Rivals’ New Industry Ranking Formula Shakes Up Notre Dame’s 2026 Class Outlook in Unexpected and Crucial Recruiting Shifts
The world of college football recruiting is constantly evolving, and few programs are more keenly aware of that than Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have built their storied tradition through decades of national relevance, elite player development, and consistent recruiting efforts that prioritize both talent and character. As the 2026 recruiting cycle continues to unfold, a major development has shaken the landscape—Rivals has unveiled a revamped “Industry Ranking” system, a change that could significantly impact how Notre Dame’s current class is perceived, managed, and built.
The adjustment to Rivals’ ranking process brings a greater level of data integration by blending evaluations from multiple recruiting services, including On3, 247Sports, and ESPN. This approach is similar in concept to On3’s “Industry Comparison” and 247Sports’ “Composite” ranking, and aims to provide a more comprehensive and less biased view of a recruit’s true value. However, with change comes disruption. And for Notre Dame, a school that traditionally recruits coast to coast and competes with top-tier programs, the ripple effects of this ranking recalibration could be far-reaching.
To understand how this shift impacts the 2026 Notre Dame recruiting class, we must examine three key factors: how current Irish commits are affected in the new system, what this means for the coaching staff’s evaluation philosophy, and how it might alter strategic priorities moving forward.
First, let’s look at the current members of Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class. As of mid-July 2025, the Irish have secured several early commitments from high-upside prospects who the staff believes can be foundational pieces. Under the previous Rivals system, many of these players were seen as high three-stars or low four-stars. However, with the inclusion of multi-service data, several of these recruits have either risen in status or dropped slightly in the updated rankings.
For instance, four-star quarterback Tyler Atkinson, who committed to Notre Dame in late June, was previously viewed as a top-15 QB nationally according to Rivals. Under the new industry ranking, his composite standing has shifted to No. 11 nationally among QBs, thanks in part to favorable grades from ESPN and On3. This boost has placed him into the conversation as a potential top-150 overall recruit, which elevates the national perception of Notre Dame’s offensive centerpiece in the 2026 class.
On the flip side, wide receiver commit Jalen Morris, a dynamic playmaker from Texas, saw his ranking drop slightly under the new system. Despite strong numbers in 7-on-7 tournaments and positive camp reviews, Morris has a lower grade on 247Sports, which dragged down his composite average. While the staff’s internal evaluation of Morris remains unchanged, the optics of a falling rank could impact how outside analysts view Notre Dame’s overall class strength.
This brings us to the next critical area: coaching evaluations versus national rankings. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and his recruiting staff have made it clear that their internal scouting and evaluation processes matter more than external opinions. They consistently target players who fit the university’s academic profile, athletic system, and cultural makeup. Still, in the age of NIL, social media, and national perception wars, rankings cannot be completely ignored.
A composite ranking like Rivals’ new Industry Ranking creates a more stable consensus, which can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it smooths out inconsistencies from individual scouting platforms, helping fans and analysts get a clearer picture of a player’s average value. On the other hand, it reduces the weight of one particularly strong evaluation—something Notre Dame may lean on when it spots a hidden gem early in the process. This could lead to recruits being “undervalued” on a national scale, even when Notre Dame’s coaching staff is confident in their upside.
Moreover, when it comes to recruiting battles against programs like Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan, perception matters. The more commits a class has ranked in the top 100 or top 250 nationally, the more momentum a program carries into the next recruiting phase. For Notre Dame, who is always in a national dogfight for elite prospects, a few shifts in the rankings—up or down—can influence the decisions of uncommitted blue-chips. Recruits often talk among themselves, and players want to be part of a class that’s “rising,” not one that appears stagnant or falling.
One major example of this effect is five-star linebacker Elias McKinney, an elite defender from Maryland with serious interest in Notre Dame. McKinney has stated in interviews that he wants to play with other top players and compete for championships. If the revised Industry Rankings show Notre Dame slipping behind SEC powers in terms of star power, it could make the Irish less appealing on paper. Conversely, a sharp bump in the ratings of current commits could send the signal that Notre Dame is building something special, making it easier to close with McKinney and other high-priority targets.
Additionally, the changes in ranking systems may also impact how Notre Dame approaches positional needs. With the Industry Ranking shining a brighter light on certain regional sleepers—players who may be high on one site but under the radar elsewhere—Notre Dame’s scouting network will need to be more agile. Regional recruiting, especially in places like the Midwest and Northeast where elite-level athletes are more scattered, will require even more attention to detail. Freeman and his team may also need to re-calculate how they value multi-position athletes or players with incomplete junior film, since their current national rank could influence future offers or scholarship prioritization.
Another interesting layer is how NIL valuations—though still unofficial—often track with recruiting rankings. Players who rank higher in composite systems tend to draw more interest from collectives, brands, and boosters. For a program like Notre Dame that is navigating the NIL space carefully, having players with higher visibility can help ensure the program remains competitive in the evolving recruiting market. A drop in ranking, even if undeserved, could potentially hinder a player’s NIL marketability and influence their decision to stay committed or explore options with more financial upside.
It’s worth noting that not every change brought by the new Industry Ranking is dramatic. In fact, the goal of the system is stability and consensus. For most recruits, movement is minimal. But in a sport where margins are razor-thin, and where a difference of 10 spots in national class rankings can be the difference between top-five and top-ten status, the impact for programs like Notre Dame is real.
Looking forward, Notre Dame’s recruiting staff will need to adapt by staying even more engaged with multi-platform evaluations. They may begin offering earlier to players whose ratings suggest future consensus four-star potential, even if they’re still raw on tape. Likewise, they might hold off on pushing hard for players with inconsistent national rankings, unless they are absolutely convinced by in-person evaluations or camp performances.
The Notre Dame brand will continue to carry tremendous weight with recruits, parents, and high school coaches across the country. But in an era where data is king and perception drives momentum, the new Rivals Industry Ranking system is a variable the Irish cannot ignore. Every rating tweak, star adjustment, and position reshuffling has downstream effects—on social media buzz, on national coverage, and most importantly, on how Notre Dame’s 2026 class is perceived by elite talent still making their decisions.
In conclusion, the changes to the Rivals Industry Ranking formula represent a significant development in the recruiting ecosystem, and one that Notre Dame must adjust to swiftly and strategically. While the new system aims to deliver fairness and clarity, it also alters how recruits are viewed and how programs like Notre Dame must build their classes in a competitive national landscape. For the Irish, it’s another challenge—but also an opportunity—to refine their process and continue their pursuit of excellence, both on the field and in the recruiting wars that shape college football’s future.
