Ohio State Dealt Bad News on Projected $3 Million Highly Touted Quarterback

The Ohio State Buckeyes have been actively working to secure a top-tier quarterback for their 2026 recruiting class, but recent developments suggest their efforts may be falling short. Despite early optimism, the Buckeyes appear to be losing ground in the race to sign the nation’s No. 1 ranked quarterback.
While Ohio State looks ahead to the future, they also face a pivotal transition at the quarterback position for the upcoming season. With Will Howard declaring for the NFL Draft, the Buckeyes are preparing for an intense competition under center. Former five-star recruit Julian Sayin has emerged as the early frontrunner to claim the starting job, but his path to becoming the Buckeyes’ next QB1 is far from guaranteed. He will need to fend off stiff competition, particularly from highly touted freshman Tavien St. Clair, another five-star talent eager to make his mark in Columbus. The battle for the starting quarterback role is expected to be one of the most closely watched position duels in college football over the coming months.
Shifting focus back to recruiting, Ohio State received a significant setback regarding one of its top targets for the 2026 class. Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, who had previously been heavily linked to the Buckeyes, has narrowed his choices to just two programs: the Oregon Ducks and the Georgia Bulldogs. This news, first reported by On3.com’s Hayes Fawcett, is a blow to Ohio State’s recruiting efforts, as Curtis was once projected as a strong possibility to land in Columbus.
At one point, On3 gave Ohio State a 39.5% chance to secure Curtis’ commitment, placing them ahead of Georgia, which had a 29.5% probability. The Buckeyes coaching staff even made a concerted push to strengthen their relationship with the elite quarterback, FaceTiming him from Atlanta after their national championship victory. However, despite their efforts, Curtis has ultimately decided to exclude Ohio State from his final list of potential destinations.
Curtis’ recruiting journey has been an eventful one. The dynamic quarterback originally committed to Georgia before unexpectedly decommitting, which reignited interest from powerhouse programs like Alabama, USC, Clemson, and Ole Miss. Ohio State was among the top contenders vying for his signature, hoping to leverage their recent success and offensive pedigree to entice him to Columbus. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, Curtis has since opted to focus solely on Georgia and Oregon, canceling scheduled official visits to Auburn and South Carolina in the process.
A major factor influencing Curtis’ decision could be his growing NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) value, which On3 currently estimates at a staggering $3 million. This high valuation means that any program hoping to secure his commitment will need to offer not only a strong football program but also lucrative NIL opportunities. Both Georgia and Oregon have established themselves as major players in the evolving NIL landscape, and their ability to provide Curtis with financial incentives may have played a role in his final decision-making process.
For Ohio State, missing out on Curtis represents a disappointing turn of events, but the Buckeyes will undoubtedly continue their search for a premier quarterback in the 2026 class. With their rich tradition of developing elite signal-callers and a strong recruiting infrastructure, they remain well-positioned to attract top talent in future cycles. In the meantime, the Buckeyes’ immediate focus will be on settling their quarterback competition for the upcoming season and ensuring their offensive unit remains among the most formidable in college football.
As the recruiting landscape continues to shift, Ohio State will look to regroup and identify their next target in the ever-competitive pursuit of elite quarterback talent.