Well, our very own Thanksgiving Day rivals, the USC Trojans and Notre Dame, are back, but this time, their battle is off the field. After suffering a tough loss in the championship, Notre Dame is determined to bounce back and regain their dominance. And how do they plan to do that? By bolstering their roster, of course! But where’s the fun in that without some competition for the desired recruits? As the saying goes, ‘When two dogs fight for a bone, a third runs away with it,’ and that’s exactly what’s happening with this 5-star athlete’s 41st offer.

You think 41 offers sound crazy, right? Well, that’s just the beginning for Mount Miguel’s talented prospect, Brandon “Dash” Arrington Jr. The real shocker, though, is that losing him could be a major setback for the USC Trojans and their coach, Lincoln Riley. Coach Riley is leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of Arrington. He’s been visiting Brandon’s high school and even pulling strings with NIL deals to secure this exceptional talent.

It was already a tough battle with powerhouses like Notre Dame, Alabama, and Auburn in the mix. But now, USC faces even more competition from Michigan State, who just offered Arrington his 41st Division 1 scholarship. There’s only one thing that can work in their favor: USC’s home state factor. So, Brandon is from California, and that could be a factor he can consider. Because a shaky 7-6 season doesn’t help much.

Moreover, Brandon Arrington isn’t just a dual threat on the football field; he’s a track star too. His state-winning times of 10.33 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 20.55 seconds in the 200-meter dash clearly demonstrate his speed. As he put it, “I feel like my track times benefit me for getting these big offers because colleges love speed.” Even he knows what he is capable of. His commitment could be a turning point for USC, who lost more than 20 players to the transfer portal.

And let’s face it, who wouldn’t want a player who excels on both offense and defense? Arrington had an impressive last season, with 310 receiving yards, four offensive touchdowns, 25 tackles, and even a punt return touchdown. He’s been playing as a wide receiver and cornerback for the past two seasons and currently holds the No. 18 national ranking, No. 2 in the athlete category, and No. 3 in California.

This guy’s a game-changer, no doubt. But right now, the pressure’s on.

The Heat’s On for USC

Well, it’s evident that USC is going to have a tough fight with all the other 40 programs that are trying to get Brandon Arrington. But some of those teams are really pushing their limits to get him. For starters, the Florida State football staff has been incredibly busy this week, hitting the road to pursue unsigned recruits for the 2025 class and even extending offers to the 2028 class.

On Thursday, the new defensive coordinator, Tony White, made his way to San Diego to evaluate Brandon Arrington. Plus, FSU already has an advantage in this recruitment battle due to the strong connection White has built with Arrington during his time in Nebraska. Despite the distance, FSU is putting up a good fight.

However, they are not alone in this race….

The coaching staff at UCLA is also tirelessly working to secure commitments from top-tier recruits in the 2026 and 2027 classes. They have their sights set on Arrington, who is making waves as one of the most promising athletes in the 2026 class. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds, Arrington ranks as the eighth overall prospect and excels at receiver and cornerback positions. UCLA knows the kind of depth he can bring to the team, and so they are eager to keep him close to home.

However, Alabama is also very much in the picture. Back in July, Arrington visited the Tide, and the program already impressed him. As he told On3, “That basically tells you that’s the school you want to go if you play receiver. Or even DB. They also had Pat Surtain and all these great athletes. Bama is the place to be if you want to go to the league.”

The fight looks quite feisty. For now, we’ll have to bide our time and see where he is by the end of his junior year.