The Ohio State Buckeyes have been actively working to secure a top-tier quarterback for their 2026 recruiting class, but recent developments suggest that their pursuit of the nation’s top-rated quarterback isn’t going as planned. As they look ahead to next season, the Buckeyes will likely face a quarterback competition, especially with Will Howard heading to the NFL draft. Former 5-star recruit Julian Sayin seems to be the frontrunner for Ohio State’s starting QB position, but he’s far from guaranteed the spot. He’ll have plenty of competition, including from 5-star freshman Tavien St. Clair, who could make a strong case for the job in the coming months.
However, things took a turn for the worse in Ohio State’s quest for future quarterbacks, particularly when it comes to their 2026 recruiting target, Jared Curtis. The standout quarterback from Nashville Christian recently narrowed down his options to just two schools: the Oregon Ducks and the Georgia Bulldogs. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they didn’t make the cut. This news comes after a period where On3.com had projected Ohio State as the front-runner, giving them a 39.5% chance of landing Curtis compared to Georgia’s 29.5%.
Ohio State’s coaching staff made an effort to show their interest in Curtis, even FaceTiming him after the Buckeyes’ national championship win. Curtis seemed impressed with Ohio State’s performance this season, telling On3’s Steve Wiltfong, “It’s awesome to show that love and for them to go out there and win it all!” He went on to praise the team’s potential, stating, “I think they went out this year and showed what they can do and I think they are going to only get better!”
Despite the Buckeyes’ strong efforts, it looks like the competition for Curtis will be fierce, especially given his impressive NIL value of $3 million, which could make him a very costly addition for any program. This setback has certainly shaken up Ohio State’s recruiting plans as they continue their search for the next star quarterback.