National Signing Day

National Signing Day History

National Signing Day marks the start of the college football signing season. There are signing dates for other sports, but football is the most popular one. From this day forward, high school football players are allowed to sign a National Letter of Intent to play football for a university in the National College Athletic Association (NCAA). The National Letter of Intent is a binding agreement between a potential student-athlete and an NLI member institution. Once signed, the agreement requires the athlete to attend and represent the institution for at least two semesters or three quarters, and in return, the institution must provide athletic financial aid for the same duration. National Signing Day marks the start of many football players' careers as they transition into a more professional setting.

National Signing Day was established in 1981 by the College Football Association as part of an effort to eliminate separate conference signing dates and force student-athletes to commit to only one NCAA institution. Prior to 1981, NCAA football conferences required recruits to sign separate letters of intent since conference letters only restricted signing within the conference itself. National Signing Day is observed annually on the third Wednesday of February.

Top 8 Facts for National Signing Day in 2026

• The NCAA has officially eliminated the traditional National Letter of Intent program, a binding agreement used since 1964, replacing it with new financial aid agreements that streamline how student-athletes commit to their chosen universities.
• For the first time in 17 years, a program outside of the Southeastern Conference is poised to claim the top-ranked recruiting class in the nation, as the USC Trojans currently hold the number one spot for the 2026 cycle.
• The landscape of college football has shifted toward extreme early commitments, with more than 95% of elite prospects now making their decisions official during the early signing window in December rather than waiting for the traditional February date.
• A record-breaking level of parity has emerged in the 2026 class, as 21 different schools are expected to sign at least one five-star prospect, a trend driven by the widespread impact of Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities.
• Recruiting "flips" have become a central spectacle of the event, exemplified by high-profile moves such as the Vanderbilt Commodores successfully flipping the nation’s top-ranked quarterback from his previous commitment to the Georgia Bulldogs.
• The formal signing of a Written Offer of Athletics Aid now serves as the official end to a player's recruitment, immediately prohibiting other coaches from contacting the athlete once the document is processed.
• High-ranking recruits like offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe and wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. are among the most watched individuals as they finalize their paths to the collegiate level amid intense late-stage pursuit from rival programs.
• Changes to NCAA scholarship limits and the introduction of direct school-to-athlete payments are fundamentally altering the "signing" experience by turning it into a professional-style contract negotiation.

In the News and Trending for National Signing Day

Top things to do for National Signing Day

• Get out to your local park and play a game of football with your family and friends to celebrate all those who are committing to playing in NCAA football today.
• Watch the day's events of your favorite conference live. Most are aired live across networks (such as ESPN) and can often be found online.
• Review some of the student-athlete rules and criteria in order to gain a better understanding of the players' responsibilities and duties in addition to playing ball. Some basic requirements include:
  1) earn at least a 2.3 GPA in core courses
  2) earn at least 9 credits per semester
  3) adhere to amateurism requirements (limiting agent involvement, prize money, salaries and contracts with professional teams)
• Watch a movie about NCAA Football. Our favorites are: Rudy (1993), Friday Night Lights (2004), The Express (2008), and The Blind Side(2009)
• Support a local high school football team. Your financial and time donations can mean the chance to get a scholarship for a high school student to pursue university studies.