LEAD STORY
Dead Period Officially Over as SEC Recruiting Heats Back Up
The NCAA's recruiting dead period officially ended Thursday, clearing the way for a wave of campus visits and commitment activity across the SEC. Missouri football is already capitalizing on the renewed momentum, with Louisville transfer edge rusher CJ May scheduled to visit Columbia this weekend. The former 4-star Alabama recruit is being evaluated as a depth piece for the Tigers' defensive front.
The two-week quiet period had noticeably slowed the typical frenzy of transfer portal commitments, with Mizzou seeing just four commitments on Tuesday despite the restrictions. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz and his staff had hosted several prospects the weekend before the dead period began, setting up this weekend's expected surge in official visits. With the floodgates now open, expect a busy few days as programs across the conference look to fill remaining roster spots before spring practice begins.
QUICK HITS
• Mizzou Women Dominate Arkansas 94-69: The Tigers earned their first SEC victory under head coach Kellie Harper in emphatic fashion, shooting 57.1% from the field and 68% from three-point range. Jordana Reisma led the way with 21 points while Grace Slaughter recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
• Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance Drawing NBA Attention: Despite missing recent games with knee swelling, the Wildcats center is projected as a top-10 pick in ESPN's latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft. NBA front offices are closely monitoring his health status following last March's ACL surgery.
• Auburn Upsets No. 21 Alabama Women 58-54: The Tigers secured their first top-25 victory since 2024, making crucial free throws down the stretch to hand Alabama a road loss in Neville Arena.
• Point-Shaving Scandal Rocks Low-Major Basketball: Federal indictments revealed a betting scheme targeting games at schools including Southern Miss, with gamblers placing six-figure wagers on first-half spreads - immediately raising red flags with sportsbooks.
• Mizzou Wrestling Defeats Arizona State 22-17: The 19th-ranked Tigers started their road trip with a solid conference victory in Tempe, improving their dual meet record.
PORTAL WATCH
Transfer portal activity remained steady with 10 new commitments recorded, though specific destination details were limited in overnight reports. The end of the dead period should accelerate movement as coaches can now actively recruit portal entrants with official visits and direct contact.
Missouri has been particularly active in recent weeks, adding Arizona State offensive tackle Josh Atkins and Jefferson City native Will Kemna from Kansas State. Kemna, who redshirted last season and retains all four years of eligibility, returns home after earning first-team All-State honors at Helias.
With spring practice approaching across the SEC, expect programs to intensify their portal recruiting efforts. Several high-profile players remain available, with many looking to make decisions before the start of the new semester.
RECRUITING BUZZ
No new commitments were reported overnight, but the end of the dead period should change that quickly. Missouri's coaching staff has multiple visits lined up for this weekend beyond CJ May, though specifics remain under wraps.
The Tigers' recruiting momentum had been strong before the dead period, landing four commitments on a single Tuesday despite the restrictions. With direct contact now permitted again, expect Drinkwitz and his staff to push hard for remaining targets, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
Several other SEC programs are also expected to host significant visitors this weekend as the February signing period approaches. The combination of portal movement and traditional recruiting should create a busy few weeks across the conference.
GAMES TO WATCH
Tonight's Action:
No SEC games are scheduled for Thursday evening, giving fans a rare quiet night during conference play.
Weekend Previews:
Several key SEC matchups loom over the weekend, with conference standings continuing to take shape in both men's and women's basketball. Missouri women will look to build on their Arkansas rout when they travel to Florida for a 1 p.m. Sunday showdown that will air on SEC Network+.
The weekend also marks the unofficial start of a busy recruiting period, with multiple SEC programs hosting official visitors as the February signing period approaches.