What Is National Signing Day and What If You Didn’t Sign Yet

This past week, on November 12, 2025, high school seniors across the country celebrated National Signing Day — one of the biggest milestones in a student-athlete’s journey. It’s the first day athletes can officially commit to a college program by signing a written offer of athletics aid (for Division I) or a National Letter of Intent (NLI) (for Division II).

According to the official NCAA signing calendar:

“A prospective student-athlete may sign a written offer of athletics aid only during the designated signing period for their sport and only during their senior year of high school.”
— NCAA 2025–26 Signing Dates PDF

2025–26 NCAA Signing Windows (Division I & II)

Each sport has its own signing window, and those vary by season and division.

All sports (except football and basketball): Initial signing date – November 12, 2025 Final date – Based on institutional policy for awarding scholarships
Basketball (Early Period): November 12 – November 19, 2025
Basketball (Regular Period): Begins April 15, 2026 Final date – Based on institutional policy
Football (Early Period): December 3 – December 5, 2025
Football (Regular Period): Begins February 4, 2026 Final date – Based on institutional policy

(Source: NCAA 2025–26 Signing Dates)

Note:
For Division III, NAIA, and junior colleges, there are no official NCAA signing restrictions. Coaches at these levels can recruit and accept commitments year-round. This flexibility allows late-blooming athletes or those exploring new opportunities to sign at any time during the year.

Basketball and Football’s Early and Regular Signing Periods

Both basketball and football have two official signing periods each year — an early period and a regular period — giving athletes multiple chances to formally commit to a college program.

Basketball

Early Signing Period: November 12 – November 19, 2025
This short fall window lets players who already know where they want to play secure their scholarship before the high school season starts.

Regular Signing Period: Begins April 15, 2026
This is the main signing window for most basketball recruits. It provides time for athletes to finish their seasons, take visits, and finalize offers before signing their official aid agreements.

Football

Early Signing Period: December 3 – December 5, 2025
Football players can lock in their commitments before the end of their senior season. Many Division I and II programs fill most of their roster spots during this early period.

Regular Signing Period: Begins February 4, 2026
This marks the traditional National Signing Day for football and the start of the regular signing period. Athletes who did not sign early can officially commit beginning in February, and schools continue to sign players into the summer based on roster needs.

Can Juniors Sign or Receive Offers?

This is one of the most common questions we hear — and it’s an important one.

Juniors can absolutely be recruited and receive scholarship offers. They can also verbally commit to a program. However, these agreements are not binding until they sign during their senior-year signing period.

“A prospective student-athlete may sign a written offer of athletics aid only during their senior year and only during the designated signing period for their sport.”
— NCAA 2025–26 Signing Dates

So while juniors can be offered scholarships and even announce commitments publicly, those commitments only become official when the senior-year signing window opens.

There Is Still Time to Be Recruited

If you didn’t sign this week or weren’t part of your school’s Signing Day ceremony, don’t worry — there’s still plenty of time.

College coaches continue recruiting athletes well after Signing Day. Roster spots open up, scholarship funds shift, and opportunities appear throughout the year. Many players commit in the spring or summer of their senior year — and some even after graduation.

So if your classmates took photos with their banners and hats this week, stay focused. Your opportunity may still be right around the corner.

How CSR – College Sport Recruiter Can Help

At CSR – College Sport Recruiter, we help student-athletes who may feel behind catch up and get noticed fast. Our college scouts work one-on-one with each athlete to create a personalized recruiting strategy — built around your sport, goals, and current progress.

We’ll show you how to get on the radar of college coaches, what opportunities are still open, and how to make sure you’re in the best position to play at the next level.

Whether you’re a senior who hasn’t committed yet or a junior starting early, CSR can help you take the next step in your recruiting journey.

It’s not too late to get recruited — it’s just time to get started.

Sign up for a free Strategy Session today to meet with a CSR College Scout who will help you build your custom recruiting plan and connect with college coaches ready to recruit your sport.