Craig Haubert from ESPN just dropped the updated 2027 recruiting class rankings, expanding to the top 20 schools. For Michigan, not much changed. But for their rivals, a lot did, and not in a good way.

Penn State took the biggest hit of anyone, dropping from No. 12 all the way down to No. 18. Texas Tech slid from No. 6 to No. 11 as well. Michigan held firm at No. 10, but Ohio State fell from No. 5 to No. 8.

Penn State's fall makes sense when you look at the context. When James Franklin left for Virginia Tech, every 2027 commit the Nittany Lions walked out with him.

Head coach Matt Campbell has been rebuilding the team from scratch. And right now, Penn State has just two SC Next 300 commits in the class.

The situation for Texas Tech was a bit different. Head coach Joey McGuire's staff simply got outpaced during the June evaluation period, with other programs adding more volume and higher-rated commits at a faster rate.

While rivals were sliding, the Wolverines were quietly building. They now have nine SC Next 300 commits heading into the summer.

Michigan's class is being built around quarterback Kamden Lopati, a four-star from Salt Lake City who flipped from Illinois in April. He has a strong arm, good mobility and a high football IQ. ESPN describes him as someone who sees the field well and processes quickly.

The Wolverines also added TE Colt Lumpris, a flip from Alabama, and have SC Next 300 offensive linemen Sidney Rouleau and Jakari Lipsey in the fold. That is the kind of foundational class building that programs sustain themselves with long term.

Recruits have noticed the change in Ann Arbor. Wide receiver Quentin Burrell, one of the recent commits, was blunt about it when speaking to Rivals' recruiting analyst, Allen Trieu. Burrell called Michigan under Whittingham a "completely changed program."

That kind of word getting around recruiting circles matters. It is how classes grow from good to great.

Ohio State still has a legitimately impressive class as well. Jamier Brown and DJ Jacobs are legitimate headline names. But dropping three spots in one update is not a great look, regardless.

Why Ohio State's Drop Should Concern Buckeyes Fans

Ohio HC Ryan Day has elite pieces on the Buckeyes' roster. Jamier Brown runs a 10.3 in the 100 meters and is the next big name in their receiver pipeline.

Five-star DE DJ Jacobs fits the Buckeyes' mold of elite edge defenders and already has coaches raving about his motor.

But there are questions plaguing the team beyond the rankings as well.

Ohio State's committed quarterback Brady Edmunds finished eleventh out of twenty at the Elite 11 Finals, and Day's staff is already looking at other options for the position.

But uncertainty at that position, combined with slipping in the rankings, is not what you want heading into the summer.

Do you think Michigan can crack the top five in the 2027 recruiting rankings by signing day? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit