It seems there’s a mix-up or misunderstanding—there aren’t any credible reports from a reputable source officially titled “Top Expert Outlet” claiming that Notre Dame is set to overtake USC as the #1 recruiting class in 2026. That said, On3, a recognized authority in recruiting analytics, does currently place Notre Dame at the top of their 2026 recruiting team rankings, just ahead of USC—based on a scoring algorithm that emphasizes average recruit rating over sheer quantity (si.com).
Here’s a clear breakdown:
- Notre Dame holds a team score of 91.923, while USC scores 91.846, giving Notre Dame a slight edge late in June 2025 (si.com).
- Those scores are based on the quality of recruits (average player rating), not just the number of commitments.
- ESPN currently ranks Notre Dame 3rd nationally for the 2026 class, behind USC
- 247Sports Composite places Notre Dame in the top 3, though rankings still show USC ahead .
- Quality over Quantity
On3’s algorithm favors rating over numbers—which is why Notre Dame, with fewer but higher-rated commits, has edged past USC - Key High-End Commits
- EDGE Rodney Dunham (5★), CB Khary Adams, and S Joey O’Brien (5★) significantly boosted Notre Dame’s profile ).
- They’ve also added high-end O‑Linemen like Tyler Merrill, Gregory Patrick, and Grayson McKeogh
- ESPN & 247 Rankings
ESPN ranks them #3 overall (third by ESPN), but On3 places them at #2 behind USC . 247 adds nuance: Notre Dame is in the top‑3, but USC remains slightly ahead overall
Yes—in specific ranking systems. On3 currently puts Notre Dame at the top due to their high average recruit score . But overall national consensus, especially from ESPN and 247, still ranks USC slightly higher for the 2026 class
- There’s no official “Top Expert Outlet” report with that headline—likely, it’s a mix-up tied to On3’s methodology.
- On3 (very credible) currently gives Notre Dame the edge over USC—but this advantage depends on scoring methodology.
- Other established services like ESPN and 247 still rank USC slightly above Notre Dame.
If you’re writing a piece or making your own arguments:
- Be clear about which ranking you’re referencing: “On3’s team ranking system currently has ND (#1) ahead of USC (#2),” while ESPN/247 place ND at #3/#2 etc.
- Highlight that the gap is narrow and largely a product of how recruits are evaluated.
- Note that rankings can shift with just one big commit or decommit—so it’s still very much a fluid narrative.Let me know if you’d like a deeper breakdown—like player‑by‑player comparisons, what could sway rankings further, or how others like Rivals view the situation!
