Oklahoma top 10: Updated look at the top 15 in 2025 team recruiting rankings

A look at the top 15 teams in the 2025 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports.

The Oklahoma Sooners are off to a blazing start in the 2025 recruiting class. Their 10 commitments put them way ahead of the pace from 2024 when they didn’t get their first commitment until late March before the signing class.

Headlined by a group of Oklahoma products, the Sooners currently rank inside the top 10. They should see significant movement if the current predictions for blue chip prospects Jonah Williams, Tory Blaylock, and Cobey Sellers come through with commitments.

The Sooners are also in great shape with a number of highly-regarded targets like offensive tackle Michael Fasusi and tight end Nate Roberts.

With more than nine months before the early signing period and Oklahoma about to transition into spring ball, recruiting is about to heat up. The Sooners are well situated to maintain their recruiting floor in the top eight but could push the 2023 recruiting class for the best of the Brent Venables era.

Here’s a look at the top 15 programs in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings, the number of blue-chip prospects for each school, and their highest-rated prospect.

College Football Playoff Committee announces format for 12-team playoff: How could it look?

The College Football Playoff Committee announced the format for the expanded 12-team playoff. How would it have looked based on the final 2023 CFP rankings?

The College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams in 2024. However, it hadn’t yet been settled how the 12 teams would be selected.

On Tuesday, the College Football Playoff Committee announced a 5+7 model for selecting the 12 teams that will vie for the national championship through the expanded playoff. This is a change from the originally agreed upon 6+6 model that included the six highest-ranked conference champions. This comes after the Pac-12 was reduced to just Oregon State and Washington State after the latest round of realignment.

The assumption is the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC will receive four of those five automatic bids and the other could come from the Pac-12 or a Group of Five conference.

The five highest-ranked conference champions will receive automatic bids. The four highest-ranked conference champions will receive a first-round bye, with seeds 5-12 facing each other at the home venues of seeds 5-8.

According to a release from the College Football Playoff Committee, the quarterfinals and semifinal games will be played at the sites of the New Year’s Six bowl venues. The national title game will continue to be played at a neutral site.

Though there will be automatic qualifiers, no conference is guaranteed a spot in the playoff and there are no limitations on the number of teams each conference can send to the playoff. Why does this caveat matter? Well, the Pac-12 is now the Pac-2, with only Oregon State and Washington State remaining. Their schedule may not warrant consideration for an automatic bid in the playoff if they aren’t one of the top five conference champions.

Conversely, the SEC, which is arguably the most competitive conference, had four teams ranked in the top 12 of the final College Football Playoff rankings for 2023. Throw Oklahoma and Texas into the mix and that’s six programs that will play football in 2024 from the SEC in the top 12 with LSU at No. 13. What will make up the Big Ten in 2024 had five teams inside the top 12.

So what would the 2023 [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] field look like if it had been a 12-team playoff?

Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator for 2024 is a strange choice

Ryan Day hiring Bill O’Brien is an interesting choice, to say the least.

Buckeyes Wire shared on Friday that Ohio State has officially hired a new offensive coordinator for 2024.

“OSU announced the hiring of O’Brien as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in a statement just a day after ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the story. The announcement came from Ryan Day through an Ohio State spokesman.

“I am extremely pleased to be able to add Bill O’Brien to our coaching staff,” Day said in the statement. “He brings with him a wealth of knowledge – and a tremendous amount of success – at both the NFL and collegiate levels. He is an excellent and experienced offensive coach who has run NFL and Power 5 programs and developed some truly elite players throughout his career. He’ll be an excellent teacher and recruiter for us, and he absolutely strengthens our staff.”

Ryan Day, the head coach of Ohio State, and Bill O’Brien will have to replace a key player from their last two seasons, Marvin Harrison Jr. They have two elite receivers returning: redshirt junior Emeka Egbuka and sophomore Carnell Tate. Additionally, they received great news last week when redshirt junior TreVeyon Henderson announced he would be staying for the 2024 season. The Buckeyes also received a commitment from Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins from the transfer portal. The Buckeyes will continue to be active in the transfer portal, so O’Brien’s roster should be filled with offensive talent.

