Ranking every Big Ten football 2026 recruiting class by average player rating (July 29)

A new program sits atop the class of 2026 team recruiting rankings. That is SEC power Georgia, which rose one spot after 247Sports' recent rankings update. That move means that for the first time this cycle, USC no longer holds the top position.

The Bulldogs and Trojans each boast terrific classes. Georgia has 23 blue-chip commitments, including two five-stars, in a 30-player class. USC, meanwhile, has 21 blue-chip players, including one five-star, among 31 total commitments. Both classes unsurprisingly rank well in terms of average player rating, which is oftentimes a better measure for class quality than 247Sports' composite rankings. Georgia sits at 92.27, while USC is just behind at 92.23.

Those two classes are No. 5 and No. 7, respectively, in average player rating. The programs are looking up at Oregon, LSU, Alabama and Notre Dame in that altered hierarchy.

After that recent rankings update, it's worth an updated look at where every Big Ten program falls in the national recruiting rankings. First, we've already ordered each class by its place in 247Sports' national composite rankings.

Now, for a better look at the quality of each group, here are those classes ranked by average player rating.

Ranking every Big Ten football recruiting class of 2026 by average player rating (July 29)

1. Oregon Ducks
   • Class Recap: 15 commits, 13 blue-chip (three five-stars), No. 11 national ranking
   • Average Player Rating: 93.82
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
   • Class Recap: 21 commits, 14 blue-chip (two five-stars), No. 7 national ranking
   • Average Player Rating: 92.26
3. USC Trojans
   • Class Recap: 31 commits, 21 blue-chip (one five-star), No. 2 national ranking
   • Average Player Rating: 92.23
4. Michigan Wolverines
   • Class Recap: 21 commits, 14 blue-chip, No. 9 national ranking
   • Average Player Rating: 91.05
5. Penn State Nittany Lions
   • Class Recap: 24 commits, 15 blue-chip, No. 16 national ranking
   • Average Player Rating: 89.81
6. Washington Huskies 
   • Class Recap: 21 commits, eight blue-chip (one five-star), No. 17 national ranking
   • Average Player Rating: 88.91
7. Iowa Hawkeyes 
   • Class Recap: 14 commits, five blue-chip, No. 52 national ranking
   • Average Player Rating: 88.65
8. Maryland Terrapins
   • Class Recap: 12 commits, two blue-chip (one five-star), No. 67 national ranking
   • Average Player Rating: 88.49
9. Illinois Fighting Illini
   • Class Recap: 23 commits, four blue-chip, No. 27 national ranking
   • Average Player Rating: 88.08
10. UCLA Bruins
    • Class Recap: 23 commits, four blue-chip, No. 21 national ranking
    • Average Player Rating: 88.01
11. Nebraska Cornhuskers
    • Class Recap: 12 commits, two blue-chip, No. 72 national ranking
    • Average Player Rating: 88.00
12. Wisconsin Badgers
    • Class Recap: 14 commits, two blue-chip, No. 60 national ranking
    • Average Player Rating: 87.99
13. Minnesota Golden Gophers
    • Class Recap: 24 commits, five blue-chip, No. 25 national ranking
    • Average Player Rating: 87.79
14. Indiana Hoosiers
    • Class Recap: 22 commits, five blue-chip, No. 29 national ranking
    • Average Player Rating: 87.75
15. Michigan State Spartans
    • Class Recap: 22 commits, three blue-chip, No. 31 national ranking
    • Average Player Rating: 87.67
16. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    • Class Recap: 21 commits, three blue-chip, No. 34 national ranking
    • Average Player Rating: 87.62
17. Purdue Boilermakers
    • Class Recap: 19 commits, zero blue-chip, No. 51 national ranking
    • Average Player Rating: 86.80
18. Northwestern Wildcats
    • Class Recap: 17 commits, zero blue-chip, No. 59 national ranking
    • Average Player Rating: 86.43

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Ranking Big Ten football 2026 recruiting class average player rating