Heading into the announcement, there weren’t any crystal ball projections. None of the national experts had gone on record with predictions.

It truly was a 50/50 commitment, but one that Michigan, a team expected to compete for national titles over the next few years with Bryce Underwood at quarterback, was expected to win.

The Wolverines have been as hot as anyone on the recruiting trail recently, landing 10 four-star commitments since June 9th, including nine ranked in the top 200 of the 247 Sports composite rankings for the 2026 class.

Despite a 10-3 record last season, which led to finishing 20th in the final AP Poll for the 2024 season, Syracuse only had three blue-chips (4-star or better) committed in its 2026 class before Russell.

Yet, the allure of also playing basketball for Syracuse, as well as his relationship with head coach Fran Brown (maybe NIL, too), won out. 

Russell is still raw. However, he’s got numerous high-major offers to play college basketball. Michigan and Florida State each offered the chance to play both sports.

Yet, the five-star via 247 Sports and the On3 Industry Rankings, still shocked everyone by picking the Orange over the Wolverines. 

“Fran Brown is working wonders in Upstate New York: Five-Star WR Calvin Russell commits to Syracuse. He’s the highest-ranked prospect to commit to the Cuse in a generation,” College football expert Bruce Feldman wrote on X. 

Syracuse is ranked No. 20 in the 2026 class, according to the 247 Sports team rankings, after the jaw-dropping recruiting win. LSU, Oregon, and Miami were after Russell, too, and also whiffed. 

The bigger story might be Michigan missing out on the kind of wide receiver it desperately needs to pair with five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood. 

Head coach Sherrone Moore is trying to build another national championship team with the Wolverines, but missing out on Russell certainly won’t help.