If Bryce Underwood‘s recruitment saga was the movie equivalent of Jim Carrey’s “The Mask,” then this Jared Curtis drama is shaping up to be the Jamie Kennedy version of “The Mask 2”. Ever since Curtis dropped his Georgia flag back in October, his entire recruitment scene has been a rollercoaster ride. He seems to be torn between Georgia and Oregon, and pointed out that he would love to “take some more time to explore all my options,” but now a decision is imminent. Curtis was scheduled to host the offensive coordinators from both programs, ahead of the May 5 commitment date, but he pulled off a surprise, leaving many experts scratching their heads.

Both Georgia and Oregon were expecting Curtis for one final meeting before he made a final call. But Curtis decided to cancel his in-homes with both programs, leaving an air of mystery around his future. This adds to the notion about Curtis being torn over which way to go. “I’ve built a relationship with Coach (Mike) Bobo and Coach Smart,” the QB confessed while talking about Georgia, but at the same time, he also pointed out that “Me and Coach (Will) Stein’s relationship is really good.” Uncertainty is the only thing certain when it comes to Curtis at the moment.

On3 dropped another update on Curtis’ recruitment saga, and this time, they had it straight from the five-star QB’s mother, Barbara. Well, unsurprisingly, according to Barbara, “he is still undecided as he contemplates a future at Georgia or Oregon.” Now, if this were a “first time” thing, we could’ve understood his mental position. Curtis is the next projected No. 3 QB in the nation—but it’s been months since he decommitted from Georgia, and all this time, and no decision? Yeah, the anticipation is now getting tiring.

On one hand, you have the SEC’s crème de la crème, and on the other hand, you have the Proverbial Kings of the B1G. Both teams are equally good for Curtis’ future development, and this, again, makes things extremely tricky. However, Dan Lanning and Co. still have an edge.

If there’s one West Coast program that’s been turning QBs from $5 drive-thru burgers to five-star gourmet meals, it’s Oregon. From Bo Nix to Dillon Gabriel, Lanning and Co. know exactly how to season a quarterback into Heisman form. And after cruising on a 13-win high in 2024, Curtis-to-Eugene feels like a perfect match. Moreover, national recruiting analyst Tom Loy mentioned that Curtis might be leaning toward Oregon.

Talking on the 247Sports Ultimate College Football Show, Loy revealed, “One day he is feeling Oregon, one day he is feeling Georgia. I think people inside his family are kind of preferring the Bulldogs,” Loy said. “I think that Jared’s gut feeling is leaning towards Oregon. I’m going to lean towards Oregon because I think in the end, that’s what Jared wants.”

Curtis also believes that Dan Lanning and Stein could get the best out of him. “The relationship with me and Coach Stein,” Curtis explained. “My mom and dad really like it up here. What they do in their offense with the quarterbacks and getting players around them. They’re well coached and they’re disciplined and I think they’re hungry to go get it.” 

Well, it seems Oregon might be the favorites, but here’s the fun part—Kirby Smart didn’t earn that last name by accident. Best believe he’s already cooking up a contingency plan to counter Oregon’s lead.

In Bobo, Georgia trust!

Throughout the entire UGA x Curtis saga, Mike Bobo has been extremely consistent with the recruitment strategy. From visits to hanging out with Curtis, Smart has got Bobo pulling every stop, and rightfully so. If there is ANYTHING Georgia needs more than maybe a natty win, it’s a good quarterback. After losing Carson Beck to a money splurge by Miami, UGA has been stuck in limbo.

Curtis might just be the final missing piece of the puzzle—only if Bobo comes out on top. Talking about Mike Bobo, Curtis said, “Coach Bobo has a long history and he’s done great as an offensive coordinator and I’m looking forward to getting back up there.”

As of now, Smart and probably the entire Dawgs Nation are patiently waiting on Bobo’s race against Lanning and Will Stein. Who gets the nation’s next-best QB? Watch this space.