It's a term called "over-signing" and some college football programs are willing to do more of it, than others...
Remember -- the NCAA limits FBS teams to 85 full scholarships on their football roster.
Here's a look at the last four signing classes (2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019) for the teams going into this year's College Football Playoff -- compared to Notre Dame, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and USC.
I've also added in a comparison of total wins over the last three football seasons (including bowls / playoffs):
LSU:
- 2016: 27 -- 2nd ranked class
- 2017: 24 -- 7th ranked class
- 2018: 22 -- 15th ranked class
- 2019: 25 -- 5th ranked class
- Total / Avg: 98 signed -- 7.25 average class rank
- Total wins -- last three seasons: 32
OHIO STATE:
- 2016: 25 -- 4th ranked class
- 2017: 21 -- 2nd ranked class
- 2018: 28 -- 2nd ranked class
- 2019: 17 -- 14th ranked class
- Total / Avg: 91 signed -- 5.5 average class rank
- Total wins -- last three seasons: 38
CLEMSON:
- 2016: 21 -- 11th ranked class
- 2017: 14 -- 16th ranked class
- 2018: 17 -- 7th ranked class
- 2019: 29 -- 10th ranked class
- Total / Avg: 81 signed -- 11.0 average class rank
- Total games won -- last three seasons: 39
OKLAHOMA:
- 2016: 21 --19th ranked class
- 2017: 28 -- 8th ranked class
- 2018: 23 -- 9th ranked class
- 2019: 24 -- 6th ranked class
- Total / Avg: 96 signed -- 10.5 average class rank
- Total games won -- last three seasons: 36
ALABAMA:
- 2016: 25 -- 1st ranked class
- 2017: 29 -- 1st ranked class
- 2018: 22 -- 5th ranked class
- 2019: 27 -- 1st ranked class
- Total / Avg: 103 signed -- 2.0 average class rank
- Total games won -- last three seasons: 37
GEORGIA:
- 2016: 23 -- 6th ranked class
- 2017: 26 -- 3rd ranked class
- 2018: 26 -- 1st ranked class
- 2019: 25 -- 2nd ranked class
- Total / Avg: 100 signed -- 3.0 average class rank
- Total games won -- last three seasons: 35
USC:
- 2016: 21 -- 10th ranked class
- 2017: 24 -- 4th ranked class
- 2018: 18 -- 4th ranked class
- 2019: 25 -- 20th ranked class
- Total: 88 signed -- 9.5 average class rank
- Total games won -- last three seasons: 24
MICHIGAN:
- 2016: 28 -- 8th ranked class
- 2017: 30 -- 5th ranked class
- 2018: 19 -- 22nd ranked class
- 2019: 26 -- 8th ranked class
- Total: 103 signed -- 10.75 average class rank
- Total games won -- last three seasons: 27
NOTRE DAME:
- 2016: 23 -- 15th ranked class
- 2017: 21 -- 10th ranked class
- 2018: 27 -- 10th ranked class
- 2019: 22 -- 16th ranked class
- Total: 93 signed -- 12.75 average class rank
- Total games won -- last three seasons: 32
Sources: 247Sports for Recruiting info and ESPN for season wins
