The Forgotten Holiday: National Signing Day’s Lost Glory
A Shift in Priorities
Today, February’s first Wednesday, marks a day that was once a pinnacle of excitement in the College Football calendar. National Signing Day, a celebration of top recruits committing to their chosen schools, has lost its luster. The “early” signing period in December has become the de facto National Signing Day, overshadowing the original.
A Changing Landscape
This year, only one player in On3’s Top 100 recruits of the 2025 class remains unsigned or hasn’t already started classes as an early enrollee. The College Football Playoff teams were busy preparing for their biggest games during the early signing period, which has become the focal point of recruiting. While there’s debate about the timing of the early signing period, it’s clear that with the rise of early enrollees, it’s impossible to avoid having it during the season.
Nostalgia for a Bygone Era
I miss the thrill of National Signing Day, when the first week of February brought a final burst of college football excitement before the off-season. The Playoff’s extended schedule may have stretched the season, but it’s not the same as watching commitments unfold and playing the hat game, which once held so much significance. Now, half of the 2025 class has already been in college for a month, making the holiday feel like a relic of the past.
A Lost Art
Recruiting used to be an event, with dozens of kids faxing in their National Letters of Intent and commitments streaming in throughout the day on ESPNU or YouTube. It was a holiday that brought people together, building anticipation and excitement around the future of college football. I wish we could appreciate the good old days while we’re still living them, rather than realizing too late what we’ve lost.
The Evolution of Recruiting
While the early signing period has its benefits for programs and player development, it’s come at the cost of National Signing Day’s magic. Perhaps it’s time to rethink the recruiting calendar and find a way to revive the excitement of this once-beloved holiday. Until then, we’re left reminiscing about the good old days, when National Signing Day was a true celebration of college football’s future.
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