Breaking News: 5-Star QB Stuns College Football World, Rejects $88.10M NIL Deal, Decommits from Texas, Flips to Nebraska Over Alabama, Ohio State
In a move that has rocked the college football landscape, five-star quarterback phenom Jaxon “Jax” Braddock, the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2026, has decommitted from the Texas Longhorns despite reportedly being offered a staggering $88.10 million NIL package—believed to be the largest ever presented to a high school athlete. Even more shocking, Braddock announced his new commitment not to perennial powerhouses Alabama or Ohio State, but to the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The announcement came in a nationally televised segment during halftime of the Under Armour All-America Game, where Braddock unzipped a plain black hoodie to reveal a red Nebraska jersey beneath. “This isn’t about money. This is about legacy,” Braddock said, holding back tears. “I want to bring Nebraska back. I want to build something, not just be another name on a list.”
The fallout was immediate and fierce. Texas fans flooded social media with disbelief, while Longhorn boosters and NIL collectives scrambled to make sense of the situation. Sources close to Braddock’s camp confirmed that he had received offers exceeding $80 million from multiple schools, including a highly structured $88.10 million deal from Texas that included guaranteed marketing contracts, luxury housing, and even partial ownership in a media startup.
Yet Braddock, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound dual-threat quarterback with a cannon for an arm and a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, chose Nebraska—an unranked program that hasn’t won a national title since 1997. His reasoning? Head coach Matt Rhule’s vision, a promise to tailor the offense around Braddock’s unique skill set, and a deep personal connection to Nebraska’s storied past. Braddock’s grandfather, John Braddock, played linebacker for the Cornhuskers in the 1970s.
“This isn’t just a recruit. This is a movement,” Coach Rhule said in a late-night press conference. “Jax believes in what we’re building. He turned down nearly $90 million to follow a dream, to restore a dynasty.”
The decision reverberated through recruiting circles, with insiders calling it “the most impactful flip of the NIL era.” Alabama’s Nick Saban reportedly made a last-minute visit to Braddock’s home in Houston, and Ohio State’s Ryan Day had cleared a scholarship for him by reclassifying a backup. But in the end, it wasn’t enough.
Now, all eyes turn to Lincoln, where Braddock will attempt to rewrite the script on college football recruiting—and possibly the fate of a long-dormant blueblood. His story is already being dubbed “The $88 Million Rejection,” and many are wondering: Has Jaxon Braddock just started a revolution?
One thing is certain: college football may never be the same again.
