Ranking every Big Ten team’s recruiting class by blue-chip percentage

The Big Ten doesn’t get all of the recruiting accolades that its counterpart, the SEC, does each year. But clearly the league is doing something right with each of the last two national champions and three of the top six teams in the latest AP poll.

But with the additions of Oregon, USC and Washington, the conference has upped its game in the 2026 cycle. More than 110 of the nation’s 400 blue-chip prospects are committed to a Big Ten school, which would be right on par with some of its best years ever. And two new additions are the ones leading the way.

Rivals breaks down every class in the Big Ten based on their blue-chip percentage (4- and 5-star commits divided by total number of pledges):

1. Oregon – 88%

The Ducks have been recruiting at an unprecedented level under Dan Lanning, and that’s again the case in 2026. Despite only have 17 commits, which is 15 less than rival USC, they have four five-stars committed and the highest blue-chip rate of any team in the country. Other schools are going to continue pushing for flips, but Oregon is tough to recruit against as any program in the country right now.

2. USC – 69%

USC’s recruiting hasn’t done a full 180 this cycle — the Trojans did sign the country’s No. 15 class last year. But they’re not far from it. After landing just 10 blue-chippers in 2025, that number has jumped to 22 this year, tied for second-best of any program in the country behind Georgia. They’ve done it by winning in their own state, yes. But they’ve also gone to Ohio, New Jersey, Texas, and Illinois to build up what is currently the nation’s No. 1 class.

3. Ohio State – 67%

A few years ago, it would’ve been a shock to see Ohio State not as the top school on this list. But with the two West Coast additions to the league, recruiting has gotten tougher. That said, their class still ranks No. 10 nationally, headlined by five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. He is flanked by four other top-100 commits and 14 blue-chippers in total.

4. Michigan – 61%

Sitting just behind their arch rivals, Michigan has again put together a top-10 national class under Sherrone Moore. They are one of only a handful of a teams with multiple five-star commitments — RB Savion Hiter and EDGE Carter Meadows. This group, combined with their No. 6-ranked class in 2025 and strong NIL backing, has the chance to be a foundational group for Moore as he looks to get them back in national title contention over the next few years.

5. Penn State – 44%

Despite not recruiting at quite the level of its peers in recent years, Penn State has clearly had no trouble developing its talent and maximizing it. The 2026 class falls right in line with the recent historical averages under James Franklin (14th in 2023, 15th in 2024, 13th in 2025). This group is reminiscent of what has made them one of the Big Ten’s premier programs in recent years — strong line play on both sides, a handful of underrated gems and a big emphasis on the rushing game.

6. Washington – 38%

Jedd Fisch has Washington off to a 3-0 start, but the Huskies have been building momentum on the recruiting trail all offseason prior to that. Not only did they flip five-star caliber offensive tackle Kodi Greene, but they’ve also landed eight blue-chip prospects in total to match their highest output in recent memory.

7. Iowa – 29%

The Hawkeyes have never been seen as a recruiting powerhouse under Kirk Ferentz, but despite last year’s struggles they are still in the top half of the Big Ten this cycle. They boast four blue-chippers in this class, all of whom are ranked in the Rivals300.

8. Indiana – 22%

Coming off an electric 2024 season on the field, Illinois is recruiting at a significantly higher clip than it has in recent history. Curt Cignetti and his staff have mined talent all over the Midwest, landing top players in Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and of course, Indiana. Five-blue chippers headline this class, which ranks No. 32 nationally after finishing 53rd last cycle.

Other Big Ten teams

Note: Purdue and Northwestern do not have any blue-chip commitments currently in the 2026 class.

9. Michigan State – 22%
10. UCLA – 20%
11. Nebraska – 18%
12. Minnesota – 17%
13. Rutgers – 15%
14. Wisconsin – 13%
15. Illinois – 12.5%
16. Maryland – 8%