The phrase “quality over quantity” certainly applies to the 2026 Nebraska football recruiting class. The Huskers took a smaller class this year by design, with 12 overall commitments. They have three blue-chip prospects in the class and are ranked No. 64 overall nationally according to 247Sports.
That’s not to say the recruiting class lacks talent. The class itself is headlined by four-star offensive tackle Claude Mpouma and four-star cornerback Danny Odem. Those two could be cornerstones for the program on both sides of the football. There are also lower-rated commits that could provide value. Offensive tackles Haydem Ainsworth and Rex Waterman fit the bill there.
By and large, the 2026 recruiting class has talent, even if it is a smaller group. The program already has several underclassmen on the roster and is looking to develop those players this coming season.
With that in mind, we take a look at where Nebraska stacks up with the rest of the teams in the Big Ten for 2026, according to 247Sports.
- USC Trojans
- Class Recap: 31 commits, 21 blue-chip (one five-star), 92.14 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 1
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Class Recap: 20 commits, 15 blue-chip (two five-stars), 46 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 7
- Oregon Ducks
- Class Recap: 15 commits, 13 blue-chip (two five-stars), 93.77 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 9
- Michigan Wolverines
- Class Recap: 21 commits, 14 blue-chip, 90.88 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 11
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Class Recap: 24 commits, 12 blue-chip, 89.16 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 16
- Washington Huskies
- Class Recap: 18 commits, seven blue-chip (one five-star), 88.62 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 19
- UCLA Bruins
- Class Recap: 23 commits, three blue-chip, 87.71 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 21
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Class Recap: 23 commits, five blue-chip, 87.93 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 22
- Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Class Recap: 24 commits, four blue-chip, 87.32 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 25
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Class Recap: 21 commits, four blue-chip, 87.47 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 27
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Class Recap: 22 commits, four blue-chip, 87.38 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 29
- Michigan State Spartans
- Class Recap: 22 commits, three blue-chip, 87.11 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 32
- Purdue Boilermakers
- Class Recap: 20 commits, zero blue-chip, 86.68 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 47
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Class Recap: 14 commits, five blue-chip, 88.41 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 51
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Class Recap: 15 commits, two blue-chip, 87.68 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 53
- Northwestern Wildcats
- Class Recap: 17 commits, zero blue-chip, 86.02 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 62
- Maryland Terrapins
- Class Recap: 12 commits, two blue-chips (one five-star), 88.32 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 64
- Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Class Recap: 12 commits, three blue-chip, 88.20 average player rating
- National Ranking: No. 66
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