Penn State football might have an edge to land five-star Immanuel Iheanacho

Penn State football's week of recruiting has not gone in its favor, but that doesn't mean all top targets are off the board.

Five-star Immanuel Iheanacho, the No. 8 overall recruit in the class of 2026 and No. 1 interior offensive lineman has not decided where he wants to head for his NCAA career. While Oregon seems to think its the leader in Iheanacho's decision, the Ducks shouldn't be so sure that the offensive lineman is a lock.

Head coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions have an edge on Iheanacho that his other top schools — Oregon, LSU, and Auburn — don't: location.

“They told me that I don’t have to fly seven hours away to Oregon to do what I want to do, but I can do it all at Penn State where my parents can see each game,” Iheanacho said to On3, according to Pro Football Network. “They really showed me their plan for me, how I can play early there and all of that was big for me.”

Iheanacho's official visit to Happy Valley was over the weekend of June 13, but the rising senior has been to campus four times total. Though Oregon is considered to be the leader, Iheanacho has made it clear that Penn State should not be disregarded.

Immanuel Iheanacho lists Penn State as a serious contender for his commitment

Four and five star recruits are rolling out their commitments, and the Nittany Lions have faced the brunt of it — especially with many of its targets headed to Notre Dame. Battling Oregon, too, Penn State has lost out on four-star wide receiver Messiah Hampton this month.

Even with a group of recruits on campus this week, landing Iheanacho would give Franklin the five-star headliner he's been looking for. The offensive lineman was also at the top of Franklin's list the longest out of his top four schools.

“Penn State has been recruiting Iheanacho for the longest time," Zach Seyko said. "… probably almost either the longest standing relationship, if not one of them, among all the college football programs that have been recruiting Iheanacho from the start. So that’s where Penn State wins.”

While 247Sports lists LSU as Oregon's top competition for Iheanacho, Franklin's persistence and proximity pitch is changing that up. The lineman has also emphasized his consideration for Penn State on X and Instagram. He's posted various pictures from his visits at Happy Valley and reposting photos with other visiting recruits, including Benjamin Eziuka who is committed to the Nittany Lions.

Both schools will be pushing hard for the five-star recruit, especially given the Ducks losing out on two targets, Jackson Cantwell and Kodi Greene. It's a now-or-never time for these schools who have had recent bad luck.

Iheanacho will announce his commitment on Aug. 5.