Rivals Roundtable: Analysts debate biggest weekend visits

John Garcia Jr.: Five-star LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng to Notre Dame. The legacy recruit, whose older brother starred in South Bend before a strong start to his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns, has been ultra busy on the visit trail of late. While he has seen Colorado and will make it out to Texas later in the month for a true first impression of the program, the IMG Academy star was back at Michigan last weekend and the confidence in Ann Arbor is growing relative to a potential upset. Owusu-Boateng has been to UM three times, including for an official visit, and he likens his role within the program and its defense aplenty. He views Notre Dame similarly, and he is not as familiar with South Bend as many would assume, so this weekend's time and the overall trip could make or break the Irish's chances to win a recruiting battle many once expected them to.

Adam Gorney: Caleb Cunningham is back at Ole Miss for the second time in a few weeks. The four-star receiver has been committed to Alabama since the summer and raves about the history at his position in Tuscaloosa and what he could do in that offense but the Rebels are pushing very hard. He's an in-state kid, he loved his recent visit there where a lot of fans were asking for autographs and pictures, and there's no doubt the Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw County standout remains very seriously interested in possibly flipping even though Ole Miss and Alabama are basically equidistant from home.

Greg Smith: Bryce Underwood returning to LSU. This is a massive visit for the Tigers. There has been clear momentum on the side of Michigan to pull the flip with the five-star quarterback. A lot of that seems fueled by the financial commitment that Michigan is now willing to make. But what happens at LSU this weekend? Do the Tigers step up even more financially? Does the staff hammer home the relationships he has and playmakers he’d be throwing to? This visit has a huge impact on the recruiting landscape down the stretch.

Sam Spiegelman: Caleb Cunningham to Ole Miss. The elite wide receiver from Mississippi committed to Alabama before the season, but has continued to make visits to rival schools since the start of the season and has continued to show his face around Oxford this fall. National Signing Day is less than a month away and the Ole Miss offense continues to impress Cunningham. So does the staff in Oxford, which has made the elite in-state target a priority down the stretch of his recruitment and continues to chip away. The door has been cracked open in Cunningham‘s recruitment.

2. What program has the most to gain with recruits this weekend?

John Garcia Jr.: Ole Miss with Georgia visiting. The future of the Ole Miss program feels more stable on one hand, with Florida doubling-down on Billy Napier despite Lane Kiffin sitting as a legitimate replacement candidate, yet the 2024 season has disappointed in the win-loss column to this point. One remedy that could potentially create more ease on both fronts would be to pull the upset over Georgia and company on Saturday. Of course there will be droves of elite recruits on campus, including the top recruit in the state and longtime Alabama commitment Caleb Cunningham, but it would cement Kiffin's climb into the SEC elite at least for one season. Sustaining that would be on him, but also a story for the offseason and not now. UGA has been a bit more vulnerable on both sides of the ball at times this year, so Kiffin scheming up a top-five win at home seems more possible than it once did.

Adam Gorney: LSU by a mile. Not only do the Tigers have a bunch of recruits coming to campus but a lot of them are pledged to other schools and LSU could really take a huge step in flipping many of them after this weekend. Ohio State commit Na'eem Offord, Auburn commit Anquon Fegans, Florida pledge Devin Jackson and so many others will be on campus along with five-stars Bryce Underwood, Jahkeem Stewart and others. It should be arguably the best environment in college football this year and many prospects will see it.

Greg Smith: Notre Dame was pushed to the backburner after a slow start to the season. When the team was 1-1 coming off a loss to Northern Illinois there was a lot of gloom and doom in the fanbase. Now ND has won six straight games and recruiting is looking up as Florida State comes to town. There are many high-profile players coming to South Bend. That includes five-star linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, wide receiver Derek Meadows and more.

Sam Spiegelman: LSU. The Tigers are in line for one of the biggest recruiting weekends of the fall and included in that deep group of visitors are two key official visitors, including five-star quarterback commit Bryce Underwood and five star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart, the top uncommitted defensive player still on LSU‘s board to close out this 2025 cycle. Michigan is making a late push to move Underwood off his long-time commitment to the Tigers, but confidence remains high in the Bayou about their chances of bringing in this difference-making quarterback from Michigan. Stewart is coming off of an official visit to Oregon and a visit back to Ohio State. No school has hosted Stewart more than these Tigers, who have staying power with the five-star target. LSU will also host a deep group of elite underclassmen, as well as several flip targets as well.