Five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons, one of the top uncommitted recruits in the 2026 class, is set to announce his college decision on June 24. The California native is down to five finalists: the USC Trojans, Oregon Ducks, Ohio State Buckeyes, Ole Miss Rebels, and BYU Cougars.
Lyons, ranked No. 5 among quarterbacks and No. 17 overall in the On3 Industry Rankings, has had USC on his radar for some time. Despite canceling an official visit to Los Angeles this month, Lyons made a strong impression of the Trojans after visiting in April.
Ryder Lyons Sets Commitment Date for June 24, USC Trojans In Top 5
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“Coach Riley, three first picks in the NFL Draft, three Heismans, it’s very familiar,” Lyons told On3. “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.”
While USC has already secured a commitment from four-star Jonas Williams—another highly ranked 2026 quarterback—Lyons’ unique timeline could still make a dual-QB class feasible. Lyons is expected to take an LDS mission following high school, delaying his arrival to college until 2027.
Oregon is considered the favorite after hosting Lyons on an official visit last weekend. Still, the Trojans remain in the hunt thanks to Lincoln Riley’s track record developing elite quarterbacks, including Caleb Williams, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts.
Lyons is coming off a stellar junior season at Folsom High School, where he threw for 2,874 yards and 44 touchdowns, rushing for another 556 yards and 12 scores. He also earned 2024 Gatorade California Football Player of the Year honors.
The USC Trojans currently boast the No. 1 recruiting class of 2026 and could further solidify that status if Lyons opts to stay home in Southern California.