Following a season largely defined by veteran leadership under center, the Big Ten’s 2025 quarterback landscape is shifting toward a new wave of heralded prospects. While established starters like Penn State’s Drew Allar and Illinois’ Luke Altmyer return, the conference is filled with signal-callers who have a year or less of starting experience at the Power Four level.
This youth movement includes some of the most exciting talents in recent memory. At Michigan, all eyes are on Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 overall prospect from the Class of 2025, who arrives with immense expectations. Ohio State is set to hand the reins to former five-star recruit Julian Sayin, the next in a long line of decorated Buckeyes quarterbacks.
Elsewhere, quarterbacks who showed promise in their initial campaigns will be expected to make significant leaps. Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola and Washington’s Demond Williams look to build on impressive freshman seasons, while Oregon’s Dante Moore, a former five-star prospect himself, is positioned to take over after a year of development.
As the 2025 season approaches, here is a ranking of the Big Ten’s projected starting quarterbacks.
### 18. Drake Lindsey, Minnesota
Minnesota’s run-heavy, traditional offensive style often places a ceiling on quarterback production. While the system can yield solid results, the Gophers appear poised to rely heavily on their ground game in 2025. Lindsey, a former three-star prospect, redshirted last season after attempting just five passes in limited action. Though well-regarded by the coaching staff, he remains a significant unknown.
### 17. Ryan Browne, Purdue
When filling in for an injured Hudson Card in 2023, Browne delivered a remarkable performance against Illinois, throwing for 297 yards and three touchdowns while adding 118 rushing yards. However, the previous staff returned to Card once healthy. Now, Browne must win the starting job over Arkansas transfer Malachi Singleton and prove his breakout game was a true indicator of his potential.
### 16. Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers
In his Big Ten career at Minnesota and Rutgers, Kaliakmanis has struggled with accuracy, never completing more than 54% of his passes in a season. While he accumulated respectable yardage last year, he ranked near the bottom of FBS in passing efficiency. With a more challenging 2025 schedule that includes matchups against Oregon, Ohio State, and Penn State, a significant senior-year breakthrough seems unlikely.
### 15. Malik Washington, Maryland
Washington enters his true freshman season as a highly-touted recruit, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 5 quarterback in the 2025 class. He possesses a dynamic skill set, drawing comparisons to former Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs. A favorable schedule that avoids Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon could provide a soft landing. However, as with any true freshman leading a Power Four offense, expectations should be tempered.
### 14. Preston Stone, Northwestern
Before a season-ending leg injury in 2023, Stone was exceptional, throwing for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns while leading SMU to a conference championship and a 10-win season. A veteran with a proven ability to distribute the ball effectively, Stone will be a significant upgrade for the Wildcats if he returns to his pre-injury form.
### 13. Billy Edwards Jr., Wisconsin
Coach Luke Fickell is looking to ignite an offense that finished 99th nationally in 2024 by bringing in Edwards from Maryland and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. While not a prolific passer, Edwards offers dual-threat capabilities that should provide an improvement over the Badgers’ recent quarterback play. Still, it is premature to consider him a top-half quarterback in the conference.
### 12. Mark Gronowski, Iowa
Gronowski arrives at Iowa with a championship pedigree, having led South Dakota State to consecutive FCS national titles. A decorated, dual-threat quarterback with a career 49-6 record as a starter, he is an immediate and substantial upgrade for the Hawkeyes. While limitations in the offensive system and supporting cast may cap his statistical output, Gronowski’s veteran presence will be a breath of fresh air for the program.
### 11. Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
After following head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State, Chiles experienced the typical growing pains of a first-year starter in 2024. Now entering his third year under the offensive-minded staff of Smith and coordinator Brian Lindgren, he is positioned for significant progression. With a solid group of pass-catchers and an improving offensive line, Chiles is expected to take a major step forward.
### 10. Dante Moore, Oregon
After a turbulent true freshman season at UCLA in 2023, Moore transferred to Oregon and spent the 2024 season developing behind a veteran starter. The former five-star recruit, once considered the No. 4 overall player in his class, is now primed to lead the Ducks. Oregon is banking on his immense upside, a departure from the program’s recent preference for proven transfers.
### 9. Jayden Maiava, USC
Any quarterback anointed by head coach Lincoln Riley is expected to excel, and Maiava has the raw talent to continue that trend. After transferring from UNLV, he gained valuable experience in 2024 running the Trojans’ high-powered offense. While he may be prone to occasional mistakes, his playmaking ability should ensure USC remains one of the nation’s most formidable offensive units.
### 8. Bryce Underwood, Michigan
Michigan’s quarterback play is set for a major talent infusion with the arrival of Underwood, whose skill set has drawn comparisons to Cam Newton and Vince Young. While he represents a monumental upgrade in potential, even the most decorated true freshmen face a steep learning curve in the Big Ten. If this were a ranking based purely on upside, he would be No. 1, but navigating the challenges of a debut season will be critical.
### 7. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
Raiola endured the predictable ups and downs of a true freshman starter in 2024 but still guided Nebraska to its first bowl game since 2016. The coaching staff kept him on a short leash, limiting his average depth of target. Entering his sophomore season with more experience and maturity, Raiola is a prime candidate for a breakout year. His pedigree as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2024 class suggests a high ceiling.
### 6. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
While he didn’t emerge as an immediate Heisman Trophy contender in 2024 at Tennessee, Iamaleava was effective, completing 63.8% of his passes for 2,616 yards with 19 touchdowns against just five interceptions. As the former No. 2 overall recruit in the 2023 class, expectations remain sky-high. His transfer to UCLA places him under intense pressure to elevate a Bruins program facing a difficult schedule and personnel questions.
### 5. Demond Williams, Washington
In limited action as a true freshman in 2024, Williams was remarkably efficient, ranking second nationally in passing efficiency among quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts. He demonstrated immense potential as a starter in Washington’s final two games, highlighted by a 374-yard passing performance in the team’s bowl game. Under the guidance of head coach Jedd Fisch, who has a strong track record with quarterbacks, Williams is poised to shine as a sophomore.
### 4. Luke Altmyer, Illinois
After winning the starting job in 2023, Altmyer solidified himself as one of the Big Ten’s top quarterbacks in 2024. The Ole Miss transfer passed for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns with only six interceptions last season. Operating behind a strong offensive line and playing a manageable schedule, the productive and efficient veteran is set up for another successful campaign in 2025.
### 3. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Ranked as the No. 4 transfer quarterback of the 2025 cycle by 247Sports, Mendoza arrives at Indiana after throwing for over 3,000 yards at Cal. He is already generating buzz as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and is expected to thrive in an offensive system that helped its previous starter surpass 3,000 passing yards. Mendoza has the potential to be one of the most impactful portal acquisitions of the year.
### 2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Ohio State’s decision to bypass the transfer market for a starting quarterback speaks volumes about its confidence in Sayin. Ranked as the No. 3 quarterback in the 2024 class, he spent his freshman year learning behind Will Howard. Now, armed with the nation’s top wide receiver corps, Sayin is poised for a rapid ascent into the elite tier typically occupied by Buckeyes quarterbacks.
### 1. Drew Allar, Penn State
Allar made significant strides in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, posting a 153.5 passer efficiency rating—the highest among the conference’s returning starters. Now entering his second year in the system, he should be even more comfortable. Bolstered by an elite running back room, a strong offensive line, and an upgraded receiving corps via the transfer portal, Allar has all the tools necessary to establish himself as the Big Ten’s best quarterback.
Source link
