Kirby Smart must be feeling pretty good right now. After Georgia’s 30-15 win over Texas, handing the Longhorns their first loss of the 2024 season, Smart shared his excitement with ESPN’s Katie George. “I’m so proud of these guys. Nobody believed. Nobody gave us a chance,” he said. And for good reason—the Bulldogs showed up big. But despite the big win, Georgia got hit with some unsettling news, casting a shadow over their celebration. It all revolves around Jared Curtis, their prized 5-star quarterback recruit, who dropped a bombshell by decommitting just days before the game.

Jared Curtis was viewed as the Bulldogs’ future answer to Carson Beck, and his unexpected decision to back out has sent shockwaves through Georgia’s recruiting landscape. The timing couldn’t have been worse, and fans are now wondering what’s next.

On October 19, Hayes Fawcett from On3 Recruits weighed in on Curtis’s sudden change of heart. “He was planning on doing it about two or three weeks from the date,” Fawcett said. “And then he just told me, like, ‘Hey man, I can’t really get this off my mind. I’m going ahead and doing this now.’ Made the call to Georgia, told the staff, and the next day he ultimately decommitted from the Dawgs, man.”

So what made Curtis change his mind? According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, it boiled down to timing. “I think it just ultimately feels like he committed too early and wanted to continue having dialogue and visit other programs to be sure of his decision,” Wiltfong explained. Curtis was upfront with the Georgia staff, informing them before visiting schools like USC and LSU. “The Georgia staff was first class,” Wiltfong noted. “They were like, ‘Great, man, go.’” Even with Curtis’s respect for Georgia, the decommitment tells a different story—one of uncertainty about his future.

But Jared Curtis’s decision isn’t the only drama unfolding in the world of college football recruiting. Another highly sought-after quarterback, Julian Lewis, is keeping everyone guessing about his plans.

Will Julian Lewis play for the USC Trojans?

Julian ‘JuJu’ Lewis, a 5-star QB from the 2025 class, has left several teams—including Colorado, Auburn, Indiana, and USC—waiting on his final decision. Rumors swirled that Lewis might be leaning toward Indiana after he was spotted at their game against Nebraska. But conflicting reports emerged. Connor Morrissette, a senior analyst for UCF football, shot down the rumor, saying, “I can confirm that 2025 USC QB commit Julian Lewis did not visit Indiana today.”

Lewis has been associated with USC for over a year now and has built a reputation as a top-tier recruit, previously playing for Carrollton High School. However, despite being committed to USC, Lewis has hinted that he’s still open to exploring other opportunities. ‘JuJu’ Lewis’s hesitation is keeping recruiters and fans on edge, wondering if he’ll stick with USC or make a surprising move.

His performance on the field certainly explains the buzz around him. Lewis has thrown for 1,843 yards and 28 touchdowns this season, completing an impressive 77% of his passes. With stats like that, it’s no surprise that multiple programs are still pursuing him. For now, USC can breathe a little easier knowing Lewis skipped the Indiana visit, but his future remains uncertain.

The recruitment drama surrounding Jared Curtis and Julian Lewis highlights just how unpredictable the race for top quarterbacks can be. As more programs fight to secure elite talent, fans and recruiters alike are left wondering: will either of these QBs stick to their commitments, or could we see a domino effect if they make sudden changes?