The 2026 recruiting cycle is still in its infancy but that hasn't stopped some programs from racing out to hot starts with several big commitments.
Here are five programs in the ACC that are in the recruiting spotlight, including some surprising trends early in the cycle.
RELATED: ACC's 2026 team recruiting rankings | Big Ten programs off to hot starts in the 2026 class | SEC programs off to hot starts
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Top 100
TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker
BOSTON COLLEGE
RELATED: Boston College's 2026 commit list
A top-20 recruiting class at any stage is worth noting for Boston College, something currently being accomplished by Bill O'Brien and his staff. The Eagles are tied with Syracuse for the most commitments in the ACC with nine – five of whom reside in-state.
With that foundation set this early in the calendar, especially with a quarterback such as Corin Berry in the fold and five commitments already in the trenches, the staff can be more selective and take bigger swings beyond the region.
FLORIDA STATE
RELATED: Florida State's 2026 commit list
Mike Norvell and company are already back in familiar territory in holding a top-10 recruiting class and pacing the ACC. While not the most surprising, it is probably an accelerated pace considering how bad things got for the program in 2024 both on the field and in recruiting.
Florida State did suffer a major decommitment in losing elite quarterback Brady Smigiel of late, but a slew of new QB offers are out there for the program to try and rebound at the position, much like it had to do late last cycle.
Beyond the position, FSU is strong with its in-state pull early on, as all six pledges are from the state of Florida including semi-local star and Rivals250 running back Amari Clemons, who committed on Monday.
NORTH CAROLINA
RELATED: North Carolina's 2026 commit list
We've seen Bill Belichick on the road since the moment he took the Tar Heels job with a clear plan of attack. First he locked in Bryce Baker as the future of his quarterback room and then he hit the portal extremely hard.
Now, the page is beginning to turn to 2026 and he has already helped North Carolina land three new commitments over the last 10 days. The gravity of the new coach's reach is evident in those wins, too, as each new pledge came from the state of California to pair with longtime 2026 quarterback commitment and in-stater Zaid Lott.
Carolina has more commitments than eight ACC programs at this time despite nearly all of them having an established 2026 recruiting board for a much longer time than Belichick has had.
SMU
RELATED: SMU's 2026 commit list
In spotlighting programs in the ACC, it would surprise many to know the runner-up SMU Mustangs are not pulling away with more early recruiting wins. Just two verbal commitments dot the class at this time, with mid-January pledge Xzavier Barnett pairing with in-season pledge and NFL legacy quarterback Cole Leinart.
In-state defensive back Victor Lincoln backed off of his Mustangs pledge last week. He has since added a handful of new scholarship offers.
Rhett Lashlee's bunch put together a fringe top-25 haul last cycle with a massive summer run, so it's far from panic time in Dallas.
SYRACUSE
RELATED: Syracuse's 2026 commit list
The Orange's recruiting momentum has carried into the New Year under Fran Brown as it looks to follow up a top-40 recruiting haul. Syracuse is in the top 20 at the moment thanks to a league-best nine verbal commitments, led by four-star offensive tackle Javeion Cooper.
The commitment list already spans the nation with California and Florida represented along with more conventional pipeline areas such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. January has brought five new members of the class thus far and there could be more on the way before February begins.
