The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff means more teams than ever have realistic national championship dreams, but laying the groundwork for those dreams doesn't start with the first game of the season.

It starts months in advance on the recruiting trail.

While plenty of teams are still chasing the sport's ultimate trophy in 2024, they also have their attention on building for future seasons with the arrival of this year's early signing period.

The initial early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 4, and recruits who want to get a jumpstart on their collegiate careers have until Friday, Dec. 6 to sign with schools during this period. The traditional February signing day is still in place, but much of the recruiting focus in modern college football has turned toward the early signing period.

With that in mind, here is a look at the top classes and important information for some of the best recruits in the 2025 class.

4-Star QB Robert McDaniel Commits to UCLA

Robert McDaniel has flipped his commitment from Arizona to UCLA, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. Per Thamel, the Bruins' recent OC hire of Tino Sunseri played a major role in the quarterback's decision.

The California native is considered a 4-star recruit and the No. 32 player at his position by 247Sports composite rankings.

5-Star OL Solomon Thomas Commits to LSU

Solomon Thomas, a 5-star prospect and the No. 2-ranked interior offensive lineman in the class of 2025, has flipped his commitment from Florida State to LSU, per On3's Hayes Fawcett.

He had been previously been committed to the Seminoles since December 2023.

5-Star OT Michael Fasusi Signs with Oklahoma

Michael Fasusi, a 5-star prospect and the No 2.-ranked offensive tackle in the class of 2025, has signed with Oklahoma, per On3's Hayes Fawcett.

He has been committed to the Sooners since August.

5-Star CB DJ Pickett Signs with LSU

DJ Pickett, a 5-star prospect and the top-ranked cornerback in the class of 2025, has officially signed with LSU, per On3's Hayes Fawcett.

Pickett had been committed to the Tigers since July.

4-Star LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng Commits to Michigan

Four-star linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng committed to Michigan over Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes on Wednesday, he told Hayes Fawcett of On3 Recruits.

Owusu-Boateng is the No. 14 linebacker recruit and the No. 130 overall prospect in the class of 2025, per 247 Sports.

5-Star DL Jahkeem Stewart Signs with USC

Five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart signed with the USC Trojans, he announced on Wednesday.

Stewart—who is ranked as the No. 16 overall player and No. 3 defensive lineman in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports' composite—chose the Trojans over Oregon and LSU.

4-Star LB Madden Faraimo Commits to Notre Dame

Four-star linebacker Madden Faraimo committed to Notre Dame on Wednesday, he told Chad Simmons of On3.

Faraimo is the No. 3 linebacker recruit and the No. 61 overall prospect in the class of 2025, per 247 Sports.

4-Star Safety Lagonza Hayward Commits to Florida After Decommitting from Tennessee

Four-star safety Lagonza Hayward committed to Florida on Wednesday after being previously committed to Tennessee, he told Hayes Fawcett of On3 Recruits.

Hayward is the No. 9 safety and the No. 72 overall prospect in the class of 2025, according to 247 Sports.

5-Star CB Na'eem Offord Flips Commitment to Oregon from Ohio State

Five-star cornerback Na'eem Offord flipped his commitment from Ohio State to Oregon on Wednesday, he told Hayes Fawcett of On3 Recruits.

Offord is the No. 11 overall recruit in the class of 2025, per 247 Sports.

4-Star QB Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele Signs with Oregon

Four-star quarterback Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele has signed with Oregon after previously being committed to California.

Sagapolutele is the 88th-overall player in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports' composite, the eighth-ranked quarterback and the top player from Hawaii.

5-Star OL Michael Carroll Signs with Alabama

Five-star offensive lineman Michael Carroll officially signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide, according to Rivals' John Garcia Jr.

Carroll—the top-ranked interior offensive lineman in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports' composite—was also being pursued by Deion Sanders and Colorado.

5-Star QB Husan Longstreet Signs with USC

Five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet signed with the USC Trojans, according to Rivals.

