• Loading stock data...
Thursday, September 18, 2025

Recruiting Sites Rivals.com, 247Sports Remain Popular Despite Pandemic

  • Rivals.com and 247Sports has seen increase in traffic in recent weeks in spite of pandemic shutdowns.
  • Message boards remain highly popular even for college sites that won’t have fall football.
E.L. Hubbard/Imagn Content Services

The lack of high school and college football this fall as a result of the pandemic hasn’t limited the fervor for recruiting information — at least not yet.

Rivals.com and 247Sports — two of the most popular college sports and recruiting networks — have seen a bump in engagement and traffic over the summer months compared to 2019, reps told Front Office Sports.

“Maybe it’s because people have been stuck at home for months and months,” said Mike Farrell, national recruiting director at Rivals.com. “There’s usually an uptick in August ahead of the college football season, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out.”

Barton Simmons, 247Sports’ director of scouting, noted one unexpected trend: sites dedicated to schools in conferences that have postponed fall football have seen traffic increases.

“Particular sites, especially in the Big Ten and Pac-12, have exceeded what we’ve seen in years’ past,” Simmons said. “There are certain schools and regions that were shocking [because] there’s no football. But there are tons and tons of either message boards or just interest.”

Neither CBS Interactive’s 247Sports or Verizon Media’s Rivals.com releases subscriber data, a closely guarded metric. Rivals.com charges $99.95 for an annual subscription and 247Sports is currently offering annual VIP memberships for 50% off, which comes out to $53.70 annually, although there are monthly options for both sites. 

While not going into specifics, a CBS Interactive spokesperson said that 247Sports had “record subscriber levels over the summer.”

Oklahoma State professor and longtime recruiting follower Edward Kian said that the current price for 247Sports is something the site has “rarely offered” and he said the message boards he’s followed appear to have fewer posts than prior years. 

“Based on my usage, I would be shocked if they have received more traffic on those message boards than they do in a normal football and recruiting season based on what I have seen,”  Kian said. “There are no games to talk about, nor are there on- or off-campus prospect visits to discuss due to the NCAA’s moratorium on recruiting due to the pandemic.” 

“Many posts are political in nature, but those are supposed to be removed from the message boards dedicated to college sports and recruiting on both networks,” he added.

A Cornhuskers Fan watches a Nebraska football game while wearing a hat shaped like corn on the cob.

College Football Economic Impacts Vary, True Figures Hard to Determine

College football can be an economic driver for the communities that surround…
August 12, 2020

Football and basketball recruiting websites grew out of those message boards in the early days of the web.

Scout.com had its run in the early 2000s before it was acquired by Fox Sports, sold off to the site’s founder James Heckman with the backing of venture capital before bankruptcy. CBS Interactive acquired Scout.com in 2017 and integrated it into 247Sports. Heckman, a former Yahoo executive, went on to found Maven — the publisher of Sports Illustrated — and served as CEO of the much-maligned company until his resignation on Aug. 27.

Rivals.com and 247Sports have dedicated sites for colleges with writers who produce content on top of the ever-popular rankings of high school prospects. CBS Interactive also owns MaxPreps.

The rankings and scouting reports typically rely on game tape from prospects’ high school games and their performances and measurables like height, weight, bench press, and 40-yard-dash time at camps.

Some of those camps are directed by Rivals.com and 247Sports recruiting analysts. Nearly all offseason camps and showcases for top football and basketball prospects were canceled this summer due to COVID-19, leaving many recruiting analysts and possibly some college football coaches scrambling for information. 

“Obviously, there are players who are not playing in a big chunk of the United States,” Simmons said. “There’s going to be sort of a void of information. … It has created an environment in which the discovery process is a lot more challenging.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

$3.8 Billion Commanders Stadium Deal Approved Despite Late Drama

A decisive final vote on the stadium followed some last-minute snags.
Donald Trump
exclusive

Trump’s Unprecedented Super Bowl Visit Cost Secret Service More Than $120K

Trump was the first president to attend the Super Bowl.

CFB TV Ratings Stay Hot As Georgia-Tennessee Sets ABC High of 12.6M

ABC has had four games that have topped 10 million viewers this season.
Maria Taylor

Maria Taylor Talks About ‘Moving Differently’ in ESPN-NBC Jump

Taylor will be NBC Sports’ lead NBA and WNBA studio host.

Featured Today

Premier Lacrosse League

‘The Circus Is Coming to Town’: Why Upstart Leagues Start on Tour

In their ambitious plans, a traveling schedule is only temporary.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
September 13, 2025

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.

Fever Ratings Fall Without Clark, but Rest of WNBA Game 1s Surge

The Indiana Fever game drew 47% fewer viewers this year.
exclusive
September 16, 2025

ESPN, Fox One Added 1M Sign-Ups in First 10 Days After Launch

The two high-profile streaming services have strong starts with consumers.
Sep 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) makes a reception defended by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) during the fourth quarter of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
September 16, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Sets Early NFL TV Ratings Mark

Several new milestones are established with the big early-season matchup.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
Greg Olsen
September 16, 2025

Greg Olsen on Tom Brady’s Raiders Role: ‘More Power to Him’

This season, the NFL has relaxed the special Brady broadcasting rules.
Jul 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Injured Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on from the bench during the first half of a basketball game against the Chicago Sky at United Center.
September 15, 2025

WNBA Ratings Rise 3% in 2025 Despite Clark’s Absence

Caitlin Clark played in just 13 of 44 regular-season games.
Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) breaks up a pass intended for Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game, 27-18.
September 15, 2025

Amazon Shatters Previous Ratings High for 1st NFL Game

“TNF” viewership surges 35% compared to the 2024 season average.
Las Vegas Aces
September 15, 2025

WNBA Playoffs Face ESPN Fall Crunch For Final Time

The games will be spread across three networks next year.