With the final 2025 National Letters of Intent signed, it now makes sense to examine the football recruiting for this incoming class among the 18 teams of the Big Ten (B1G) Conference. This overview does not include Portal Transfers, as there are not as many of those each year, (Oregon has only nine for 2025) and such players are meant to satisfy a current deficiency. It is an axiom that high school signees are the bedrock for any college football program over the long term, hence my focus upon them. I even took time from cashing in on my Golden nugget promo code to study the final numbers of B1G Recruiting.
This is an article where the infographic below is crucial, and you need 10 minutes to just stare at it to see all the amazing data transmitted, realize how it will alter your perception of recruiting within the conference, and see where the future strength will be located. It is quite fascinating, and I will offer my comments, but would also love to see yours in our free Oregon football forum. I am using the data from Rivals.com and I explain why I use them right here, but the primary reasons are due to how difficult it consistently is to make their grade and because they are the only recruiting ranking service that goes back over 20 years with that same consistency.
Sometimes the rankings seem off-base, but that is because some schools actually have some unranked or two-star players signed, and thus do not show up in the above image. In the case of Rivals, they look at your Top-20 recruits for their ranking — and that is why Oregon dropped from No. 1 in the nation to No. 5 with the loss of a 4-star quarterback who signed with the Ducks, but had a change of heart. While his loss did not impact the QB room for the Ducks, it did drop Oregon’s final ranking. (I define 4 and 5-star players as Blue-Chip players above.)
It is notable that Oregon’s average among all recruits was an all-time record for recruiting at Oregon with a 4.11 average versus 3.96 at Ohio State and 3.88 for Michigan. The reason for fewer high school players signed is due to the tremendous recruiting of the three classes by Dan Lanning who, while building a base, are quite young and are still maturing into their roles. The turnover that occurs at the end of the sophomore year or going into the junior year has not occurred much due to all the talented youth of recent classes. I expect the turnover to be much heavier beginning this coming year.
Terrance Ferguson celebrates another touchdown in the Big House. (Photo by Naji Saker)
That phenomenon explains why elite schools such as Ohio State sign so many, as they have turnover from those who did not play, and who will leave for other schools, hence more openings for scholarships to be filled. Even with that — it is stunning how well the Buckeyes recruit considering how they already have one of the highest Blue-Chip ratios in the country within their roster. I was surprised at how well Michigan did, considering the recent cheating scandal and their 8-5 record in 2024. You have to tip your cap to the top segment of recruiting in the B1G, and I am proud to state that Oregon has moved into that highest echelon.
It was surprising to me that Penn State did not make the cut for the highest segment, yet it also shows their superb coaching on defense, and the development of so many 4-stars who blow up during their college career. For example, Edge Rusher Abdul Carter was originally a 4-star when recruited to Penn State, yet now is considered a possible first-round NFL Draft pick — signifying a tremendous jump in his development. The ‘Lions at State College have done well in the portal, and I expect them to be a top segment team for the foreseeable future despite the lack of blue-chip players recruited.
From that middle segment, I see Maryland and USC dropping lower in actual results, and Wisconsin and Nebraska rising higher and knocking on the door of the highest segment due to their notable, proven coaches. I am very surprised that Illinois and Iowa did not recruit better, especially since the Fighting Illini finished No. 16 in the nation’s final standings with their bowl win over South Carolina.
Washington is already on the fringe of the upper strata at No. 25, and you have to shake your head at their huge class of 26 recruits, which includes seven blue-chippers. That load of 3-stars would normally not be notable, but with yours truly, it really is. That bastard Jedd Fisch is a great coach, as he took Arizona from the ashes with a couple of blue-chip players, but in particular was superb at identifying upside and coaching them up. He is loading up for a run at the upper level, and I believe he will have the damn Huskies there in a few short years.
A’Mauri Washington, No. 52 tackles Michigan State. (Photo by Craig Strobeck)
I assumed Indiana would have done better in recruiting, as this poor showing will hamper their hold on being consistently nationally ranked. Of course UCLA should be killing recruiting, but is dramatically underperforming to its potential. Be in a super-conference with SoCal sunshine without freezing your rear-end off? Sounds like a good sales presentation to me!
Recruiting for the middle and lower segments becomes less of a factor in success, as does finding 3-star gems and fully developing that talent as Oregon did in its climb to higher status over the years. When tons of blue-chip players are stacked in classes, it is hard to not have a great season, but the lower half of recruiting in this conference requires superb coaching to offset the deficiencies. Jonathan Smith has a big hole to dig out of at Michigan State, and his progress is going much more slowly than I would have thought — especially when compared to Washington.
While recruiting is a big indicator of future success, I also acknowledge where masterful coaching can overcome much of the disadvantages experienced by the lower half. Yet another huge element that determines the success of a season is the schedule given to a team by the conference. Oregon has an ideal schedule for a “re-tooling” year, and our own “Schedule-Meister” at FishDuck, Jon Joseph, will have future articles to help us see how next year’s standings in the conference will be impacted by the each team’s schedule.
As you scan through the recruiting rankings above, what are your observations? Let me know in the only free, civilized Oregon Football message board, the Our Beloved Ducks forum because…
“Oh, how we love to ponder about Our Beloved Ducks!“
Charles Fischer (Mr. FishDuck)
Eugene, Oregon
Top Photo by Eric Becker
Natalie Liebhaber, the FishDuck.com Volunteer Editor for this article, works in technology in SLC, Utah.
Related Articles:
Charles Fischer has been an intense fan of the Ducks, a season ticket holder at Autzen Stadium for 38 years and has written reports on football boards for over 26 years. Known as “FishDuck” on those boards, he is acknowledged for providing intense detail in his scrimmage reports, and in his Xs and Os play analyses. He is single, has a daughter Christine, and resides in Eugene Oregon where he was a Financial Advisor for 36 years.
He now focuses full-time on Charitable Planned Giving Workshops for churches and non-profit organizations in addition to managing his two Oregon Football Websites, of FishDuck.com and the Our Beloved Ducks forum. He is a busy man!
He does not profess to be a coach or analyst, but simply a “hack” that enjoys sharing what he has learned and invites others to correct or add to this body of Oregon Football! See More…