Big Ten Spotlight: Three programs off to hot starts

January 27, 2025College Football

Nick Lucero/Rivals.com

The 2026 recruiting cycle is still in its infancy but that hasn’t stopped some programs from racing out to hot start with several big commitments.

Here are three programs in the Big Ten that are pacing the league right now with their 2026 classes.

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ILLINOIS

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Coming off an impressive 10-win season that included a bowl win over South Carolina, coach Bret Bielema has the buzz at an all-time high around his program. The team currently has five commitments for the 2026 recruiting class including three from the state of Florida. Among the Floridians is four-star QB Michael Clayton II, the highest-ranked prospect so far for the Illini.

Illinois has a ton of buzz in the Sunshine State right now for the work it’s doing on the recruiting trail. But it’s at home in Illinois where the perception of the program is quickly changing. That should pay big dividends this cycle with a loaded in-state crop in 2026.

MORE ILLINOIS: 2026 commitment list

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IOWA

Coach Kirk Ferentz isn’t known for overseeing hot starts in recruiting but things are different for the 2026 cycle. The team already has four commitments for the class led by four-star athlete Marcello Vitti.

Coming off an impressive Junior Day, the Hawkeyes are poised to have a big week on the recruiting trail. The program is also trending for elite interior offensive lineman Hudson Parliament.

Iowa is cleaning up in the trenches this cycle. If offensive coordinator Tim Lester can…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-spotlight-three-programs-145635886.html

Author : Rivals

Publish date : 2025-01-27 14:56:00

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