Five-star QB Ryder Lyons out of Folsom is heating the recruiting trail—and the spotlight’s only getting brighter. He’s trimmed his top schools to 6 powerhouses: BYU, USC, Oregon, OSU, Michigan, and Ole Miss. But one program may already have the edge. Lyons is set to make his 6th trip to USC on June 20 for an official visit, showing serious interest in Lincoln Riley’s Trojans. On3 insider Pete Nakos isn’t shy with his prediction—he believes Lyons is leaning toward USC over Dan Lanning’s Ducks. Is the stage set, and is the decision closer than ever?

Well, Lincoln Riley is cooking up a powerhouse at USC. The Trojans’ 2026 class is stacked—ranked No. 1 in the nation with 2 5-stars, a dozen 4-stars, and 27 commits overall. But just when it seems like Riley can’t miss, a twist is brewing. Another B1G contender is making a serious run at 5-star QB Ryder Lyons. And this time, the crystal balls aren’t leaning USC’s way. Lyons could break from the Riley pipeline, potentially leaving the coach behind Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams searching for his next star.

Now, Lyons’ recruitment is heating up, and Oregon is making its move. The Ducks, sitting at No. 8 in the 2026 team rankings with only 7 commits and no QB, are going all-in on the 5-star gunslinger. On3’s Steve Wiltfong just flipped his pick from USC to Oregon, signaling a major shift in momentum. “The intel is starting to favor Oregon,” he said. Adding, “BYU looks to be second in the battle for Lyons currently… I’m going to move my predictions for Lyons to the Ducks.” That’s a tough blow for Riley, especially with Lyons’ brother, Walker, already on USC’s roster. Family ties aside, the buzz around Oregon is building—and a lot of it has to do with OC Will Stein. And USC may be watching their future star slip away.

But the recruiting story just took a twist. On the May 15th episode of 247Sports, the crew dropped major intel on 5-star QB Ryder Lyons’ future. Emily Proud announced, “The number 13 player in the country, we’ve got quarterback Ryder Lyons. He is currently uncommitted.” Then Andrew Ivins jumped in with high praise, stating, “Energetic signal-caller with a true gunslinger mentality. He embraces chaos. Under 6’3″, but he’s got ready-to-play mass—thick through the core. He’s gone 24-4 as the starter at Folsom High School over the past two seasons, and he’s led multiple game-winning drives in the postseason. He has delivered in key moments.” So, the hype is real, and the race for Lyons just got even more intense.

However, Andrew Ivins didn’t hold back on the full picture. He said, “I think there are some times when Ryder Lyons can get caught up doing—trying to do—a little bit too much. He is going to take a mission trip before he starts college, but he’s got the tools to provide some fireworks on Saturdays, and then potentially Sundays.” Honestly, Lyons isn’t just a player; he’s a dynamic playmaker with a bright future. So, the mission trip shows his character and talent? Pure game-changing potential.

Now, Hudson Standish sees a little Johnny Manziel vibe in Ryder Lyons—both on and off the field. When it comes to where he’ll land, Standish is watching three schools closely: Oregon, BYU, and USC. Even though USC and BYU already have QBs committed, Lyons’ upcoming mission trip means he won’t join right away. Instead, he’s set to roll in with the 2027 class, keeping the recruiting drama alive and the spotlight shining bright.

Here comes the twist Oregon fans didn’t want. Hudson Standish dropped a recruiting bomb that could shake up the race for Ryder Lyons. “I think Ole Miss and Ohio State are two others badly trying to get in this one. But I really do believe—and I know Brandon Huffman was all over this from day one—keep an eye on the BYU Cougars. They are going to spend top dollar on the NIL front, and I think that Lyons is going to command a lot. I think BYU could actually get this one done.” Just like that, BYU is emerging as a dark horse with deep pockets and serious momentum.

But don’t count out USC just yet, because the standout QB had an impressive visit with them.

Ryder Lyons’ thoughts on USC

Ryder Lyons has big plans—and even bigger praise for USC. After graduating from high school this spring, the five-star QB will embark on an LDS mission, delaying his college debut until spring 2027. But make no mistake, Lyons is well aware of the pedigree at USC. Speaking to On3, he didn’t hold back, and said, “Coach Riley: three first picks in the NFL Draft, three Heisman (Trophy) 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. Coach Riley knows what he’s doing.” With a quote like that, the Trojans may still have a strong card to play.

However, Ryder Lyons hasn’t shut the door on Oregon just yet. He’s made four trips to Eugene, and the Ducks clearly left a mark. Lyons still holds major respect for what Dan Lanning and OC Will Stein have built. So, Oregon’s not fading from the race.

“There’s a bunch of stuff. Their whole brand, coach Stein,” said Lyons. Adding, “Coach Lanning had made it very clear to me that the big thing with Oregon is how long is coach Stein going to be there. I mean, he’s the best (offensive coordinator) in the country, arguably one of them. Usually they get picked up pretty fast.” It’s clear the Ducks still have a shot, but Stein’s future could be the x-factor.