Tuesday marked a pivotal moment in college football recruiting as Ryder Lyons, a five-star quarterback and one of the most coveted prospects in the country, officially announced his college commitment. The standout from Folsom, California, had narrowed his decision down to two programs: the Oregon Ducks and the BYU Cougars. Both schools had been actively pursuing Lyons, with hopes of landing a player who could significantly reshape their future quarterback rooms.
Despite intense interest from Oregon and other top programs, Lyons revealed his commitment to BYU live on The Pat McAfee Show, delivering a massive recruiting win for head coach Kalani Sitake and the Cougars. Though he won’t be enrolling until 2027, Lyons’ pledge has already sent waves across the college football landscape and is considered a historic moment for BYU’s recruiting efforts.
The Cougars have been riding a wave of momentum. They wrapped up last season on a high note, defeating Colorado in the Alamo Bowl and finishing with an 11-win season and a No. 13 ranking in the final AP Poll. Lyons’ commitment further solidifies BYU’s growing national profile and momentum in the increasingly competitive Big 12 Conference.
However, beyond program prestige and performance, Lyons cited a much more personal reason for choosing Provo, Utah, over Eugene, Oregon. During his announcement, he recalled that BYU was the very first school to offer him a scholarship—all the way back in eighth grade. “They pulled the trigger on me, they believed in me early, and it’s just crazy how it all comes full circle,” Lyons told McAfee. That early belief and long-standing relationship clearly made a lasting impact.
Lyons has had a phenomenal high school career so far, headlined by a standout junior season at Folsom High School, where he was named California’s Gatorade Player of the Year after accounting for an eye-popping 56 total touchdowns. His combination of athleticism, poise, and leadership made him a top target for schools like USC, Oregon, and others, but his bond with BYU proved too strong to overlook.
After he returns from a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2027, Lyons is set to join a Cougars team that is rapidly assembling a promising core of young talent. He’ll arrive alongside four-star tight end Brock Harris, while Bott Mulitalo, a highly regarded four-star offensive lineman, is slated to join the team in 2026. With Lyons now in the fold, BYU’s future looks increasingly bright as it continues to stack talent in preparation for a tough Big 12 slate.
