Carson Beck had entered his name initially into the NFL Draft.
It was late December in 2024, and the Georgia quarterback was ready to move on from college and into the professional ranks.
Turns out, he wasn't done.
By Jan. 10, he had committed to transfer and play his final season of college football for the Miami Hurricanes.
It has worked out, as he's got Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
It's not a move many people saw coming, though.
Why did Carson Beck transfer from Georgia to Miami?
Beck got a big NIL payday, and he got a chance to try and raise his NFL draft stock in a strong system.
"ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. Considered Beck the No. 5 quarterback in his draft rankings," ESPN's Pete Thamel wrote at the time of the transfer. "Beck was viewed as a potential first-round pick entering his senior season and will now look to boost his draft stock just as (Cam) Ward did with a big season in Coral Gables. Ward, a former Washington State transfer, declared for the 2024 NFL draft last January but changed his mind upon learning he'd be at best a second- or third-round draft pick, opting to join Miami. After producing 4,313 passing yards and 43 total touchdowns with the Hurricanes and finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy voting, Ward is now a projected top-10 pick and was the No. 1 pick in Jordan Reid's latest mock draft."
Beck had lost his starting spot at Georgia to Gunner Stockton. When the incumbent hurt his elbow late in the year, Stockton shone brightly.
And for his part, Stockton got Georgia to the CFP quarterfinals this year.
Why Carson Beck's transfer was shocking
It wasn't a standard college football timeline from past eras.
When quarterbacks chose to enter the draft, they stuck with it.
There wasn't really anything major that could pull them back.
Now, though, with NIL, Beck had financial incentive to stay in school. It's a whole different ballgame.
When Beck committed to the Hurricanes, Thamel wrote it like this: "Beck is expected to visit Miami this weekend, and his commitment comes within 24 hours of his surprise decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal Thursday. After declaring for the 2025 NFL draft on Dec. 28, Beck will instead join Miami for his final season of eligibility."
Now, Beck is two wins from a national championship, and still alive in the bracket while Georgia is done.
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