BYU and Oklahoma keep finding themselves in the same recruiting circles, and the results have started to pile up on both sides.
The latest win went to the Cougars, who beat out Oklahoma for four-star recruit Uhila Wolfgramm. He chose to stay close to home and head to Provo rather than make the jump to Norman and the SEC. That was a solid get for BYU, but it also came against a program that has become a real problem on the recruiting trail.
A week earlier, Oklahoma landed Bode Sparrow, the top-ranked prospect in Utah. BYU and Oklahoma were the final two teams in that race, and the Sooners came out on top.
Earlier in the cycle, OU also picked up an early commitment from Krew Jones. That one was not a direct BYU-OU showdown, but Jones was high on the Cougars’ board and BYU felt good about its chances before the Sooners got him.
The Sooners have also taken Sione Felila, whose official visit to BYU was canceled after he committed to Oklahoma. And last year, Oklahoma pushed hard for Braxton Lindsey even after he pledged to BYU, trying to flip him all the way through the process. Lindsey held firm with the Cougars.
BYU has had its own success in these cross-country battles, too. Oklahoma made strong runs at Kaue Akana and Brock Harris, but BYU ended up with commitments from both players.
This is not a one-off thing anymore. BYU and Oklahoma are not matched up on every recruit, but they are seeing each other a lot more than anyone probably expected. That’s the reality now, and it looks like something both programs will have to live with.
The Sooners’ Utah presence is no longer tiny, either. Oklahoma has signed a player from the Beehive State in each of the last two classes, with Lehi’s Jett Niu signing in the 2025 class and Skyridge’s Darius Afalava signing last cycle. Two players may not sound like much, but for a program that had virtually no footprint in Utah for decades, that is a meaningful shift.
Now that number is set to grow again. Sparrow and Jones are both in line to join Oklahoma in the 2027 class, which would double the Sooners’ total number of Utah players.
Part of that growth comes from familiarity. Utah high school coaches are getting to know OU’s staff better, and Miguel Chavis has already built a real presence in the state. Nate Dreiling, the former interim head coach at Utah State, also knows the Wasatch Front well.
Oklahoma is also adding another familiar name to its recruiting operation. Former BYU defensive lineman Manaia Brown announced on Instagram that he is joining the OU recruiting staff, and he made clear what he brings with him:
"- Utah roots that shaped my grit.
- LDS faith that anchors my purpose.
- Polynesian heritage that fuels my pride and responsibility."
That sounds like someone ready to spend a lot of time recruiting Utah.
And the next wave could be even bigger. The 2028 class in Utah is already looking loaded, with seven four-stars in the group.
Four of them already hold Oklahoma offers, including three teammates of Jones. There are also more players in that class who could pick up OU offers as the season moves along and into next spring.
For BYU, that 2028 group matters just as much. The Cougars had a huge run in the 2026 class, when Utah talent was unusually deep, and they capitalized on it. The 2028 class gives them another chance to do the same.
BYU still has plenty of competition beyond Oklahoma, but the Sooners are now firmly part of the picture. That was not always the case.
It is now. Oklahoma is here to stay.
In Other News...
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Oklahoma Faces A 2026 Quarterback Gauntlet Fans Wont Ignore
The Manning Passing Academy always offers a glimpse at the next wave of quarterbacks, but for Oklahoma, this years version came with a little extra relevance. Four of the 11 passers singled out from the event are already on the Sooners 2026 schedule, which means the conversation quickly shifts from summer buzz to a real look at the kind of arms Brent Venables defense will have to chase around next fall.
Arch Manning sits near the top of that group, while LaNorris Sellers checks in at No. 7 and Bryce Underwood brings the sort of ceiling that keeps evaluators talking. Underwood was the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, and the appeal is obvious if he keeps climbing toward that level. Oklahoma also has to account for John Mateer, whose offseason transformation drew plenty of attention, adding another layer to a schedule that already looks loaded with quarterback talent. [Read more 🡒]