USC is unlikely to face Ohio State this year unless the two teams meet at some point in the postseason. There are two possibilities for this, either the Big Ten Championship Game or in the College Football Playoff, which will expand to 12 teams this year.

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Can USC keep Julian Lewis’ commitment after his reclassification to 2025?

This recruitment does not feel settled. USC will have to clear more hurdles.

Announcing that he will be reclassifying to the 2025 recruiting class, Julian Lewis, the 6-1, 185-pound quarterback from Carrollton, Georgia, will see his recruitment heat up again.

Lewis committed to USC last year in August, choosing the Trojans over Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, and Texas A&M. He made it clear that Lincoln Riley’s history with quarterbacks was the deciding factor. Riley, who is only 40 years old, has already coached three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks: Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams. The first two were also the first overall picks in the NFL draft, and Williams is expected to join them.

LSU has moved on and secured the commitment of the No. 1 recruit and quarterback in the 247Sports composite rankings, Bryce Underwood. Ohio State, a Big Ten rival, signed the No. 4 quarterback in the 2024 class, Air Noland, and the Buckeyes already have an elite 2025 quarterback commit in Tavien St. Clair. Elite quarterbacks do not sign in pairs, so these two schools are out of the running.

That leaves two other schools Lewis has visited twice since committing to USC: Georgia and Alabama. Lewis is from Georgia, and the Bulldogs are in need of an elite quarterback after Dylan Raiola flipped his commitment on signing day and signed with his father’s alma mater, Nebraska. While Alabama signed the top quarterback in the 2024 class, Julian Sayin, the Tide will likely still be in the market for another signal-caller in the 2025 class.

Julian and his family are very familiar with the local powerhouses that will pursue him until early signing day in December, and he chose USC. Perhaps the words of Julian’s father, TC Lewis, will help to ease concerns in Troy.

In an interview with 247Sports last summer, TC explained: “If Lincoln Riley doesn’t go [to an SEC team], it’s not an option.  With the word of NIL and that school academically and everything LA can bring and seeing the type focus Caleb has had and talking to Caleb’s dad about it, there is nowhere else to go. It seems like the smart move.”

It is often said that actions speak louder than words. Julian Lewis has a 25-3 record as the starting quarterback at Carrollton High School, but there have been rumors that he may transfer to Mater Dei or St. John Bosco in Southern California. While his father’s words are reassuring to Trojan fans, a move out west would certainly secure his son’s commitment to Lincoln Riley’s program. However, there is no guarantee this will happen. Dylan Raiola, who played high school football in Chandler, Arizona, transferred to Georgia to play his senior year, and we know how that ended.

The one thing you can always rely on in high school recruiting: it’s fluid. So buckle up, Trojans; it might be a bumpy ride.

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New Ohio State AD Ross Bjork explains interest in Mark Stoops from Aggies’ head coach search

“Mike Elko is a great coach and we’re gonna meet them in the playoffs because he’s going to build it,” Bjork said Wednesday at Ohio State.

As one chapter closes and another opens, former Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork had some explaining to do.

Bjork was hired as the future director of athletics at The Ohio State University on Tuesday afternoon, replacing Gene Smith who is retiring in June. Bjork held his introductory press conference in Columbus on Wednesday and answered a bevy of questions.

In Sept. 2021, Bjork gave former Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher a 10-year contract extension, then fired him in Nov. 2023. On Wednesday, he addressed Texas A&M’s reported interest in Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops, before eventually hiring Mike Elko to lead the program.

“Here’s what people, they don’t really realize about the process,” Bjork said. “The athletic director and the team — whatever that may look like — we run a search process. We make recommendations to the president. ‘I would like to hire this person,’ or ‘I think this is the No. 1 candidate.’ That’s how it works in every institution. No athletic director has the full autonomy to say, ‘I’m absolutely going to hire this person and no one else is involved.’ That’s where it goes back to alignment, that’s where it goes back to process and communication.

“So how (Stoops’) name got out there, of course he was a candidate. But we didn’t hire him. We hired Mike Elko, Mike Elko is a great coach and we’re gonna meet them in the playoffs because he’s going to build it. So at the end of the day, who did you hire and how did you get there? That’s what matters the most. So searches in today’s world are really, really probably unrealistic because of social media, plane tracking, or whatever. And so that’s what you have to do is just go through a process and pick the right person, and that’s what we did.”

