With the escalated recruiting clock fully established now and the vast majority of prospects using the early signing window, this is the time of year when college football teams get a head start on next year's recruiting.

It's the perfect time to bring in top-tier prospects for huge game weekends, show off the prime pageantry and atmosphere of your campus and get playmakers thinking about pulling the trigger with a commitment. Many already have.

At this point of the cycle, if you don't already have a core start to your 2026 recruiting class, you're behind. Even with Name, Image and Likeness packages becoming a viable part of the equation you can't ignore, relationships still go a long way—especially considering all top programs have a player budget these days.

It's not a shocker that the SEC dominates the early list of programs off to a hot start in recruiting, but others dot the landscape, as well. Texas was on this list until the reclassification of 2026 commit Zelus Hicks took one of their early pledges from the list.

Several big-name quarterbacks are already off the board, and teams everywhere have a jump-start on '26. Let's take a look at some of the hottest programs out there right now.

Auburn Tigers

Bryan Harsin couldn't survive a 9-12 start to his Auburn career, and second-year coach Hugh Freeze hasn't fared any better with a 9-13 mark to start his tenure on the Plains. But hope still abounds, largely because Freeze is putting together some exceptional recruiting classes.

The dominance of the state of Alabama in the '25 class has been impressive, as Freeze puts the finishing touches on a top-five class. The 2026 group is off to a stellar start, as well.

Simply put: Kids are buying what Freeze is selling on the future of the Auburn Tigers.

They currently have the No. 6-rated class according to 247Sports, and the five pledges are strong from a quality standpoint.

It all starts with Hezekiah Harris, a Huntsville, Alabama, product from Mae Jemison High School, who is the fourth-rated edge in the class.

Pair an explosive playmaker off the edge with the Yellow Hammer State linebacker tandem of Shadarius Toodle and JaMichael Garrett, and you've got a formidable future tandem around which to build a difference-making D.

The Tigers also went out of state to pluck Florida receiver Denairius Gray and Baltimore safety Wayne Henry to round out a healthy start to the haul.

Florida State Seminoles

There's nothing that can be said about the shocking 1-8 season for coach Mike Norvell's Florida State Seminoles a year removed from an undefeated regular season.

The ramifications of that collapse are reverberating through a 2025 recruiting class that has fallen apart and dipped to barely in the top-50 range. Thankfully for the 'Noles, the '26 class is looking better, at least for now.

Obviously, you have to think those prospects are in a wait-and-see mode with FSU and the Norvell tenure, but a fourth-rated class that includes six early commits is a strong one.

Quarterback Brady Smigiel of Newbury Park, California, is the jewel of the class so far, the nation's fifth-rated pro-style passer and a 6'5", 205-pound field general who already looks the part with room to grow.

The rest of Norvell's class hails from the Sunshine State, spearheaded by sideline-to-sideline linebacker Izayia Williams of Leesburg. Tampa athlete Darryon Williams likely will play receiver in Tallahassee, where he will team with Efrem White, a do-it-all athlete who plays quarterback, receiver, defensive back and return specialist for Vero Beach.

The 3-star safety tandem of Darryl Bell III and Tedarius Hughes round out the class, and both of those kids have long, lanky frames with time to add good weight. This is an elite start to the class if the 'Noles can pull it together.

Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia coach Kirby Smart isn't off to as hot of a start to the 2026 cycle as he would like, but don't worry about the Bulldogs. They always seem to find their way to the top few before the class is in the books.

So far, the Dawgs' '26 class has been characterized by who they haven't gotten.

As mentioned in several other slides, some of the biggest-name prospects in the Peach State are heading to USC, Texas A&M and elsewhere. Georgia no doubt will keep swinging at those guys, but early on, it looks like the class may have a bit more of a national flavor.

That certainly hasn't hindered Smart in the past.

Early on, the jewel of the class is Mission Viejo, California, pass-catcher Vance Spafford, who isn't the biggest target at 5'11", 175 pounds but has been a mass-producer and a high-volume pass-catcher for a powerhouse program. He will fit in nicely in Athens.

Dominick Kelly is a top-200 prospect from another powerhouse, IMG Academy, in Florida, and he continues the rich tradition of the Dawgs getting top-tier secondary prospects on the back end.

Rounding out the young class so far is instate cornerback Jontavius Wyman, who has a high upside and a lot of nice offers.