Longstreet is the 34th-ranked player nationally and the No. 5 quarterback in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

5-Star CB Dijon Lee Signs with Alabama

Five-star cornerback Dijon Lee signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide, according to 247Sports' Brett Greenberg.

Lee is ranked as the 19th-best player and No. 4 cornerback in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

5-Star QB Deuce Knight Signs with Auburn

Five-star quarterback Deuce Knight officially signed with the Auburn Tigers, according to On3's Hayes Fawcett.

Knight is the 29th-ranked player nationally and the No. 4 quarterback in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

4-Star LB Riley Pettijohn Signs with Ohio State

Four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn officially signed with Ohio State on Wednesday, according to Rivals.

Pettijohn is ranked as the No. 2 linebacker in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

5-Star WR Dallas Wilson Signs with Oregon

Five-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson will remain committed to the Oregon Ducks and sign with the program, according to On3's Hayes Fawcett.

Wilson is ranked as the 21st overall player and No. 3 wide receiver in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

5-Star QB Keelon Russell Signs with Alabama

Five-star quarterback Keelon Russell officially signed with Alabama, according to 247Sports.

Russell, the No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 class, is also the No. 2 overall prospect among all incoming recruits, according to 247Sports' composite.

4-Star Athlete Michael Terry III Signs with Texas

Four-star athlete Michael Terry III committed to Texas, according to On3's Hayes Fawcett.

Terry is the top-ranked athlete in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

5-Star Safety Jonah Williams Signs with Texas

Five-star safety Jonah Williams signed with the Texas Longhorns, according to Rivals.

Williams is the eighth-ranked player in the class of 2025 and the No. 1 safety prospect in the country.

5-Star WR Jerome Myles Signs with Texas A&M

Five-star wide receiver Jerome Myles committed to Texas A&M, according to On3's Hayes Fawcett.

4-Star CB Kade Phillips Signs with Texas

4-Star cornerback Kade Phillips flipped his commitment from LSU to Texas, according to On3 Sports.

Top Classes

Here are the top classes for the 2025 cycle as of Tuesday, per 247Sports' composite team rankings:

1. Georgia
2. Alabama
3. Ohio State
4. Texas
5. Auburn
6. Oregon
7. Michigan
8. LSU
9. Texas A&M
10. Tennessee

Top 25 Prospects

Many of the nation's top prospects have already committed to schools ahead of the early signing period, but it wouldn't be recruiting without late drama and potential flips.

Here is a look at where the top 25 prospects, per 247Sports' composite rankings, are headed:

1. Bryce Underwood, QB, 5-star: Michigan
2. Keelon Russell, QB, 5-star: Alabama
3. Tavien St. Clair, QB, 5-star: Ohio State
4. Elijah Griffin, DL, 5-star: Georgia
5. Devin Sanchez, CB, 5-star: Ohio State
6. Jonah Williams, S, 5-star: Texas
7. David Sanders Jr., OT, 5-star: Tennessee
8. Dakorien Moore, WR, 5-star: Oregon
9. Justus Terry, DL, 5-star: Uncommitted
10. Isaiah Gibson, Edge, 5-star: Georgia
11. Andrew Babalola, OT, 5-star: Michigan
12. Na'eem Offord, CB, 5-star: Oregon
13. Michael Carroll, IOL, 5-star: Alabama
14. Iose Epenesa, DL, 5-star: Iowa
15. Dijon Lee, CB, 5-star: Alabama
16. Kaliq Lockett, WR, 5-star: Texas
17. Michael Fasusi, OT, 5-star: Oklahoma
18. Zayden Walker, LB, 5-star: Georgia
19. DJ Pickett, CB, 5-star: LSU
20. Ty Haywood, OT, 5-star: Alabama
21. Josh Petty, OT, 5-star: Georgia Tech
22. Caleb Cunningham, WR, 5-star: Ole Miss
23. Amare Adams, DL, 5-star: Clemson
24. Michael Terry III, ATH, 5-star: Uncommitted
25. Jared Smith, Edge, 5-star: Auburn