The sixth-ranked player and top quarterback in the country committed to the Bulldogs back in March, which didn’t take long after Ryan Ryan made changes to OSU’s coaching staff. This also included the separation from Corey Dennis after four years as quarterbacks coach. Dennis ran the room, but his more important role was as a recruiter, often building relationships with the best quarterbacks in the country, even if Day’s reputation had piqued the interest in the first place.

With Dennis’ departure, Curtis didn’t have much familiarity with Ohio State, although Day brought in the much more established Chip Kelly to replace Dennis. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, Curtis’ decision in the spring didn’t give Kelly much time to make up for the lack of familiarity, although behind the scenes he never stopped recruiting the five-star star.

This work seems to have been worthwhile, at least in the first step. Curtis no longer plans to become a bulldog. Now OSU can compete against the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Oregon, South Carolina and USC to land Curtis.

Ohio State watched every top quarterback target in the 2026 class fall off the board over the spring and summer. After losing everyone, the Buckeyes had to change their plan while others thought this class might play out the same way as the 2023 class, where they eventually found Lincoln Kienholz.

Maybe it still works that way. But Curtis’ decision at least opens the door to the possibility that it doesn’t have to be that way.

Day wanted an elite quarterback every cycle. So far, he has managed to attract at least one top-100 recruit to the position in all but one cycle since becoming head coach. Sometimes he even did it more than once.

Thanks to decommitting a five-star recruit, there’s a chance to continue that trend in 2026, perhaps by pairing Curtis with five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr.