The Big Ten expands to 18 schools for the 2024 college football season, and more than half of those teams could have a first-year transfer as their starting quarterback.
We have that number at nine so far, and that shakes up the entire conference outlook. For perspective, Penn State’s Drew Allar is the top returning quarterback in passing yards who played in the Big Ten last season. Michigan – which won the national championship – has one of the most uncertain situations going into 2024.
Does Oregon or Ohio State have the top room? The Ducks added two transfer quarterbacks, and the Buckeyes still have not decided on their starter. Ohio State will be the prohibitive favorite to win the conference, but they do need to figure out the quarterback position.
Nebraska welcomes No. 1 recruit Dylan Raiola. How high is the Huskers’ room as a result? What about Washington, USC and UCLA? Who are all these transfer quarterbacks?
Sporting News breaks down the quarterback situations at all 18 Big Ten schools heading into the summer.
MORE: Ranking the ACC quarterbacks | SEC quarterbacks
Ranking Big Ten QBs for 2024
1. Oregon
Starter: Senior Dillon Gabriel (49 career starts, 25 starts at UCF, 24 starts at Oklahoma)
Backup: Sophomore Dante Moore
Situation: Dan Lanning had a successful two-year run with Bo Nix, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting last season. Lanning doubled-down in the portal this year with two talented options. Dillon Gabriel is another perfect fit in Oregon's offense. Gabriel has 125 TDs and 26 interceptions the last five seasons. He has a 159.6 career passer rating. If Gabriel stays healthy, then he could be in the Heisman Trophy mix in 2024. The Ducks also added Moore, a five-star recruit who didn't quite take off as a freshman at UCLA last season. Moore can learn behind Gabriel, and Oregon has a solid quarterback plan for the next few seasons. That should allow this program to compete for Big Ten championships right away.
2. Ohio State
Starter: Senior Will Howard (25 career starts at Kansas State)
Backup: Sophomore Devin Brown
Situation: There are a lot of pieces here at work for Ryan Day and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Howard is the presumed starter, but Devin Brown has been impressive during spring practice. That competition will ramp up into the fall, but Howard has the lead. Howard has 39 TDs and 14 interceptions the last two seasons, but he also had 12 rushing TDs. The Buckeyes' offense has not had that element in the offense the last couple seasons. The only other question is whether five-star freshman Julian Sayin – who transferred from Alabama after Nick Saban retired – is a factor in that competition. Sophomore Lincoln Kienholz saw limited action last season, and freshman Air Noland rounds out the room. How many of those quarterbacks are still at Ohio State in the fall?
MORE: Ohio State QB situation remains unsettled after spring game
3. Penn State
Starter: Junior Drew Allar (12 career starts)
Backup: Sophomore Beau Pribula
Situation: Allar was 10-2 as a first-year starter for the Nittany Lions last season, and there were ups-and-downs. Beau Pribula is a more-mobile quarterback who offers a chance-of-pace at the position, but Allar is the no-doubt starter at this point. For Allar, it comes down to those huge games. Allar had a 45.2% completion percentage in the losses to Ohio State, Michigan and Ole Miss last season. There is more help at receiver, and James Franklin hired new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki away from Kansas. This is a solid room, and Pribula is one of the best backup options in the conference.
4. USC
Starter: Junior Miller Moss (1 start at USC)
Backup: Sophomore Jayden Maiava
Situation: Caleb Williams is gone after an amazing two-year run at quarterback, but Moss seemingly won the starting job with a 372-yard, six-TD performance in the 42-28 victory against Louisville in the Holiday Bowl. Malachi Nelson transferred to Boise State as a result. Jayden Maiava transferred from UNLV, where he passed for 3,085 yards, 17 TDs and 10 interceptions last season. He had a 7-4 record as a starter. Lincoln Riley confirmed this is a real competition in the spring, and the winner should put up numbers in the Trojans’ quarterback-friendly system.
5. Washington
Starter: Senior Will Rogers (37 career starts at Mississippi State)
Backup: Freshman Demond Williams Jr.
Situation: Michael Penix Jr. was the Heisman Trophy runner up last season, but Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama. Will Rogers – who had transferred before the CFP championship game – briefly re-entered the portal but returned to join new coach Jedd Fisch. Rogers ranks second all time in SEC history with 12,315 passing yards, and he’s 22-15 as a starter. As far as first-year transition quarterbacks go, that works. Williams – a four-star freshman – followed Fisch from Arizona and will compete for the backup job with Demarcus Davis. There is depth here, and it would not be a surprise if Rogers led the Big Ten in passing yards this season if he stays healthy.
6. Nebraska
Starter: Freshman Dylan Raiola (0 career starts)
Backup: Junior Heinrich Haarberg
Situation: This is a projection knowing that Raiola – a five-star quarterback and Nebraska legacy recruit – will win the starting job as a freshman under second-year coach Matt Rhule. Raiola had 2,819 passing yards, 34 TDs and one interception at Buford (Ga.) last season, and the spring game will give a feel for that talent. Junior Henrich Haarberg played in 10 games last season. He had 967 passing yards, seven TDs and seven interceptions. He could still be valuable as a running QB given he totaled 477 yards and five TDs. Freshman Daniel Kaelin will be the third option, but the focus is on Raiola.
