It has been nearly a decade since USC has signed a top-five class and the Trojans have yet to make an appearance in the College Football Playoff, but Lincoln Riley is working to try and change the Trojans fortunes on both those fronts. USC is setting the pace for the 2026 recruiting cycle with a class that ranks No. 1 and is anchored by a two five-star recruits, both of whom have come on board in recent days. The combination of Keenyi Pepe and Elbert Hills, has added size and speed to the class, with Pepe one of the top ranked offensive tackles in the class and Hill the No. 1 ranked cornerback. Notre Dame is coming off an appearance in the national championship game and working to get back there as it continues to infuse its 2026 class with more talent and jumps into the top five. The Fighting Irish have landed multiple ESPN 300 commits in the last month, including running back Javian Osborne, who is out of Texas and a nice blend of speed, agility and vision. Monday afternoon will bring big news for the 2026 class as five-star quarterback Jared Curtis is expected to announce his commitment, which seems to be down to Oregon or Georgia. That will bring another update these rankings.  coverage: