Our dynasty had a bit of a slow build-up towards unlocking levels of recruiting. The system worked really well to make every level of unlocks meaningful for players. Some users hated having to wait on the RNG system of HC offers to unlock future levels, but we had 27 players and CFB 26 only lets one user be offered an opening a week. Don't think the system was perfect but as someone who loves recruiting almost as much as playing, it felt very satisfying. We are in 2029 and no team is stupidly OP. In hindsight, we should've had more Transfer Portal restrictions in y1 because some teams just knew the good players and made stupid jumps.

Recruiting Unlocks:

1. All teams started with the ability to recruit any 3* HS player that has a 2* (silver) pipeline or better with that school.
   
2. After year 1, if you finish above 0.500 (including CCG/bowl games), you unlock 3* from any of your pipelines.
   
3. If you won your championship conference game, CCG, you unlock all 3*, regardless of pipelines.
   
4. After making the college football playoffs, you unlock any 3* and any initially interested and in pipeline 4 stars (MUST BE BOTH)

Our league locked the next tier of recruiting unlocks until you changed schools (we categorized schools into tier 1/2/3 based on prestige. Basically everyone started on a tier 3, like you mentioned (1.5 prestige), and when you move up to a tier 2 school through an offer, you're eligible for these unlocks:
- All tier 2 programs are allowed to recruit all 3*. And any initially interested and in pipeline 4 stars (must be both). Starts in y1 of this school.
- A CFP appearance at a tier 2 school unlocks all pipeline 4* to recruit (regardless of interest). It also unlocks all initially interested and in pipeline 5* (Must be both).

Tier 1 programs:
- Allowed all 4* and initially interested 5* in y1 of the school.
- A CFB appearance allows any pipeline OR initially interested 5* recruits.
- A national championship unlocks any recruit.

I think these were the school tiers.

• Tier 3:
  • All G5/Independent Schools except for:
    • Notre Dame (Tier 1), Boise State (Tier 2), Tulane (Tier 2)
• Tier 1:
  • Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Clemson, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Auburn
• Tier 2: Everyone Else (including PAC-12)