The Dawgs crept onto this list when Zelus Hicks reclassified to the '25 class, leaving Texas without one of its early commitments. The guess here is they will keep on moving up.

LSU Tigers

This time last year, the LSU Tigers were exploding out of the gates to start the 2025 class with a haul of prospects that made everybody's mouths drop. While they've suffered some decommitments, they're still surging toward a strong class.

Brian Kelly isn't quite as scorching on the trail this year, but he's still put together an early group of players that is ranked ninth nationally.

Even at this early juncture, a group of four commits has LSU displaying quality over quantity.

Edna Karr High School safety Aidan Hall from New Orleans headlines the group, and he is a star-in-the-making that everybody wanted. It appears he will stay at home, and he has the versatility to play either corner or safety. The speed and physicality combo is one every team covets.

Even with reinforcements and improvements this year, the Bayou Bengals need to continue to get better defensively, and the '26 class is trending that way. Four-star defensive lineman Richard Anderson (Hall's teammate) and safety Jakai Anderson will help quickly.

Interior offensive lineman Jalan Chapman rounds out the class as the only 3-star prospect. Interestingly enough, all four of those players are from New Orleans, where Kelly and LSU coaches before him have made hay on the recruiting trail.

Once the national brand kicks in, they will be the core group of another strong class.

Oregon Ducks

Oregon really doesn't need help keeping its national brand going, with its recent on-field success, move to the Big Ten and an unlimited, Nike-driven pot of resources and facilities.

But coach Dan Lanning's program being ranked No. 1 in the nation certainly isn't hurting matters as the Ducks try to build up to being an annual force on the field and in living rooms.

The 2026 class is ranked seventh at this early point and already includes seven prospects, highlighted by 5-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene, an athletic, 6'6", 285-pound bruiser from powerhouse Mater Dei (California) High School.

Greene is the type of player who can be the centerpiece of a class no matter who else the Ducks bring in, but he has company at the top. His high school teammate, Tomuhini Topui, is another top-100 prospect heading North.

Texas running back Tradarian Ball is the nation's second-ranked runner, and he seems intent on leaving the Lone Star State where Texas and Texas A&M normally pick and choose who they want. There's an opportunity for major carries in Eugene in '26, and Ball has the chops.

Lanning also has his signal-caller wrapped up in the class, going with Illinois' Jonas Williams, a 4-star pocket passer who is ranked eighth nationally at his position.

The Ducks even have a local talent from right there in Eugene staying at home in defensive lineman Tony Cumberland.

This is a deep, talented beginning to a class that could contend for the top overall spot.

Penn State Nittany Lions

The narrative that James Franklin can't win the big one is definitely making the rounds this week after Penn State fell short once again in a white-out game against Ohio State this past weekend.

But the Nittany Lions can only keep piling up competitive teams every year, and they will continue to do that with the way Franklin is recruiting. He is known for finishing classes early, getting a bevy of early pledges.

The 2026 cycle looks like it's trending that way, too.

Like Oregon, Penn State has seven commitments already in its third-ranked class, and while they don't have a 5-star player in the group, it's still plenty strong.

The top three players in the class all hail from inside state boundaries, led by 4-star offensive tackle Kevin Brown. Safety Matt Sieg and nearby Harrisburg athlete Messiah Mickens is a quality trio to start things off.

A big pull for Franklin coming all the way from San Marcos, California, is 4-star pro-style passer Troy Huhn of Mission Hills High School, who looks like he's spurning plenty of offers from programs much closer to home.

West Virginia 4-star edge-rusher Daniel Jennings completes a 4-star haul of five guys already, and Delaware receiver Jahsiear Rogers and Maryland receiver Lavar Keys will try to bolster a position PSU has lacked playmakers at for multiple years in a row.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Looking at South Carolina's schedule to start the season and everything the Gamecocks had to replace, it was hard to be optimistic. But, thanks to a rebuild, elite defensive line and an upstart young quarterback in LaNorris Sellers, coach Shane Beamer's program appears on firm footing.

He's done a great job supplementing some shrewd portal pulls with quality recruiting, and the 2026 class looks like it could follow suit.

The Gamecocks are currently ranked eighth nationally with five prospects, and the top star in the haul so far is nearby Rock Hill, South Carolina's J'Zavien Currence, who is going to stay home to play his college ball, which is a huge deal for Beamer.