At this point, it’s time for all parties to move on — media included.

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Where will Ryan Day coach football in 2025?

Will 2024 be Ryan Day’s last season at Ohio State?

While we wait to see where Jim Harbaugh will coach in 2024, let’s look ahead a little bit. We asked our football panelists where Ryan Day will coach in 2025.

Matt Zemek, Trojans Wire: In the NFL. He has to be tired of the recruiting game at Ohio State, not to mention the withering, suffocating pressure of the job. The NFL would not be less pressure-packed by comparison. (It would be an equal-pressure job, but not worse than OSU.) One has to wonder, too, where Justin Fields will play football in 2025. If he isn’t in a good spot, Ryan Day could join him and try to resurrect his career. Notably, if Fields is pushed out of Chicago and the Bears reset with Caleb Williams, Fields’ new landing spot could be a point of interest for Day in this coaching carousel cycle, not next year’s cycle. The odds of a 2024 change aren’t good, but they shouldn’t be completely dismissed, either.

Zachary Neel, Ducks Wire: Ryan Day will be the coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2025 after finally beating a Jim Harbaugh-less Michigan in 2024.

Matt Wadleigh, Trojans Wire: Ryan Day will not be coaching at Ohio State in 2025 if they don’t win the Big Ten, and I have the Buckeyes on the outside looking in next season. Where will he be coaching? That remains to be seen, but maybe an ACC or Big 12 program.

Don Smalley, Ducks Wire: When I saw this question, UCLA popped into my mind. I don’t think Chip will be there and Day will get to be in sunny Los Angeles and still in the Big Ten.

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Here are the ten CFB programs that have produced multiple 1st round QB selections since the 2010 NFL Draft

Texas A&M is one of ten CFB programs since the 2010 NFL Draft with multiple 1st round quarterback selections.

Over the last decade-plus, the quarterback position has continued to evolve with the game itself, and while having a live arm paired with accuracy and touch remain the traits needed to succeed in the NFL, the ability to make plays “out of structure,” while possessing at least moderate duel-threat running ability has become even more vital.

While many of us can pinpoint the Power 5 college football programs that consistently produce quarterback talent, the ever-growing transfer portal has completely thrown off any past trends outside of Oklahoma and now USC under head coach and “QB guru” Lincoln Riley.

Credit to College Football Report for narrowing down the list of the ten programs that have produced multiple 1st Round NFL Selections since the 2010 NFL Draft, which happens to include Texas A&M and, yes, North Dakota State during their incredible run, winning nine FCS National Championships from 2011-2021.

Including several Heisman Trophy winners and potential future NFL Hall of Fame inductees, the ten college football programs have had multiple first-round picks since the 2010 NFL Draft.

Oklahoma Sooners just outside the top 10 in latest US LBM Coaches Poll

The Oklahoma Sooners finished the regular season just outside the top 10 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll.

The Oklahoma Sooners had a shot to extend their season as the BYU Cougars took Oklahoma State to the brink on Saturday. But as the football was ripped out of the BYU player’s hands, the Sooners’ hopes of reaching the Big 12 title game were ripped away as well.

At 10-2, the Sooners improved from their 6-7 season in 2022. However, the way they got to 10-2 feels a bit underwhelming. This was a team that had chances to beat Kansas and Oklahoma State. Those losses loom large, with Oklahoma narrowly missing the conference championship game.

Still, it was a season of progress, reflected in the reality that they even had a chance to play for a title after their 2022 season. As the regular season comes to a close, the Sooners finished No. 12 in the nation in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

The Sooners are the fourth-highest-rated two-loss team behind Missouri, Penn State, and Ole Miss.

At the top of the poll are the Georgia Bulldogs, who moved to 12-0 and extended their winning streak to 29 games. They’ll take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC title game.

Michigan moved back into the No. 2 spot after their win over Ohio State. Jim Harbaugh or not, the Wolverines have simply kept winning. Iowa poses a strong defensive challenge, but it looks like Michigan will get a spot in the playoff.

Washington’s last-second field goal secured their undefeated regular season. All that stands in the way of a trip to the playoff is their rematch with the Oregon Ducks.

Florida State remained undefeated despite the loss of Jordan Travis with a win over Florida. If they can beat Louisville in the ACC title game, the Seminoles should earn the No. 4 seed in the playoff.

Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, and Alabama take the 5-8 spots. Oregon, Texas, and Alabama have a shot to sneak into the playoff. For the Ducks and the Crimson Tide, the path is clear; win on championship weekend and you’re in. For Texas, they might need a bit more help.

Here is the full US LBM Coaches Poll following Week 13.

Rank Team Record Points Change
1 Georgia 12-0 1,571 (61)
2 Michigan 12-0 1,460 (1) +1
3 Washington 12-0 1417 +2
4 Florida State 12-0 1403 +1
5 Oregon 11-1 1278 +1
6 Ohio State 10-1 1250 -4
7 Texas 11-1 1226
8 Alabama 11-1 1182
9 Missouri 10-2 1034 +1
10 Penn State 10-2 967 +1
11 Ole Miss 10-2 937 +1
12 Oklahoma 10-2 895 +1
13 LSU 9-3 780 +1
14 Louisville 10-2 716 -5
15 Arizona 9-3 681 +1
16 Notre Dame 9-3 602 +1
17 Iowa 10-2 553 +2
18 Tulane 11-1 549
19 Oklahoma State 9-3 253 +2
20 North Carolina State 9-3 303 +4
21 Oregon State 8-4 253 -6
22 Liberty 12-0 236
23 Tennessee 8-4 209
24 SMU 10-2 135 +1
25 James Madison 11-1 79 +5

Schools Dropped Out

No. 20 Kansas State

Others Receiving Votes

Toledo 68; Clemson 64; Utah 54; Kansas State 54; Troy 25; Kansas 15; West Virginia 10; UNLV 4; San Jose State 1; New Mexico State 1;

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Ryan Day to Texas A&M? It’s a long shot

Is Ohio State head coach Ryan Day a legitimate candidate for the Texas A&M opening? Maybe, but it’s not too realistic.

Texas A&M’s week-old search for its next football head coach after Jimbo Fisher’s dismissal has produced a list of intriguing names. While Aggies athletic director Ross Bjork is hard at work narrowing his list, TexAgs’ co-owner Billy Liucci, a leading A&M insider, provided an update regarding Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who, yes, is still a semi-legitimate candidate at this stage.

On Wednesday, just a day before we all enjoy Thanksgiving, Liucci isn’t sold on the idea of Day making his way to College Station from one of the best programs in the country. Still, crazier things have happened, including current LSU head coach Bryan Kelly leaving Notre Dame just two short years ago.

“There is Ryan Day smoke, but I’m very skeptical of the Ryan Day smoke,” Liucci stated. “I’m skeptical that that’s not an agent drumming up stuff. I will continue to include Ryan Day as a candidate. That’s not who I would expect them to land.”

However, the pressure is on full blast this weekend for No. 2 Ohio State’s road trip to No. 3 Michigan for the “The Game,” which is the de facto Big 10 championship.

If the Buckeyes were to lose, who knows what the future holds for Day in Columbus? As one of the country’s oldest and most successful programs, fans expect championships year after year, and 10- or 11-win seasons become more meaningless year after year.

“That one, there is enough smoke to where I’m like ‘Go lose to Michigan and see if that gets interesting at all,” Liucci stated.” I think there are a couple more people, in my mind, that are a lot more likely than Ryan Day.”

All of this remains hearsay, but just like Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, who, according to Liucci, also remains a candidate, it’s critical to pay attention to how events play out on the final weekend of the regular season.

Texas A&M will take on 14th-ranked LSU on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. CT., and ESPN will carry the game.

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5-stars: The best and worst of Ohio State’s Senior Day win over Minnesota

Who played well and who didn’t for the Buckeyes? #GoBucks

It was a very successful senior day for Ohio State football, as it used a dominant third quarter to put away Minnesota, 37-3.

The Buckeyes received plenty of strong play from both sides of the ball. There was also aspects Ohio State could have been much better at.

This week two players reached five-star status, the best of what we saw on Saturday evening. There was also two units that didn’t play at a championship level, which earned them the lower stars.

Find out below who which were the best (five-star) and worst (one-star), performances for Ohio State in its win over Minnesota.