Oklahoma Sooners one step closer to landing future face of the program but have one last major obstacle in their way
The Oklahoma Sooners have hit a bit of a snag in the recruiting cycle for the class of 2026 after a dismal season in 2024. The future of the coaching staff is a cloud that hangs over their long-term outlook, though I do believe Venables will be back for 2026, barring a shockingly bad 2025 season.
However, they are right in the mix for their top priority target in the class of 2026 in quarterback Bowe Bentley. Bentley is still a bit of a hidden gem as a four-star quarterback, but he holds offers from all the major hitters. This week, Bentley narrowed down his top two landing spots, and the Sooners are right where they want to be with him.
Ever since he arrived at Oklahoma, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has begun cultivating a relationship with Bentley in the hopes of uniting the two in Norman. Indeed, Bentley has spoken about his respect for Arbuckle and what he has done in developing both Cam Ward and John Mateer.
Bentley has already started building a relationship with Sooners quarterback John Mateer, who Bentley says has told him how playing Brent Venables’ defense makes him a sharper quarterback (something Dillon Gabriel can likely attest to as well).
However, the LSU Tigers have gained plenty of steam in his recruitment. Despite being late to his recruitment, the work that quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan has done with Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier stands out in Bentley’s recruitment. The Tigers brought in talented dual-threat quarterback Michael Van Buren in the transfer portal, so Bentley’s playing time there would likely be more limited than with the Sooners, but he could still be productive.
The Sooners are playing a dangerous game with their quarterback recruiting. Four-star Jaden O’Neal has remained committed to the Sooners despite their coaching change at offensive coordinator, but he has begun snooping around other schools with Oklahoma’s heightened interest in Bentley. O’Neal took an official visit to Florida State and flirted with other schools like Georgia over the past month. If Bentley elects to go to LSU, the Sooners could be left without either quarterback if they aren’t careful.
