The race for college football's No. 1 recruiting class is as close as it has ever been.
Amid the challenges from COVID-19 that have impacted this recruiting cycle, we have seen some excellent recruiters finding success that have set up a photo finish with a few days remaining until the early signing period begins Wednesday.
Not every program has a shot at finishing at the top, though. For instance, programs like Penn State and Notre Dame, which are ranked in the top 10, probably don't have enough targets left to move up. Given which recruits are still uncommitted and on a team's board, that will dictate who comes out on top.
There realistically are only a handful left with a shot, so here's a look at which teams could make a late push to claim the top-ranked class overall.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide are no strangers to finishing No. 1 overall under Nick Saban, and the staff currently has the top class as Dec. 15 nears.
Alabama has 16 ESPN 300 commitments, including two five-stars with offensive tackle Tyler Booker and defensive end Jeremiah Alexander. Among the 16 ESPN 300 recruits, eight are ranked in the top 150 and six in the top 35.
The coaches still have a lot left on the board, too, and very well could hang onto the top spot.
They're after five-star wide receiver Shazz Preston, who also is considering LSU, Georgia and Texas. Defensive tackle Khurtiss Perry is considering Alabama, Auburn, Texas, Clemson and UCF, and this could end up being between Alabama and Auburn.
ESPN 300 linebacker Marvin Jones Jr., defensive linemen Anthony Lucas and Caden Curry and corner Earl Little Jr. are all also considering Alabama. The staff is in the top two for five-star corner Domani Jackson, the No. 6 prospect overall, along with USC.
The Trojans had his commitment before Clay Helton was fired as coach, but he decommitted and is now considering both schools. Lincoln Riley will have a shot to keep him in this class, but Saban is working to get him.
Athlete Shemar James also is considering Alabama, as is five-star offensive tackle Devon Campbell. Saban is trying to flip ESPN 300 offensive lineman Kiyaunta Goodwin from Kentucky, as are a few other programs, including Texas A&M, Michigan and Michigan State.
Given how many elite recruits remain on the board, Alabama has a realistic shot at hanging on to the No. 1 class.
Georgia Bulldogs
The Dawgs currently hold the No. 2 class overall and although it will be difficult to pass Alabama, Georgia has enough on the board to potentially move up.
One of the keys is that there is overlap in targets among some of these programs vying for the No. 1 class, so if Georgia can keep recruits away from Alabama, it helps its cause.
As of now, Georgia has 13 ESPN 300 commitments, including five-star athlete Malaki Starks, the No. 10 prospect.
Of the 13 ESPN 300 commits, 10 are ranked in the top 150 and five are ranked in the top 50. Georgia could still add quite a bit to this class, as well, with five-star safety Kamari Wilson still considering the Dawgs. Georgia has seemingly been the favorite for a while, but Florida State has been making a big push, too.
The staff is after ESPN 300 defensive end Enai White, who also is considering Texas A&M and Ohio State, two other teams fighting for the top spot. The coaches are in on ESPN 300 linebacker Marvin Jones Jr., offensive lineman Earnest Greene, defensive lineman Christen Miller and LSU linebacker commit DeMario Tolan.
Georgia also is trying to land ESPN 300 athlete Shemar James, so there is enough still there for Georgia to make a splash this week.
Texas A&M Aggies
The team to watch in all this is very likely going to be Texas A&M. The Aggies have already made a huge push up the rankings when the staff flipped five-star defensive tackle Gabe Brownlow-Dindy from Oklahoma.
They now have the No. 1 recruit in defensive tackle Walter Nolen, the No. 4 recruit in Brownlow-Dindy and the No. 12 prospect in wide receiver Evan Stewart. The coaches have 14 ESPN 300 commitments, 11 of which are ranked in the top 150 and seven ranked in the top 50.
Jimbo Fisher and his staff also have quite a bit still left on their board and could catapult up into the No. 1 spot if all goes well. ESPN 300 offensive lineman Kam Dewberry is still considering the Aggies, along with Oklahoma and Texas, and Fisher is also trying to flip Kiyaunta Goodwin from Kentucky along with Alabama.
The coaches still have five-star linebacker Harold Perkins on their board, as well as five-star defensive end Shemar Stewart and could end up with up to five five-star commitments in the class. Defensive back Denver Harris is also considering the Aggies along with safety Jacoby Matthews and defensive linemen Omari Abor, Anthony Lucas and Enai White.
This class is already outstanding for Fisher and his class, but the way it could finish, this could end up being a program-changer to help get Texas A&M up over the hump on the field.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes currently have the No. 6 class overall and 11 ESPN 300 commitments, eight ranked in the top 150 and one ranked in the top 50 with linebacker C.J. Hicks at No. 25 overall.
Ohio State is likely a long shot to get the No. 1 class, as well, but there is still a chance. The Buckeyes are still in it for ESPN 300 safety Zion Branch, who is also considering USC, Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma.
The staff is in on ESPN 300 defensive linemen Enai White, Caden Curry, Omari Abor, Christen Miller and Hero Kanu. There is a good chance Ryan Day and his staff gets at least one commit from that group.
Day is also trying to get offensive lineman Earnest Greene and Carson Hinzman.
Compared to Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia, the list isn't quite as long, but there is still some really good recruits that could jump into this class.