Here’s what families need to know about February NCAA and NJCAA football signing dates for high school and junior college recruits: February 4, 2026 - NCAA Division I and II football programs begin their “regular” signing period for athletic scholarship agreements with both high school and junior college recruits. - (Note: Division I had its “early” signing period in December, and both Divisions had a December period for junior college signings.) February 5, 2026 - High school football recruits may begin signing an NJCAA Letter of Intent (LOI). Important Scholarship Reminder - NCAA Division I programs may or may not offer a multi-year scholarship. - Division II and NJCAA scholarships are issued for one year only, subject to renewal. - Always carefully review the terms and conditions of any scholarship agreement before signing. A Few FAQ's: Q: Can my athlete wait to sign later in the spring?Yes. The regular signing period remains open beyond February, but roster spots and scholarship money may become limited. Q: Is a verbal commitment binding?No. Only a signed scholarship agreement (NCAA) or LOI (NJCAA) is binding. Q: Can an athlete negotiate scholarship terms?Sometimes. It depends on the program and circumstances, but families should understand what is being offered before accepting. Q: Does signing lock my athlete into staying at that school?Signing creates an agreement for that academic year, but transfer rules still apply if an athlete later chooses to move. _ _ _ Source: Rick Allen at Informed Athlete

Back-to-back titles for Coach Jim with 21 LIKES! In December he tied for the top spot, but decided that 2026 was going to his year! Way to go, Jim! Glad for your participation. All of our members are better because of it. ...and what does Jim win? This month Jim gets a say in which color our hats will be at Mike Farley's Kickers Camp this summer (and soon available to any K-Skool members, too) — only Jim gets a FREE cap for his winning posts and comments! 😅 Get on the February Leaderboard right now!!!

Under terms of the landmark House settlement, which received final approval last summer and paved the way for the foundation of the CSC (College Sports Commission), third-party NIL deals* worth more than $600 must be reported to the NIL Go clearinghouse. "What's a 3rd Party Deal," you ask? A 3rd PARTY DEAL is a contractual agreement where a college athlete (that's you) receives compensation — money, products, or services — from an entity outside the university (i.e., brands, boosters, collectives) in exchange for using your name, image, and likeness for marketing, endorsements, or appearances 3rd Party Deals are independent of the school (though they must follow NCAA and state regulations.) Such as... - Purpose: Compensation must be for a valid business purpose (i.e., social media posts, endorsements, autographs) and not a direct "pay-for-play" inducement — although that boundary is often blurred by "collectives". - Market Value: Deals must reflect fair market value for the services provided. - Restrictions: You can't endorse gambling, tobacco, and X-rated stuff. - Reporting: Deals exceeding $600 (see above) must be reported to the school and the CSC to ensure transparency. - Independence: These payments do not count toward the NCAA-mandated revenue sharing cap between schools and athletes.  Common examples include NIL collectives paying athletes to promote local businesses, signing autographs at corporate events, or social media partnerships.