongous commitment from Davis in June. The West Monroe, La. product is now a four-star and the highest-ranked Group of Five commit heading into his senior season. He’s one of five receivers in the class, with in-stater Brayden Allen also leading the charge on the pledge list. Other top commits in Tulane’s class to date include offensive lineman Langston Hogg, tight end Colby Simpson, receiver Gary Hadley Jr. and cornerback Orion Saunders.