The Flip Goes Both Ways

GEORGIA MONEYBALL — Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Jared Curtis flipped from Georgia to Vanderbilt and comes home to Athens a starter, Georgia just flipped a cornerback away from Cal, and Kirby Smart would like everyone to remember that nobody is committed until they sign.

ALBANY, GA — · By the RFA Sports Desk

Jared Curtis is coming back to Athens on Saturday, and he is bringing Vanderbilt with him. About ten months ago the five-star quarterback flipped his commitment from Georgia to the Commodores. Around here that is roughly like leaving the Baptist church for the Methodists across the street: perfectly allowed, but folks will talk about it at supper. Now he is Vanderbilt's starter, the Commodores are 3-1 after a 21-15 loss at Auburn, and Saturday is homecoming at Sanford Stadium. The Lord has a sense of humor, and so does the SEC schedule-maker.

Kirby Smart did not take the bait when he opened Vanderbilt week. He called Curtis a 'tremendous talent' and said he is 'way better athletically than people give him credit for,' which is what coaches say about any quarterback they plan to chase around for three hours. Then, asked about early recruiting commitments, Smart said something that ought to be stitched on a pillow in every recruiting office in America: 'No one's committed until they're signed.' He was speaking in general terms. Whether he meant to or not, he was also explaining the whole week.

The Lord has a sense of humor, and so does the SEC schedule-maker.

Saturday Down South reported this week that Alius Mayo, a 6-foot-4 cornerback at Modesto Junior College and the No. 1 overall JUCO prospect in the 247Sports Composite, has flipped from Cal to Georgia. Mayo had committed to Cal on Aug. 2. Then he took an official visit for the Oklahoma game, watched Georgia win 41-13, and apparently decided California could manage without him. Defensive backs coach Donte Williams did the heavy lifting, and Mayo joins the roster in 2027. Somewhere in Berkeley, a man is reading Smart's pillow and nodding.

So if you're the forgiving sort, the flips come out even. The quarterbacks don't. The Associated Press noted that Gunner Stockton leads the SEC with a 74.3% completion rate, and Georgia's own release says he ranks second nationally with a 209.1 passing efficiency while running the nation's top-scoring offense. Smart says turnover ratio is 'probably the biggest difference' this year: 'We've taken more than we've given.' Vanderbilt hasn't beaten Georgia since 2016, and the Dawgs are favored by more than three touchdowns. Curtis gets his homecoming. Georgia would like to be the one wearing the crown.

Meanwhile, somebody woke up the Gators. No. 21 Florida ran over No. 4 Ole Miss 52-28 and scored touchdowns on five straight second-half drives. Jadan Baugh ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns and became the third Gator to go over 100 rushing yards in five straight games, after Emmitt Smith and Fred Taylor. WRUF reported it was Florida's first top-5 win since 2018. Those are not names a Georgia man enjoys hearing in the same sentence, and Georgia people have long memories where Florida is concerned. They will have noticed.

The Notebook

• HAWKEYE HEROICS: Iowa drove 91 yards in the last 1:46 and beat Michigan 20-19 on Hank Brown's fourth-down touchdown to Reece Vander Zee as time ran out. It was Iowa's first win in Ann Arbor since 2010, and Bleacher Report said Michigan dropped out of the Top 25.
• BADGERS IN HAPPY VALLEY: Unranked Wisconsin came back from 17 points down to beat No. 13 Penn State 24-20, with 14 points in the last 3:31. It was Penn State's first loss of 2026.
• CIRCLE THE DATE: The SEC has set Georgia at Alabama for Oct. 10 in Tuscaloosa, 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC. Saturday Down South called it the league's biggest heavyweight matchup.

Written in the tradition of Lewis Grizzard, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1946–1994.

Hear the desk read tonights report on Radio Free Albany, WPFQ 96.7.