The eve of dreams and disappointments. As the clock ticks down to National Signing Day, the college football landscape feels like the calm before the storm. Hopes are high, narratives are shifting, and programs are racing to lock down high school talents that could reshape their futures. Some teams bask in the glow of recruiting dominance, while others, despite their hype, find themselves grappling with unfulfilled expectations.

Enter Ohio State and Colorado, two programs that couldn’t be further apart on this crucial night, as brought to us by Rivals’ Adam Friedman on X. His post that reads “Take a look at the 2025 @Rivals team recruiting rankings the night before National Signing Day. Things will look a lot different this time tomorrow night,” shows this succinctly.

The Buckeyes sit comfortably atop the 2025 team recruiting rankings, totaling a jaw-dropping 3,017 points. This dominance comes despite their struggles on the field, including a fourth straight loss to Michigan. The Ohio State head coach Ryan Day might be under fire for his rivalry game woes, but there’s no questioning his recruiting chops.

Some of Ohio’s top commits are:

• 5-star QB Tavien St. Clair
• 5-star CB Devin Sanchez
• 5-star CB Na’eem Offord
• 4-star OT Carter Lowe
• 4-star S Faheem Delane
• 4-star LB Riley Pettijohn
• 4-star WR Quincy Porter
• 4-star Edge Zion Grady
• 4-star RB Bo Jackson
• 4-star WR Bodpegn Miller
• 4-star LB Tarvos Alford
• 4-star TE Nate Roberts
• 4-star DL Maxwell Roy
• 4-star WR De’zie Jones
• 4-star WR Phillip Bell

According to the predictions, Day’s latest loss won’t significantly impact Ohio State’s ability to land top recruits. This is still a playoff-relevant program with a track record of sending players to the NFL, and Day has received a vote of confidence for the time being. “You pick that side stay on that side,” North Shore (Texas) tight end Devin Sanchez posted on X. Sanchez wasn’t the only future Buckeye to chime in after Saturday’s loss. Bellefontaine (Ohio) quarterback Tavien St. Clair posted a trophy emoji and a picture of Ohio State’s trophy room on X on Sunday.

“Budding quarterback that has a chance to be special on Saturdays with his size, arm and mobility,” Andrew Ivins of 247Sports wrote. “Has shown year over year improvement while playing smalltown Ohio-based football and should round into form after a developmental period in college.” If St. Clair develops into a top-flight college quarterback, it will surely help Ohio State’s chances of remaining playoff-relevant. It will also help the Buckeyes remain one of the premier programs for future NFL receivers.

And the much-anticipated Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes, a team steeped in hype and personality, find themselves languishing at 35th in the rankings. With just one five-star commit in elite Carrolton high school recruit JuJu Lewis, Buffs’ recruiting class is more of a whisper than a roar. Four four-star and ten three-star players round out their 15 total commits—a tally that doesn’t exactly scream “revolution.” Their 1,559 points pale in comparison to Ohio State’s haul, begging the question: is Coach Prime’s hype train losing steam?

After a 9-3 season that saw the Buffs crack the CFP Top 25 at No. 23, the narrative around Deion Sanders has been one of polarizing expectations. On one hand, JuJu Lewis, the crown jewel of their class, provides a glimmer of hope. The No. 2 player in the 2025 class has the stats and pedigree to be a program changer. He has led his high school team to a 13-0 record this year and plans to enroll in January. This probably also answers a popular question in college football over the past 15 months: Will Deion Sanders leave Colorado anytime soon after his two sons leave after this season?

Notably, Lewis committed to Southern California last year but visited other campuses before announcing his decision last month to come to Colorado. “For Deion to do this was huge, because I think he had to convince JuJu and his family that he was staying in Boulder,” said Adam Gorney, national recruiting director for Rivals.com.

As things stand, Lewis could end up being even better than Shedeur Sanders, at least according to the recruiting ratings. In 2021, Shedeur Sanders ranked No. 26 in the nation as a quarterback recruit, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. In Colorado, he leads the nation in completion percentage at 74.2%.

On the other hand, Lewis ranks No. 6 nationally as a quarterback, according to the same ranking service. “Can’t wait to get up there in Boulder and get to work,” Smith posted in a social media video Wednesday. But is one elite quarterback isn’t enough to mask the lack of depth across their recruiting board? How about some fresh trades? Will that make any difference?

Few Christmas gifts for Deion Sanders and Buffs

The holiday season in Colorado is already looking merry and bright, thanks to Deion Sanders and his Buffs locking in some serious talent for the future. On Thanksgiving night, the Buffaloes added four key verbal commitments to their 2025 recruiting class, signaling their intent to shake things up in college football.

The quartet of new recruits includes offensive lineman Carde Smith, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound blocker from Mobile, Alabama, wide receiver Quentin Gibson, and a dynamic duo of edge rushers, Alex McPherson and London Merritt—both from the powerhouse program at IMG Academy in Florida. These aren’t just any pickups; they’re potential game-changers who could help elevate Colorado football to new heights.

“You know we don’t take a lot of high school players and the ones that we take, we want them to play immediately,” Sanders said at a news conference last week about his recruitment strategy. “We want them to produce,” while also adding, “We got what we want.”

So, leave it to Coach Prime to make it a prime-time event. These announcements didn’t just trickle in—they came with flair on Nightcap, hosted by NFL legends and old pals of the HOFer coach, Shannon Sharpe, and Chad Johnson. Hopefully, the signing period will bring in more such surprises.