It had been a bit, but Oklahoma football finally gave Sooner Nation a win worth celebrating.
The Sooners on Friday beat out LSU and plenty others for four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley, who committed after narrowing down his choices between OU and the Tigers. Despite already having a 2026 QB committed at the time, new OU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle offered Bentley, who was an under-the-radar prospect in January.
SOONER NATION LETS GO!! https://t.co/gsqM01ceeE
— Bowe Bentley (@bowebentley) June 20, 2025
Arbuckle was part of the first wave of interest in Bentley. Some recruiting services didn't even have Bentley rated yet when OU offered him after just one season as a starter at Celina High School in Texas. But even then, Arbuckle saw enough to risk losing four-star recruit Jaden O'Neal (which OU did) just at the possibility of getting Bentley to Norman to run his offense.
Bentley eventually saw a flood of interest from programs and rocketed up all recruiting rankings, eventually emerging as a consensus four-star recruit and top-10 QB prospect. According to the 247Sports Composite, Bentley is the No. 10 QB in the 2026 class and No. 14 overall prospect in the talent-rich state of Texas. Every major recruiting service immediately listed Bentley as the Sooners' highest-rated commit in their 2026 group.
On top of LSU, the Sooners also beat the likes of Georgia, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Florida State, Kansas State, Ohio State, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin and more to land Bentley.
If Bentley has a senior campaign that matches his junior season, he could be elevated to be the top QB in the 2026 class by signing day.
After losing two commits during the week, Bentley turned things around for the Sooners before they kicked off the ChampU BBQ, they're biggest recruiting weekend of the year that Bentley is back in Norman for as a bonus recruiter.
Sooner Nation was elated about its future QB, but also just as impressed with the 29-year-old Arbuckle's ability on the recruiting trail.
Social media reactions to Sooners landing Bowe Bentley
Boom 💥 @arbuckle_ben pic.twitter.com/eFDH6DbuQ9
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) June 21, 2025
MOOD pic.twitter.com/ganwq8qBx0
— Sooners Insider (@SoonersInsider) June 20, 2025
Very excited and prOUd for Bowe and his family…Sooners get a great character leader commitment from this solid sOUl…welcome home yOUng man…soak it up & soak it in…yOU will be pOUring it OUt soon…yOUr best days are right in front of yOU!!! @OU_Football https://t.co/hKDxflA8rj
— Brian Bosworth (@GotBoz44) June 21, 2025
— Stacey Ford (@COACHSTACE_) June 20, 2025
— Barstool Sooners (@OUBarstool) June 20, 2025
OU Football recruiting rn #BOOMERpic.twitter.com/3hx3wED7Q3
— Tattoo Baker 🎥✨ (@QB1TATT00) June 20, 2025
Bentley's future teammates are also pumped.
WE GOT IT DONE!!!! Glad to have you apart of the family Bowe 🅾️u🧬@bowebentley #BoweU https://t.co/LHaijRaveK
— Brian Harris (@BrianHarr1s) June 21, 2025
Tip of the cap to Arbuckle.
Ben Arbuckle showed up in Norman with a Top 15 QB already committed to the Sooners.
— Travis J Davidson (@TravisSkol) June 20, 2025
Then the 29-Year Old decides to go head-to-head with LSU and Georgia for Top 10 QB Bowe Bentley.
And he gets his guy.
That’s a boss move.
Ben Arbuckle ladies and gentlemen 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/fZywjKzQMI
— SECSOONER_LIFE (@Sooner_K7) June 20, 2025
#Sooners land elite 2026 QB Bowe Bentley (@bowebentley). Arbuckle came in as OC and quickly identified Bentley as his guy.
— TFB Sooners (@TFB_Sooners) June 20, 2025
The plan came together. Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? pic.twitter.com/TZfZSfvbNk
Guys who can recruit: pic.twitter.com/uq44wLYM6n
— The REF (@KREFsports) June 20, 2025
Pull up in that. @arbuckle_ben
— OU Football Radio Crew (@OURadioCrew) June 20, 2025
Don't tease us...
What kind of energy does Bowe Bentley bring? Well...does this remind you of anyone? pic.twitter.com/zXuwM3LQZS
— AJ Schulte (@AJSchulteFB) June 20, 2025
Read more about OU football recruiting