There have been many changes the last few years with the transfer portal and NIL. While it’s easy to blame money for Michigan Football’s slow start to recruiting in the 2026 class, there’s a chance it’s just more complicated than ever before. We explain:
Michigan is off to a slow start in the 2026 recruiting cycle, with the Wolverines just cracking the top-40 on 247Sports last week when four-star tight end Matt Ludwig joined the class. The picture is a little brighter when it comes to On3’s rankings , where Michigan is at No. 19. Still, the rankings are well below Sherrone Moore’s 2025 class.
There’s a lot of information out there about Bryce Underwood’s NIL deal and the money behind his flip from LSU. For many, the transfer portal and NIL deals are cheapening the sport, but it seems like some of those aspects are here to stay. While it’s easy to say kids are just going after the biggest payday, there could be other factors at play for this slow start.
The House Settlement is still pending
It’s tough to speculate when you’re not inside the program, but there’s a settlement pending that many of us have been following for some time — the House Settlement still hasn’t been finalized. The case, among other things, looks at rules for implementing revenue sharing for TV rights. It also includes caps on things like roster sizes, which is the issue that seems to be holding up the judge’s ruling for now.
With the exact amount of money available not immediately known, Michigan — and other programs as well — is in a tough spot and cannot give players all the financial information they need. While it’s nice to have some recruits already committed, there’s a very legitimate chance the coaches are also in a wait and see pattern for some aspects of recruiting until this thing gets resolved.
Michigan didn’t rush the process last season, why would they now?
The Wolverines didn’t move into the top-10 in recruiting rankings until late in the 2025 cycle. While some of that initially seemed tied to Moore’s hiring timeline, maybe the conversations were less about pressuring kids to commit early and more about letting them take in all their options and weigh as much information as they could. It feels like the coaching staff is still focused on finding the right players and culture builders, and they’re okay waiting to get those guys.
The Wolverines hosted a ton of top recruits on official visits last year, and while they did get some commitments during that window, some of the biggest commitments came much later. Bryce Underwood flipped a week before Thanksgiving, and other recruits like Shamari Earls, Jordan Young, Elijah Dotson and Jamar Browder, among others, didn’t choose Michigan until late in the cycle. It’s possible this staff is okay giving players time to make up their mind, instead of seeing them decommit later on after a rushed decision.
There’s less pressure because of the transfer portal
After landing quite the haul this offseason, there’s no doubt Michigan knows how to utilize the transfer portal to fill holes in the roster. Of course, landing top tier players at the high school level will also be valued by the coaching staff, but it’s good to balance things out with the portal, especially in the event they swing and miss on some of their top high school recruiting targets.
We’ll have to wait and see if a similar thing plays out this year when it comes to late-season commitments. NIL deals are certainly changing the game and it’s easy to say people are only in it for the most money. It’s also possible that recruiting is more complex in the changing landscape of football, and it seems unfair to solely blame NIL deals for why programs aren’t getting kids to commit.
What are your thoughts on Michigan’s current recruiting situation? Are you worried about it, or are you okay with waiting things out? Let us know in the comments below!