Michigan could have a recruiting class for the ages next year-the Class of 2026 prospects?
Why?
1. Coming off a three year run of great football and so-so recruiting there will be a talent void that will need to be replenished.
2. 2026 class will be the first one not impacted by the annual Harbaugh “will he stay or will he go” uncertainty.
3. The new staff will have an entire cycle to develop relationships with the 2026 targets.
4. Michigan brand as strong as ever. Afterglow of national championship and good chance to make the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.
5. Moore bulking up the recruiting department.
6. Class of 2026 marks a class that since 6th grade has yet to see Michigan lose to Ohio State. Michigan has been, along with Georgia, at the top of the college football pyramid the past three years. They are just the beginning of a new generation of youngsters who are used to seeing Michigan as a national player.
7. Beat Ohio State next season and it could be the End of Day(s) for Ohio State.
8. Most importantly, with the new Virginia law allowing schools to make direct NIL payments to athletes, I am convinced that revenue sharing will be in place for the 2026 class. There will still be indirect NIL payments, but if Michigan is paying each player NIL of, say, $100,000 per year, it will somewhat even out the steep slope that Michigan is currently having a hard time climbing.
Virginia’s new NIL law will go into effect either July or November of this year. At least two other states are drafting similar laws. Once they go into effect the NCAA will have no choice but to allow all the schools to offer direct NIL. Their hand will be forced, much as it was three years ago when they had to cave in to the first set of NIL laws.
And, even better, this will force Warde’s hand to pay out direct NIL from Michigan’s coffers. At that point he really won’t have a choice. Thank God.
Why?
1. Coming off a three year run of great football and so-so recruiting there will be a talent void that will need to be replenished.
2. 2026 class will be the first one not impacted by the annual Harbaugh “will he stay or will he go” uncertainty.
3. The new staff will have an entire cycle to develop relationships with the 2026 targets.
4. Michigan brand as strong as ever. Afterglow of national championship and good chance to make the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.
5. Moore bulking up the recruiting department.
6. Class of 2026 marks a class that since 6th grade has yet to see Michigan lose to Ohio State. Michigan has been, along with Georgia, at the top of the college football pyramid the past three years. They are just the beginning of a new generation of youngsters who are used to seeing Michigan as a national player.
7. Beat Ohio State next season and it could be the End of Day(s) for Ohio State.
8. Most importantly, with the new Virginia law allowing schools to make direct NIL payments to athletes, I am convinced that revenue sharing will be in place for the 2026 class. There will still be indirect NIL payments, but if Michigan is paying each player NIL of, say, $100,000 per year, it will somewhat even out the steep slope that Michigan is currently having a hard time climbing.
Virginia’s new NIL law will go into effect either July or November of this year. At least two other states are drafting similar laws. Once they go into effect the NCAA will have no choice but to allow all the schools to offer direct NIL. Their hand will be forced, much as it was three years ago when they had to cave in to the first set of NIL laws.
And, even better, this will force Warde’s hand to pay out direct NIL from Michigan’s coffers. At that point he really won’t have a choice. Thank God.
