The recruiting trail ain’t for the weak, and when a four-star quarterback with a howitzer for an arm starts making moves, it’s straight-up war between programs. The SEC and Big Ten have been throwing haymakers to lock in their next signal-caller. And now, Gavin Sidwar, one of the biggest QB names left in the 2026 class, just took the recruiting world for a spin. Let’s just say five schools made the cut, and it’s about to get real messy.

Gavin Sidwar, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound quarterback out of Warrington (Pa.) LaSalle College has officially narrowed his choices. And we’re looking at a showdown between Ole Miss, Mizzou, Syracuse, UCLA, and Iowa. That’s right, the top five are locked, and these programs are fighting like it’s the last slice of pizza at the function. Sidwar, once committed to Rutgers, said, ‘Nah, I’m good’ back in October, and now he’s got powerhouse schools at his doorstep.

Let’s talk about the kid for a second. The Pennsylvania native lit up his junior year, smashing LaSalle’s record books with 2,747 passing yards on 220 completions. Led his squad to a 10-1 record and had defenses looking like they forgot how to play coverage. He’s ranked No. 292 overall and No. 19 QB in the 2026 cycle, but On3 seems to be higher on him than the rest, putting him at No. 192 overall and the No. 15 QB. Pretty weird, right? Doesn’t really matter now. Either way, that man’s stock is rising.

Now, here’s where it gets spicy. Missouri came in heavy after Mizzou OC Kirby Moore dropped a scholarship offer in January, and Sidwar’s already planning a spring visit for March 18. The Tigers got their guy last cycle in Matt Zollers, but clearly, they’re stacking talent. Meanwhile, Syracuse has been lurking for over a year.

“Syracuse said to come up any time I want,” Sidwar told On3. “I’ll get up there. They just opened a new football facility, so I want to see it.” Translation: The Orange are in this fight, and they are looking favorites.

SEC vs. Big Ten: who’s playing chess?

Ole Miss, though? Lane Kiffin got his eyes locked on this cycle like a hawk. The Rebels don’t got a QB commit for 2025, but they’re plotting big for 2026. With Austin Simmons likely running the show for the next 2 years after showing a tiny ounce of promise against Georgia, Kiffin’s making sure the next man up is elite. He’s already in the mix with top QBs Landon Duckworth and Kane Archer, and now Sidwar’s on the radar. The Rebels gotta play this one smart—go all-in on one guy and miss, and it’s a wrap. Play the cards right, though? They could walk out with a franchise QB.

Missouri, on the other hand, is sitting with just one 2026 commit—four-star DL Anthony Kennedy. That’s it. Tigers fans want more action, and Sidwar could be the dude to headline this class. The pitch? Mizzou’s coming off a back-to-back 10-win season, and the offense got some juice under Eliah Drinkwitz. If Sidwar wants a system that can make him a star, Columbia’s got a case.

On the West Coast, UCLA is lurking. The Bruins gotta move differently in this NIL era, but they’ve been in the mix for talented QBs. Chip Kelly’s departure shook things up. Ain’t gonna lie, they are still in the 2023 season, but if they can sell Sidwar on being the face of their offense, who knows? Iowa seems already out of the race, and Syracuse is running hot.

The QB dominoes are about to start falling, and Gavin Sidwar just put himself in a luxurious position. With these 5 schools locked in, it’s only a matter of time before he makes that final call. SEC, Big Ten, or a wildcard pick? We’re about to find out soon.