The early signing period has come to a close as the usual suspects take up the top of the Rivals.com 2018 Class Rankings. What are the chances that programs such as Kentucky, Duke, Michigan State and Kansas remain atop of its league’s rankings come April? We assess each leader’s chances and project how things may finish out.

TEAM RANKINGS: Class of 2018

EARLY PERIOD REPORT CARDS: Big Ten | Big East | ACC | Big 12 | SEC

Main Challenger: North Carolina

Duke's Chances for ACC's Top Class: 100 percent

Duke and North Carolina both boast top-five classes nationally, with the Blue Devils sitting atop the class rankings. The Blue Devils will be tough to pass thanks to the signings of three of the top seven players in America, led by top-ranked wing R.J. Barrett.

Notre Dame sits with a top-10 group nationally, but the Irish are about done with this current crop of seniors. North Carolina, even if it does secure the commitment of Zion Williamson, might still not have enough of an argument to supplant Duke. Beyond just the ACC rankings, it will be extremely difficult for any program, even Kentucky, to top the Blue Devils in the national class rankings.

Main Challenger: Villanova

Providence's Chances for Big East's Top Class: 65 percent

Providence, not Villanova or Xavier, currently boasts the Big East's top class. Ed Cooley has it rolling in New England, with travel teammates and top-50 guards A.J. Reeves and David Duke headlining his class this fall.

Villanova could challenge for the top spot in the Big East thanks to the commitments of Brandon Slater and Cole Swider. The Wildcats have also begun to recruit four-star forward Jairus Hamilton and could solidify their point guard position with top-50 guard Jahvon Quinerly or Courtney Ramey.

Don't discount DePaul's chances, either. The Blue Demons could make a case for the best class in the Big East if they can grab four-star seniors Tyger Campbell and Bryan Penn-Johnson.

Main Challenger: Indiana

Michigan State's Chances for Big Ten's Top Class: 95 percent

Things are about set within the Big Ten's rankings as Michigan State is in a great spot to remain on top thanks to the commitment of five Rivals150 prospects.

Michigan, Maryland and Indiana all boast top-20 classes, but the Hoosiers look to be the only program that could make a run for Big Ten supremacy due to their involvement with five-star wing Romeo Langford.

Main Challenger: Texas

Kansas' Chances for Big 12's Top Class: 90 percent

Nothing changes in the Big 12, as Kansas is on top on and off the court. Five-star point guard Devon Dotson is on his way to Lawrence, and he will be joined by rebounding savant David McCormack and recently committed five-star guard Quentin Grimes. The Jayhawks have a fourth member in its 2018 recruiting class with five-star power forward Silvio De Sousa, however he may enroll in December, which would make him a member of the 2017 class and give KU just the three players listed above. Even if that happens, KU should remain atop the Big 12 rankings for 2018.

Main Challengers: Oregon

Trojans' Chances for Pac-12's Top Class: 30 percent

The Trojans, despite the decommitment of four-star forward J'Raan Brooks, remain in the top spot in the Pac-12 class rankings this fall. USC kicked its class off with two tremendous grabs with top shelf scoring guard Kevin Porter and top-50 forward Taeshon Cherry. The duo will be joined by another high-end four star prospect in jumbo playmaker Elijah Weaver.

The Trojans' spot atop the league rankings is in danger, as Oregon is nipping at their heels. Just two spots behind them in the national rankings, if the Ducks can nab five star Bol Bol, their class would reign supreme in the Pac-12.

Main Challenger: LSU

Kentucky's Chances for SEC's Top Class: 90 percent

Kentucky reigns supreme within the SEC thanks to notching two commitments within the past week. John Calipari has boasted the SEC's top recruiting class every year since taking over in Lexington and it seems unlikely that the Wildcats will be topped in the 2018 cycle.

If any program can do it this year, it will be LSU. The Tigers, who already sit with three top-60 commits, would need to nab five-star Emmitt Williams to have any chance to topple UK.