With Ryder Lyons set to announce his commitment on June 24, the battle to lock the 5-star quarterback has come down to BYU and Oregon. Because once the Trojans, who were earlier leading the race, made Jonas Williams flip and commit to them, their interest has cooled down since then. Well, as of now, the Ducks do have the edge over the Cougars, but BYU still has the advantage of being the last team Lyons would be visiting before he pledges to any team.

Dan Lanning’s recruitment is already in question this year after losing Jared Curtis to Georgia, and now Ryder Lyons’ potential commitment to BYU threatens to derail Oregon’s recovery. For now, Lyons does favor Oregon, especially after his last weekend’s trip to Eugene, where the Ducks highlighted their offensive prowess and quarterback success. To top it off, the Ducks’ five-star TE commit Kendre Harrison already welcomed him, saying, “Future roommate” on his IG story.

Even Lyons’ inclination towards Dan Lanning’s program is evident. “They’ve been recruiting me the hardest, probably, the whole time… Their culture is probably one of the best I’ve seen.” Lyons said. But despite all this, BYU is still in the thick of it, as per On3’s Steve Wiltfong. Lyons heads to Provo this weekend for his final OV. And the Cougars have the opportunity to flip the script entirely for a few reasons. BYU was the first to make an offer. BYU’s strong family values and a faith-based environment. And let’s not forget that Lyons’ father also played in Provo in the mid-1990s. If he actually picks the Cougars, the Folsom High School QB will become the only third 5-star recruit in BYU’s last 25 years of history. And add the NIL advantage recruiting expert Justin Hopkins of On3 pointed out, the Cougars may actually lock Lyons.

“BYU is a very strong program, but I think you look at the two rosters and you would feel a little bit better about Oregon. But BYU has gotten super competitive with NIL and has made a splash so far in this recruiting cycle, and they are a very real threat for Oregon with Ryder Lyons,” Hopkins said. So, NIL can change things around for him.

BYU and Oregon are aggressively pursuing Ryder Lyons—and for good reason. Ranked 17th nationally, 5th among quarterbacks, and 3rd in California by On3, Lyons is a recruiting sensation. His 2024 season was explosive: a 12-2 record, 2,874 passing yards, and 44 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 556 yards and 12 more touchdowns, confounding defenses. But they aren’t the only team in the mix…

USC Trojans’ move towards Ryder Lyons

Five-star QB Ryder Lyons will announce his college decision on June 24. And Lincoln Riley’s USC is coming off as a strong contender, pulling ahead of Oregon and BYU in a close race. Despite already securing a commitment from four-star QB Jonas Williams, USC is aggressively pursuing Lyons. Best part? Lyons plans to serve an LDS mission after graduation, delaying his college debut until 2027. This gives USC a chance to build a deep quarterback roster. While Oregon currently leads, Lyons will visit BYU before deciding.

Lincoln Riley’s coaching record at USC speaks for itself. With three Heisman Trophy winners (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams) and a Super Bowl-winning quarterback (Jalen Hurts) among Riley’s coaching accomplishments, he cemented his reputation as a quarterback whisperer. And even Ryder Lyons knows this, as he said, “Coach Riley, three first picks in the NFL Draft, three Heismans—it’s very familiar. My brother goes there. They’ve been recruiting me for a while, so I don’t think there’s any better QB coach in the country, to be honest. Coach Riley knows what he’s doing.”

Let’s not forget that Ryder Lyons also has family ties with the Trojans. His brother, Walker Lyons, who’s a freshman TE at USC, is recognized for his skills and versatility on the field. Last season, he appeared in 11 games, making 3 starts as a true freshman, and recorded 6 catches for 36 yards. And his presence only makes Lyons’ inclination stronger towards the Trojans.

USC appears well-positioned, with Jayden Maiava starting, followed by five-star 2025 QB Husan Longstreet, then Jonas Williams, leaving Lyons as a strong future option. This succession plan ensures USC’s continued success for years to come. Lincoln Riley’s team is already the nation’s top-ranked 2026 class with 29 verbal commits, including 18 four-stars and one five-star. Now, if they get Ryder Lyons on their team, their quarterback pipeline will be second to none. So, let’s see if Oregon and BYU can beat that resume.