Ohio State Buckeyes : The Ohio State Buckeyes have been striving to make progress in securing a top quarterback for the 2026 college football recruiting class. However, it appears that their efforts are not going as planned, especially regarding the nation’s top-rated quarterback. For the upcoming season, Ohio State is facing a quarterback competition with Will Howard heading to the NFL draft.
Early indications suggest that former 5-star recruit Julian Sayin could be the leading contender to become the next starting quarterback for the Buckeyes. Nevertheless, Sayin will face significant competition in the months ahead, including from 5-star freshman Tavien St. Clair, who is also in the running for the coveted QB position.
Looking further into the future, Ohio State received disappointing news related to one of their 2026 recruiting targets. Jared Curtis, a quarterback from Nashville Christian, has recently narrowed his list of potential colleges down to two programs—Oregon and Georgia. Unfortunately for Ohio State, they did not make the cut. On3.com’s Hayes Fawcett reported that Curtis is now solely considering the Oregon Ducks and the Georgia Bulldogs. Earlier projections by On3 had Ohio State as the frontrunner, with a 39.5% chance of landing Curtis, while Georgia had a 29.5% chance.
In the past, members of the Ohio State coaching staff made efforts to connect with Curtis, including a FaceTime conversation following the Buckeyes’ national championship win in Atlanta, Georgia. Curtis expressed his admiration for the program, noting how impressive their performance was, and praised their potential for further improvement. “It’s awesome to show that love and for them to go out there and win it all!” Curtis shared with On3’s Steve Wiltfong on January 20. “I think they went out this year and showed what they can do, and I think they are going to only get better!”
Currently, On3 projects Curtis’ NIL value to be around $3 million, adding considerable value to whichever program secures the commitment of the No. 1 ranked quarterback in the 2026 class.