College Football Recruiting Faces New Dead Period, Late Flips Impact

College football recruiting is currently in a dead period through August 31, limiting in-person contact between coaches and players, with teams like Arkansas aiming to secure the majority of their high school classes before the season starts. Nebraska's top 2026 commits include four-star OT Claude Mpouma and CB Danny Odem, who have potential to rise in national rankings, while Nebraska also targets prospects for future classes. North Carolina has been successful in recruiting top quarterback prospects like Travis Burgess for 2026 and is actively pursuing several 2027 quarterback targets, including Colton Nussmeier and Trent Seaborn. UCLA recently lost a key 2026 recruit, Rahsjon Duncan, to Washington but continues to pursue top prospects such as four-star defensive lineman Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais, with an already strong defensive line group. Missouri's 2026 recruiting class ranks 76th nationally, reflecting a lower position compared to recent team success, but there remains hope for late additions to strengthen the roster. Overall, recruiting battles and rankings remain dynamic as programs adapt to new NCAA rules and deadlines.