🚨 CONFIRMED: OU’s 2026 Blue-Chip Commit Could Flip THIS SUMMER—Here’s the Team Closing Hard!

The Oklahoma Sooners’ 2026 quarterback situation is becoming one of the most compelling—and precarious—storylines in college football recruiting.

Four-star QB Jaden O’Neal has been verbally committed to Oklahoma since June 2024, originally pledging to former offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. But since Littrell was let go midseason and Ben Arbuckle took over the offense, the dynamics have shifted. O’Neal stayed committed through the transition, but Arbuckle’s active recruitment of another four-star QB, Bowe Bentley from Celina, Texas, is threatening to upend everything.

Arbuckle’s pursuit of Bentley has raised serious concerns about O’Neal’s future with the Sooners. According to Eli Lederman (ESPN), both O’Neal and Bentley are central to what could be a pivotal June for Oklahoma’s 2026 class. Bentley is expected to make a commitment soon, and Oklahoma and LSU are his final two contenders. After visiting LSU last weekend, Bentley is set to visit Norman next—potentially giving the Sooners one last shot at securing his commitment.

However, Bentley choosing LSU could leave Oklahoma with no top-tier quarterback committed for 2026, especially if O’Neal decides to flip. And signs suggest he’s weighing that option seriously. He visited Arizona this past weekend and has an official visit to Florida State scheduled for June 15–17. Programs like Georgia, Auburn, and Colorado have also shown strong interest since Littrell’s firing.

Even though Oklahoma coaches recently visited O’Neal at his home and plan to host him again at the ChampU BBQ, trust between his camp and the program seems to be strained. ESPN reports that Arbuckle’s aggressive targeting of Bentley has made O’Neal feel like a backup plan, which could push him to look elsewhere despite his recent move from California to Mustang High School in Oklahoma.

Recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong (On3) also believes a flip is likely:

“My gut says flip, for a number of reasons. Oklahoma is all-in on Bowe Bentley. That doesn’t guarantee they’ll land him, but you almost have to re-recruit Jaden O’Neal at this point.”

The timing and outcome of Bentley’s decision are crucial. If he chooses LSU, Oklahoma might lose both quarterbacks—and with it, stability at the most important position on the field.

Looking at the current QB room for 2025—John Mateer, Michael Hawkins Jr., Whitt Newbauer, Jett Niu, and Gavin Frakes—there’s potential, but no guaranteed long-term starter beyond 2025. If Mateer leaves for the NFL, the team would likely hand the reins to Hawkins. But beyond that, things are uncertain.

That’s why the 2026 QB recruiting battle is so critical. The Sooners cannot afford to strike out on both Bentley and O’Neal. Arbuckle was brought in to fix the quarterback situation that plagued the 2024 season. If he swings and misses on Bentley and loses O’Neal in the process, the Sooners could be right back in the same dangerous spot under center.