The long, lanky Currence has lockdown potential and at 6'3.5", 210 pounds, he flashes on film and has versatility to line up in a lot of different places.

While elite linebacker Rodney Colton Jr. is visiting other places, he is currently committed to the Gamecocks, and he is a potential early contributor on the second level.

Oxford (Alabama) High School's Keenan Britt, and the South Carolina duo of tight end Jamel Howse and offensive lineman Anthony Baxter round out the class. Britt especially is the type of athlete who could surge up recruiting rankings.

Tennessee Volunteers

When it comes to recruiting quarterbacks, no college coach is doing it better than Tennessee's Josh Heupel right now.

Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava is leading the top-10 Vols' charge right now, with former 4-star Jake Merklinger waiting his turn. George MacIntyre is an instate gunslinger ready to sign with the home-state program in the '25 class, and things are already looking good for '26, too.

The Vols have a commitment from Greensboro, North Carolina's Faizon Brandon, the No. 1-ranked quarterback and overall player in the class. He has elite athleticism and arm strength and could be special.

Heupel is surrounding Brandon with quality players coming up, too. Local product Tyreek King of Knoxville Catholic High School committed to the Vols last week, and he has long been a coveted prospect who is a perfect fit for the up-tempo offense.

Staying in the Volunteer State, Nashville tight end Carson Sneed helps the Vols build depth and talent at one of the most important positions in the Heupel offense.

Rounding out the class is a player on each line of scrimmage—Georgia interior offensive lineman Brandon Anderson and Alabama defensive lineman Tyson Bacon.

Texas A&M Aggies

When the Texas A&M Aggies replaced Jimbo Fisher with Mike Elko, there weren't a lot of fireworks from the folks in College Station, but all they did was get one of the top five Xs and Os coaches in the country.

Even though they were whipped in the second half of a 44-20 loss to South Carolina this past weekend, the Aggies still have just a pair of losses and sit atop the SEC. It's a much better start to the Elko tenure than anybody anticipated.

Recruits are paying attention in a big way.

A&M currently has the nation's top class, bolstered by all the excitement around the program. Most surprising, perhaps, is that only two of the eight pledges so far hail from the Lone Star State, where some major recruiting wars are yet to be waged.

The 4-star edge tandem of Douglasville, Georgia's Jordan Carter and Lawndale, California's Samu Moala rival anybody's group at that position nationally.

Carter's Douglas County High School teammate, wide receiver Aaron Gregory, is heading to College Station with his buddy, too. But he isn't the only showcase player on offense.

Tight end Xavier Tiller is from Fairburn, Georgia, and another instant-impact guy from the Peach State, where Elko has been surprisingly strong.

Making it all tick will be quarterback prospect Helaman Casuga, who is set to come all the way from Draper, Utah, to be the signal-caller in the class. The undersized quarterback posts massive numbers on the high school level, and has the arm strength and athleticism to make up for the lack of height.

USC Trojans

It hasn't been an easy kickoff to USC's inaugural Big Ten campaign, but if you were expecting that, you're in the minority. The Trojans simply aren't tough and rugged enough to compete in that conference right away.

They're 4-5 on the season and just 2-5 in the league, but as of right now, Lincoln Riley isn't sweating any hot seat, and he's going to have time to rebuild the talent level for the Trojans to compete in one of the two best conferences.

The 2026 class will help if he can hold things together and build off the start.

So far, the Trojans have the fifth-rated class in the nation, and it's obvious the Big Ten brand is helping matters, despite the rocky start. Gainesville, Georgia, 5-star athlete Xavier Griffin is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle to remember.

Everybody expects Riley to get offensive talent, but USC needs to improve dramatically on defense, and the 6'4", 210-pound athlete projects to be a linebacker who can come in, start right away and be a key piece of the transformation. He is a special talent everybody will be coming after.

Fellow top-100 prospect Brandon Lockhart from right there in Los Angeles is another huge commit for defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn, as is Chicago edge-rusher Braeden Jones. That's a group of 4-stars (with 5-star Griffin) to help immensely on defense.

The 3-star tandem of athletes Joshua Holland and Madden Riordan project as cornerbacks, too.

All stats courtesy of CFBStats and Sports Reference unless otherwise noted. Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.