Ohio State Buckeyes Football Head Coach Ryan Day
Ohio State Facing Uphill Battle in Recruitment of Five-Star QB Ryder Lyons
The Ohio State Buckeyes are making a strong push for one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 recruiting class, but their efforts may not be gaining much traction. According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons remains interested in Ohio State, but the Buckeyes are not among his top choices.
Lyons, a standout prospect, has BYU, Oregon, and USC as his leading schools. Wiltfong reported that Lyons nearly committed to USC before deciding to wait, which kept the Trojans in the mix. However, Oregon appears to be the most aggressive in recruiting him, and BYU’s impressive season has also caught his attention.
“The On3 RPM favors the Trojans because he did nearly commit to the Trojans. Lyons confirmed that on Saturday while competing in the Overtime OT7 event,” Wiltfong wrote. “Lyons decided to wait and things continue to develop elsewhere. He said Oregon is recruiting him the hardest. BYU and their terrific season has his attention.”
5⭐️ Ryder Lyons is SMOOTH😮💨
The QB has over 30 offers 👀 pic.twitter.com/fmEWLNYQoN
— Rivals (@Rivals) March 2, 2025
Despite Ohio State’s continued pursuit, Lyons is also considering visits to Michigan and Ole Miss, two other programs he has expressed strong interest in.
Wiltfong ultimately suggested that Oregon could be the frontrunner, especially if they miss out on Jared Curtis, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 class. Curtis is currently deciding between Oregon and Georgia, and his commitment could have a significant impact on Lyons’ decision.
Ranked as the No. 4 quarterback and No. 16 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting cycle per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Lyons is also the fourth-ranked recruit from California. While Ohio State is still in the conversation, they appear to be a long shot to land the talented signal-caller.
The Buckeyes will likely continue their pursuit, but unless things change, they may have to look elsewhere for their next star quarterback.
