Lincoln Riley is building something special at USC, landing a truckload of talent for 2026—the current No.1 recruiting class with two 5-stars, a dozen 4-stars, and 27 total commits. But just when USC looks unstoppable, another Big Ten team is lurking, eyeing their future QB, the coveted 5-star Ryder Lyons from Folsom High. And this time, the predictions aren’t in favor of Riley. Lyons might head elsewhere, potentially leaving the QB whisperer who developed talents like Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams without his next star signal-caller.

So the Big Ten program leading the charge for Ryder Lyons? It’s Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks. Their 2026 class is currently thin with just 7 commits, ranking 8th nationally and missing a quarterback, making their push for Lyons crystal clear. Even On3’s Steve Wiltfong is predicting an Oregon landing: “My On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine expert pick had been on USC since the fall for Lyons, when it looked like he was close to committing to the Trojans. Now, the intel is starting to favor Oregon. BYU looks to be second in the battle for Lyons currently. While Lyons could certainly end up with BYU, and that will be something to monitor, I’m going to move my predictions for Lyons to the Ducks.”

That’s news Lincoln Riley wouldn’t want to hear, especially considering Lyons’ family ties to USC, where his brother Walker Lyons is a tight end (though with just 6 catches for 36 yards last year). But despite that, the momentum seems to be with Oregon, largely due to their OC, Will Stein.

Lyons himself noted, “Coach Stein, Coach Lanning, how they’re doing as a program, they’re just building and building… I and Coach Stein have a great relationship, probably the best out of any other coaches. They’ve been recruiting me the hardest, probably, the whole time … how they’re recruiting. A lot of people like to say it’s all Phil Knight money, but they don’t really understand how good they recruit …their culture is probably one of the best I’ve seen. How they play as a team, how they interact with each other.” But it’s not just the Ducks….

BYU is still very much in the mix for Ryder Lyons and will definitely have a significant say in where he ends up. Lyons has deep connections there: “Also very familiar, my family went there, my sisters went there, obviously a big part of my faith,” he said about BYU. “Coach (Aaron) Roderick, coach (Kalani) Sitake, amazing people to talk to, great relationships with them. Great coaches, BYU had a huge year, 11 wins. A very good success rate with quarterbacks.”

It’s no wonder everyone wants Lyons, who has had an explosive high school career, amassing 6,589 passing yards and 84 touchdowns with only 14 interceptions in the past two seasons. He’s also a dual threat, adding 1,538 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Ryder Lyons is a top-tier prospect in the 2026 class, ranked as the No. 4 quarterback nationally and the No. 10 overall player, also holding the top spot in California. However, his plans to undertake an LDS Mission after his senior year will technically make him start only in 2027.

It’s not like USC is totally out of the picture. Ryder Lyons still thinks highly of the program. “Coach Riley: three first picks in the NFL Draft, three Heisman winners, it’s very familiar, my brother goes there, they’ve been recruiting me for a while, so I don’t think there’s any quarterback coach in the country, to be honest,” Ryder Lyons said. While teams are battling for QBs, Kirby Smart has already secured a major win.

Kirby Smart’s 2.7 million jackpot

Kirby Smart just played a winning hand, landing a commitment from five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, the top-ranked QB in the 2026 class and sixth-best overall prospect (On3), boasting a projected NIL value of $2.7 million. His decision was a blow to Oregon, especially after they were widely seen as a frontrunner, making Georgia’s victory in this hard-fought recruiting battle even sweeter for the Athens faithful.

Jared Curtis’ commitment is a game-changer for Georgia’s quarterback room, which has been uncertain with Gunner Stockton and Ryan Puglisi. With neither proving to be a clear championship-caliber leader, Curtis’ arrival is timely. He’s a program-altering talent set to make an immediate impact. Curtis plans to enroll early in January 2026, joining the program for spring practice after his final high school season.

Curtis’s decision wasn’t easy, choosing Georgia over Oregon after final recruiting visits. “It just felt right,” he said. The Bulldogs now have a commitment from the 247Sports Composite’s No. 2 overall prospect in the 2026 class.

Kirby Smart didn’t just land a top player; he secured an exceptional QB. Curtis had a stellar junior year at Nashville Christian, leading them to a state championship and earning DII-A Mr. Football and Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year awards. He threw for 2,830 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just 3 interceptions (179-of-255), while also rushing for 637 yards and 18 touchdowns on 88 carries. His film clearly shows SEC potential with a strong arm, mobility, and composure.

Standing at 6 feet 3.5 inches and 225 pounds, Curtis has the ideal SEC quarterback build. After initially committing to Georgia in March, Jared Curtis reopened his recruitment in October, only to circle back and recommit to the Bulldogs. Despite a strong push from other Power Five programs, Georgia’s persistence paid off, securing Curtis as the centerpiece of their 2026 class and their sole quarterback commit so far. From flashing a red Corvette to strong ties with the Bulldogs’ coaching staff, Curtis’ return to Athens felt like it was always in the cards, making the future look bright for Georgia—but what’s next for Oregon? Will Lanning go all-in for a QB like Ryder Lyons now?