College football's early signing period opened Wednesday with much of the 2026 recruiting class committed. That added some extra drama for those teams chasing last-minute additions and flips.
Coaching changes weighed heavily on the end of this cycle . Virginia Tech saw its class skyrocket with new coach James Franklin bringing 11 former Penn State commits to his new school. Meanwhile Lane Kiffin and LSU 's class are a bit on hold. Lamar Brown , the No. 1 overall player, has delayed his signing to wait on further LSU staff anouncements.
As some College Football Playoff regulars reloaded their rosters, there are a few up-and-comers and CFP hopefuls whose 2026 classes became big storylines of the cycle.
Here's a look at the winners, the programs that missed out Wednesda

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