• Loading stock data...
Sunday, June 29, 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

Seattle Rough & Tumble

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Mar 23, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jeremy Roach (3) reacts after a play during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center.

Power Four Put Finishing Touches on How Revenue Sharing Era Will Work

The agreement stipulates that schools can’t sue to challenge any terms of the settlement.

Featured Today

Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena
June 22, 2025

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Leo Messi

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 19, 2025

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.
June 17, 2025

Zaslav Takes Pay Cut, TNT Sports Future Unclear in WBD Shake-Up

The TNT Sports parent company retools its executive pay after shareholder pushback.