Ojo, Russell, McDonald commitments mark recruiting shift and the power of rev-share

College revenue sharing began on July 1st, nobody could have foreseen the instant impact it would make on the recruiting side of the house. Teams are now allowed to compensate their athletes directly, and this new ability has thrown a wrench into the world of recruiting. Powerhouse schools like Ohio State, Michigan, and Georgia have seen recruits they usually land head to schools that left analysts scratching their heads.

With revenue-sharing dollars, smaller schools and those with less fanfare and national coverage can make significant offers to elite players. Landing one or two top-level talents can make a substantial impact on a smaller school in a less competitive conference. Recently, three top-level athletes in the 2026 class surprised college football by choosing schools that were not even on their final list. Top 10 talent Felix Ojo ended up with Texas Tech, top 100 receiver Xavier McDonald chose Sacramento State, which is an FCS school, and then top 20 wideout Calvin Russell shocked Michigan and went with Syracuse.