FSU football probably doesn't have enough top commits to finish with a top 10 class in the 2026 recruiting cycle. The Noles have the No. 13 recruiting class nationally with 21 commits.
It's far and away the most FSU has had at this point in the Mike Norvell era.
FSU head coach Mike Norvell knew the Noles needed to emphasize better high school recruiting a year ago and had FSU in a great spot before the season imploded and the 2025 class fell apart.
Norvell fired his coordinators and two more coaches as the season concluded and made some impressive hires near the Early Signing Period in December, which helped FSU close stronger than most thought possible with a top-20 class after only winning two games.
The new FSU coaches had to focus on the transfer portal Winter Window while other top programs could continue to build their high school relationships with top players. They had a recruiting board while the new FSU coaches scrambled to create a recruiting board while trying to get great options in the transfer portal.
The 2-10 record and the short time frame were tough to overcome, but the coaches have put up a valiant effort to get FSU where they are now.
However, these four schools will likely prevent FSU from getting that elusive top-10 recruiting class under Mike Norvell:
- LSU (No. 10 with 14 commits)
- Oregon (No. 11 with 14 commits)
- Texas (No. 12 with 17 commits)
- Tennessee (No. 15 with 17 commits)
If Chauncey Kennon and a couple more blue-chip targets, it still won't create a big enough gap that these four schools can't overcome because they have many more realistic top targets they could land.
Here are the national rankings currently (1-11):
- USC
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Texas A&M
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- Michigan
- Miami
- Clemson
- LSU
- Oregon
The only way I can see FSU landing a top-10 class is by exceeding expectations this season, dropping a couple of the developmental commitments, and flipping a couple of players from schools ranked above them. I suspect a few commitments could see a rankings improvement in the next update. At the very least, I think they'll have a top-15 class, which isn't the standard, but pretty darn good coming off of a two-win season.