Breaking News: Five-Star QB Shocks College Football World by Turning Down $7.5 Million, Decommits from Colorado and Flips to Nebraska Over Notre Dame and Florida State
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the college football universe, five-star quarterback phenom Jayden Richards has officially decommitted from the Colorado Buffaloes and announced his surprise commitment to the Nebraska Cornhuskers — turning down a reported $7.5 million NIL offer in the process.
Richards, the No. 2 ranked quarterback in the 2025 class and a consensus top-10 overall prospect, had been committed to Colorado for months and was considered a foundational piece in Coach Deion Sanders’ high-profile rebuild of the Buffaloes. However, sources close to the situation say Richards grew increasingly uneasy with the media spotlight and branding-first culture that has emerged under Sanders’ leadership.
“He’s not about the flash,” said one insider. “Jayden wants development, structure, and a legacy — not just followers and photo ops.”
What makes this flip even more astonishing is not just the departure from Coach Prime’s program, but who Richards chose over. Both Notre Dame and Florida State were believed to be heavily in play down the stretch. Notre Dame’s academic prestige and storied QB lineage, combined with Florida State’s return to national prominence, made either a likely destination. Yet Richards shocked insiders and fans alike when he chose Nebraska, a program still climbing its way back to national relevance under Matt Rhule.
The $7.5 million NIL offer — believed to have been Colorado’s final pitch to keep him — was reportedly the highest known offer in the 2025 class. Richards’ decision to walk away from that kind of money signals a return to old-school values in an era increasingly dominated by pay-to-play dynamics.
“This isn’t about a check,” Richards posted on social media. “It’s about building something special, doing it the right way, and leading a team back to greatness.”
With Nebraska now boasting a generational talent at QB, Husker Nation is buzzing with renewed hope. Could this be the turning point the program has been waiting for since the Tom Osborne era? One thing’s for sure: Jayden Richards just changed the college football landscape — and he did it without cashing in.
