Havon Finney Jr. speeding up his recruitment—he’s also forcing some of college football’s biggest names to hit the gas, too. When the five-star cornerback from Sierra Canyon reclassified from 2027 to 2026, it was like throwing a turbocharger into an already chaotic recruiting cycle. Suddenly, one of the best defensive backs in the country is making decisions sooner, and the ripple effect is hitting some of the sport’s powerhouses. Coaches are scrambling, visits are stacking up, and the stakes are skyrocketing. One rivalry is already heating up, with two of the Big Ten’s biggest names jostling for position before Finney even steps on campus.

The five-star CB from the West Coast has spring visits lined up, beginning with a trip back to LSU Tigers (March 22) this week. Enter Ryan Day and Sherrone Moore, two head coaches who already have plenty of reasons to butt heads but now have another battle brewing. What began as the historic Toledo War has long spilled into sports, and now, recruiting. With Michigan leading the rivalry 62-51 and holding both the current and longest win streak, the question looms: can they win this five-star showdown too? Havon Finney’s spring visits include stops at both Michigan and Ohio State, setting the stage for the first real recruiting clash between the two, all over a California standout with elite lockdown ability.

The Wolverines, have Moore leading the charge personally. Meanwhile, fresh off the natty, Day and Buckeyes—forever claiming the title of “DBU”—are rolling out the red carpet to get Finney in the mix. But they’re not alone. LSU, Texas A&M, and Texas are pushing hard, too, making this a true coast-to-coast chase for the No. 2-ranked CB in the class per Rivals250. Still, the Big Ten presence is undeniable, and Finney has already taken notice of the way Moore and Day operate.

For Sherrone Moore and Michigan, the sell is straightforward: elite development, a winning program, and a defense that knows how to maximize talent. Havon Finney has been paying attention, and he’s already built a strong rapport with Moore. “I love it. Coach Moore is a great coach. He keeps in contact with me, he keeps it real with me about where he sees me in his defense,” Finney said. That kind of honesty matters in recruiting, especially when a prospect is navigating a sped-up process like Finney’s.

Then there’s OSU, a program with a long history of developing top-tier DBs. The Chatsworth (Calif.)  native isn’t blind to that reputation, and his excitement about visiting Columbus is clear. “Coach (Tim) Walton is really cool, and I like him a lot. He’s helped mold a lot of great DBs,” Finney said. “Ohio State is ‘DBU,’ so it’ll be a cool experience to get out there soon and see what the program has to offer.” That’s a strong pitch from the Buckeyes, who have consistently churned out first-round talent in the secondary.

Beyond Michigan and Ohio State, Finney’s recruitment is picking up steam across the board. LSU is in the mix, and Corey Raymond’s influence looms large in Baton Rouge. “It’s been a good experience talking to these coaches, getting to call them, and it’s opened my eyes to who’s interested in me and who’s not,” Finney said. “It’s picked up a lot (since reclassifying). It’s cool to know the coaches now and figure out what type of school I want and what they’re looking for also.”

The Tigers’ aggressive pursuit of the No. 21 overall prospect in the Rivals250 has made an impression, and this week’s visit could shake things up even more. Texas and Texas A&M are lurking, too, both programs trying to make a late push as Finney figures out what matters most in his recruitment. Especially Mike Elko and Ishmael Aristide have been doing the legwork with Finney, who will also get a crack at the top CB target as well. “I talk to them a lot and A&M is a great school,” he started. “Most of their staff is defense. Their head coach is a defensive coach. The defensive coordinator is a DB coach, and it’s cool … I feel like I could fit in really well there.”

Looks like 4 big frontrunners! But there’s also a Big 10 surprise from hometown Cali that has certainly stood out for the star CB. With every passing week, Finney’s stock rises, and the intensity of his recruitment follows suit.

USC’s recruiting energy is off the charts, and Havon Finney feels it

Something is brewing in Southern California, and it’s not just another sunny day. According to USC commit and Finney’s HS mate Madden Riordan, the energy around the Trojans program has “changed drastically” since Chad Bowden took over as the head of recruiting. Bowden has made it crystal clear—keeping elite California talent at home is a top priority, and five-star defensive back Havon Finney is at the top of that list.

For Finney, Lincoln Riley’s pursuit ramped up after a major decision on his end. “I’d say it kind of started at the junior day, but it like really picked up once I reclassified,” Finney told On3. “That’s when it like really started. They’ve done a lot. I mean, I’ve grown up knowing most of the coaching staff, the defense coach staff. I was already close with Lincoln Riley, but I didn’t really know Coach (Doug) Belk, the new corners coach, Coach (Trovon) Reed.”

Finney has already made two visits to USC this year, the first for Junior Day in February, where recruits got to spend time with Bowden and CBs coach Trovon Reed. His most recent visit with family last week only reinforced that USC is making a huge impression on him. Scary hour for his current frontrunners.