Jared Curtis is on the clock, and the college football world is hanging on every second. The No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class has yet to make his decision, but the battle lines are clear—Georgia Bulldogs and Oregon Ducks are in a full-fledged tug-of-war for his commitment. Curtis has been a frequent visitor in Athens, soaking in the powerhouse program that Kirby Smart has built, and now, after another extensive trip to Eugene, he’s got a decision to make. The Bulldogs, with their elite offensive infrastructure and proximity to home, have long been in the mix, but the Oregon Ducks, led by Dan Lanning, have done everything in their power to shake up the race. This is a recruiting war where prestige, development, and money all play a role, and Curtis finds himself right in the middle of it.

Jared Curtis played a calculated game, flirting with both Georgia and Oregon. After his initial commitment to Georgia in March 2024, he de-committed in October, opening the door for Oregon. A key visit to Eugene, where Curtis witnessed the-then No. 1 Ducks defeat Maryland at Autzen Stadium, followed by an extended, highly successful visit, made it for the Ducks.

Curtis arrived in Eugene on March 8 and didn’t leave until the 12 for home. It’s an unusually long stay for a top recruit, and that time was well spent. “He continues to evaluate other programs. But continues to keep Georgia amongst his top programs and it’s been a bit of a back and forth behind the scenes with Georgia and Oregon,” analyst Steve Wiltfong said on On3 Recruits, laying out the current state of the battle. “I think the Ducks have the momentum right now, but if you’re Oregon, you’re worried that he’s about to spend three days in Athens.” That worry is justified because while Curtis and his family were wowed by Oregon’s trajectory, they’ve been deeply connected to Georgia for years.

The family comes first, and his family has spoken about the Eugene visit. “It was a great visit,” Curtis’s mother Barbara said to On3. The 6’4” Nashville product is starstruck by Ducks HC and OC Will Stein; both have track records of excellent stability and QB development. But again, home is home, and “the family loves Georgia too and made great connections with the staff the family proximity to home.” Smart has been recruiting Jared Curtis as long as anyone, and they know exactly how to play the long game.

He’s been to Athens countless times, and his ties to the program run deep. Wiltfong pointed out the Bulldogs’ biggest selling points, saying, “Georgia was one of the first programs to offer him a scholarship… this is his second time visiting Georgia this year.” That familiarity matters, but so does Georgia’s ability to reload year after year. The Bulldogs have built an offensive juggernaut with dominant line play, elite skill position talent, and a reputation for producing NFL-ready quarterbacks.

They’re about to roll out the red carpet, giving Curtis multiple practices to watch, endless FaceTime with the staff, and, as Wiltfong noted, “a chance to check a lot of the boxes.” That’s a big deal in a recruitment this tight.

Of course, in the modern landscape of college football, the elephant in the room is NIL. Curtis is already a $2.7 million NIL star, and while he isn’t simply looking for the highest bidder, financial stability is part of the equation. His agent, Peter Webb, made that much clear, saying, “For Jared, it’s not about who’s going to pay him the most money… Once he’s made the decision, then we go to work.” That means the money will follow, but the choice itself is going to come down to fit, opportunity, and vision. Webb’s approach is calculated—Curtis won’t be boxed into a financial deal before making a football decision. That’s a powerful stance in an era where some recruits are chasing the biggest bag before they ever step on campus.

Ultimately, the final 72 hours of Curtis’ recruitment will determine where this battle lands. Georgia, with its reputation and deep connections, is about to put on a full-court press. They’ll remind him why the Bulldogs’ offense is built to win, why their track record speaks for itself, and why staying closer to home makes sense.

On the other hand, Oregon has sold him on the future—their offensive system, the promise of being the face of a rising powerhouse, and the idea of forging his own legacy outside the SEC machine. “If you’re Dan Lanning, Oregon, and company, you feel good about your position, but you don’t feel good about him spending three days at Georgia,” Wiltfong admitted. Lanning, a former Georgia defensive coordinator, knows exactly what’s coming.

The next few days will be a whirlwind for Curtis as he processes everything with his family and his agency, weighing each factor before making the call.

Kirby Smart’s sales pitch to Jared Curtis

When a program like Georgia comes knocking, recruits listen. And right now, the Bulldogs are pulling out all the stops to land elite talent like five-star Jared Curtis. With no practice on Fridays, the UGA coaching staff had plenty of time to roll out the red carpet for Curtis and other top recruits. The message? Come to Athens, and we’ll get you to the NFL.

Curtis made it clear on his Instagram story that Smart’s pitch is all about the league dream. He shared a photo from inside the Bulldogs’ team meeting room, where a slide on the screen showed him holding up a No. 1 jersey at the NFL Draft—a not-so-subtle way of saying, ‘This could be you.’

Beyond the flashy presentation, Curtis has built a strong bond with OC Mike Bobo and four-star quarterback signee Ryan Montgomery, making his second visit to Athens even more meaningful. The Bulldogs are selling a proven path to the pros, and with Georgia’s recent history of pumping out NFL-ready talent, it’s hard to argue against it.