Four-star quarterback prospect Bowe Bentley represents the biggest prize so far in Oklahoma's 2026 recruiting class.
On June 20, Bentley announced his verbal pledge to play football at Oklahoma beginning in the 2026 season. That was a giant pickup for Brent Venables and the Sooners, especially after losing the commitment of another four-star QB recruit, Jaden O'Neal, less than 24 hours before.
While it's a good bet Bentley's commitment is as good as a done deal, it really isn't until he signs his formal letter of intent during the December early signing period. Nothing is official until the LOI is in the hands of the Oklahoma athletic department. Until then, it is certainly not out of the question for LSU and perhaps others to continue to recruit Bentley and do everything they can to persuade him to have a change of heart and mind.
Bentley to OU isn't locked until signing day
The Sooners weren't the only ones seriously interested in the Celina, Texas, standout. And before offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and general manager Jim Nagy joined the Oklahoma staff this offseason, Bentley wasn't exactly on the Sooners' radar.
Oklahoma already had 2026 four-star prospect O'Neal in the fold for over a year (since June of 2024), but it became patently clear once Arbuckle came on staff that the new Sooner offensive coordinator really liked what he saw in Bentley and believed he would be a better fit in OU's new offensive system.
Bentley's recruiting stock took a big jump after his outstanding junior season, during which he threw for 3,467 yards and an impressive 52 touchdowns and displayed his dual-threat skills by using his legs for 991 rushing yards and 16 additional touchdowns. Celina High School finished the season 16-0 and won its first state championship since 2007.
Interestingly, once Oklahoma extended an offer to Bentley in late January, additional Power Four programs took interest. The list included major college football brands such as Ohio State, Georgia and Florida State, but Bentley ultimately narrowed the list to Georgia, LSU and OU. Georgia dropped out after earning a commitment from five-star prospect Jared Curtis, leaving the Sooners and LSU as his final two choices.
The rest is history as Bentley and his family ultimately felt more comfortable and confident of what the Sooners had to offer. The Sooners' new NFL-type front-office structure with Nagy and staff, and the strong relationship Bentley developed with Arbuckle and the system fit were the difference makers in the final decision.
Bentley was surely aware of Oklahoma's recent gridiron struggles and wanted to assure himself that the Sooners were still capable of competing for championships. The young quarterback prospect is not old enough to fully appreciate the great history and tradition of Oklahoma football, but his father, Jason Bentley, is aware, and Venables and his staff obviously did a persuasive job of putting the young Bentley's mind at ease on the subject.
With the recruiting weight off of Bentley's shoulders, now he can focus on prepping for his senior season and leading his Celina High School team to what would be a second-straight Texas Class 4A-1 state championship.
The weight may be off Bentley's shoulders, but now it's the job of Venables, Arbuckle and the rest of the OU football family to ensure that it stays that way.
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