The college football recruiting calendar for 2024–2025 opens on August 1. One of the biggest modifications is the lengthening of the dead period until July, which will significantly affect FBS clubs’ offseason recruiting strategies.
Although 2025 quarterback Luke Nickel had an offer from Miami, he decided to commit to the Hurricanes soon after making a significant campus visit to Coral Gables, Florida, about a year ago. The quarterback from Alpharetta, Georgia, got to know the program well and discovered his new home when he threw for the staff during Miami’s yearly summer picnic and camp in late July.
The well-liked underclassmen-focused late-July recruiting events will disappear when this year’s calendar ends at the end of this month due to a significant shift in the recruiting schedule.
“I believe that we are just going to accelerate the process and everything,” Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby said to 247Sports during SEC Media Days. “It is preferable to schedule Signing Day earlier in December to avoid the recruiting weekends. While your football team prepares for bowl games and plays in the championship, you may give them your whole attention. You should do it, in my opinion.
“There are two sides to July being lifeless all the way through. It currently eliminates six or seven days of operation. We will continually look for methods to adjust, get an edge, and follow the regulations.”
The new recruiting calendar means that there is no on-campus recruiting between June 23 and September 1. This includes all July recruiting events without a memorable name, such as Penn State’s Lasch Bash, Oregon’s Saturday Night Live, Michigan’s Barbeque at the Big House, and any other event. The visitation window is open from July 25–31 this year.
“These changes will impact several schools in the Midwest,” noted Allen Trieu, national recruiting analyst for 247Sports.com, who focuses on prospects in the region. It’s possible that the most well-known event that will need to be moved or cancelled is Michigan’s Barbeque at the Big House, which was the first of these kinds of events that I can recall. The Spartans have had great success with Michigan State’s Spartan Dawg Con throughout its existence, and Notre Dame launched its Grill and Chill last summer.
“I believe that schools will need to reschedule the event. I believe other programs will plan their Hawkeye Tailgaters around the same time as Iowa, which began hosting them in June.”
High-level talent Zion Elee of Baltimore St. Frances is scheduled to visit Oregon later this month. He is the No. 2 edge rusher and No. 12 overall prospect in the junior cycle. On July 27, he will be in Oregon for Saturday Night Live.
“Oregon, which has been the top recruiting power out West in recent years, will see a significant change,” stated Blair Angulo, national analyst for 247Sports who covers prospects in Arizona, Southern California, Nevada, and Utah. “Since (coach) Willie Taggart’s tenure, the Ducks have utilized the last weekend of July to present Saturday Night Live, an event that features a star-studded lineup that includes a mix of commits, top targets, and highly sought-after underclassmen.
“It’s been a useful evaluation tool for the staff as well, with prospects working through a variety of drills and 1-on-1 battles inside Autzen Stadium.”
The effects extend beyond backyard barbecues or pool parties. Moreover, camps use this week to identify underclassmen. This year’s prospects include those from 2026 and 2027 in addition to a potential hidden gem in the current class.
Linebacker Christian Alliegro did well at the camps at Minnesota and Rutgers two summers ago. Alliegro received 10 offers after his camp exercises and signed with Wisconsin as a result of increased recognition on the recruiting front.
“Another effect will be schools like Minnesota, who have done July camps,” Trieu stated. “Typically, it’s a chance to catch late-rising seniors or get ahead on underclassmen who did not make their June camps.”
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