7. Purdue
Starter: Senior Hudson Card (16 career starts, 5 starts at Texas, 11 starts at Purdue)
Backup: Sophomore Bennett Meredith
Situation: Card had 2,387 yards, 15 TDs and eight interceptions last season, which ranks second among returning Big Ten quarterbacks who played in the conference. He fits in coach Ryan Walters’ offense, and the Texas transfer should get that second-year bump from being in the same system. Card closed the season with 263 passing yards per game, six TDs and no interceptions in victories against Minnesota and Indiana. He is efficient, and that gives the Boilermakers a reliable starter. Bennett Meredith and Ryan Browne will battle for backup duties.
8. Michigan State
Starter: Sophomore Aidan Chiles (0 career starts)
Backup: Senior Tommy Schuster
Situation: Quarterback was a mess for Michigan State last season. Spartans quarterbacks combined for 199.8 passing yards per game with 14 TDs and 13 interceptions. Mel Tucker is out, and Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith took the job. Aidan Chiles followed Smith to East Lansing, and the four-star recruit is an upgrade. He had a 68.6% completion percentage with four TDs and no interceptions with three rushing TDs as a backup for the Beavers last year. There will be competition from Schuster, who set school records for passing yards (9,075) and TDs (63) at FCS North Dakota the last five seasons. Smith said Chiles has the lead this spring, and don't be surprised if he emerges as a breakout player this season.
9. Wisconsin
Starter: Senior Tyler Van Dyke (25 career starts at Miami)
Backup: Sophomore Braedyn Locke
Situation: Luke Fickell is going back to the transfer portal well after Tanner Mordecai had 2,066 yards, nine TDs and four interceptions. Van Dyke, who had an up-and-down career at Miami, would seemingly be an upgrade. He had 2,931 yards, 25 TDs and six interceptions in 2021 but has struggled the last two seasons. Van Dyke is 14-11 as a starter, but this is a chance for a fresh start. Braedyn Lock, who played in five games and had 777 yards, five TDs and one interception – is an experienced backup. Badgers quarterbacks combined for 13 TDs and five interceptions last year. That production must increase in 2024.
10. Indiana
Starter: Senior Kurtis Rourke (34 career starts at Ohio)
Backup: Sophomore Tayven Jackson
Situation: The Tom Allen era ended at Indiana after a 3-9 season. Indiana hired Curt Cignetti – who was 52-9 at James Madison. Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke has 7,651 passing yards, 50 TDs and 16 interceptions for his career, and he averaged 278 rushing yards the last three seasons. He suffered a torn ACL at the end of the 2022 season. Tayven Jackson played in six games last year and provides an experienced backup option. Redshirt Broc Lowry will be the third option. It will be interesting to see how Rourke makes the jump from the MAC to the Big Ten.
11. Michigan
Starter: Sophomore Alex Orji (0 career starts)
Backup: Sophomore Jayden Denegal
Situation: J.J. McCarthy finished 27-1 as the starter at Michigan the last two years, and he led the Wolverines to the 2023 national championship. McCarthy and coach Jim Harbaugh are gone, and Sherrone Moore has a wide-open battle to sort out with new offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell. Orji was used mostly as a Wildcat quarterback the last two years and has one career passing attempt. Denegal, seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle, four-star freshman Jadyn Davis and Davis Warren could be in the mix. Would Michigan entertain the portal if none of these options stand out in the spring game on April 20? There is talent in the room. It's just unproven.
12. Iowa
Starter: Senior Cade McNamara (21 career starts, 16 starts at Michigan, 5 starts at Iowa)
Backup: Junior Deacon Hill
Situation: The Hawkeyes finally made the change. Brian Ferentz is out at offensive coordinator, and Kirk Ferentz brought former Western Michigan coach Tim Lester in. Cade McMamara – who suffered a season-ending knee injury last season – is back for one more season. McNamara did win a Big Ten championship as a starter at Michigan in 2021. McNamara has a 61% career completion percentage. Deacon Hill had 1,152 passing yards with five TDs, eight interceptions and a 48.6% completion percentage in McNamara's place last season. Iowa ranked last in the Big Ten with 118.6 passing yards per game last season. It can't be worse than that, and McNamara could thrive with Lester. We still need to see it.
13. Minnesota
Starter: Senior Max Brosmer (34 career starts at New Hampshire)
Backup: Freshman Lindsey Drake
Situation: Through the last three seasons, Minnesota QBs have averaged 13.3 TDs and 9.3 interceptions per season. Athan Kaliakmanis transferred to Rutgers after starting 13 games the last two seasons for the Gophers, and P.J. Fleck went to the transfer portal for a replacement. Brosmer was a three-year starter at New Hampshire, and he led the FCS with 314.9 passing yards per game last season. Brosmer had 493 yards, 4 TDs and an interception in a 45-42 loss to Central Michigan last season. Three-star freshman Lindsey Drake and redshirt freshman Max Shikenjanski will battle for backup duties. Brosmer is a fascinating transfer if he makes the adjustment.
14. UCLA
Starter: Senior Ethan Garbers (7 career starts)
Backup: Senior Collin Schlee
Situation: Chip Kelly left to become offensive coordinator at Ohio State, and Dante Moore transferred to Oregon. Deshaun Foster is the new coach at UCLA, and there is experience at the quarterback position. Garbers made six starts last season, and he had 1,136 yards, 11 TDs and three interceptions. Schlee – a Kent State transfer – is in his second season with the program. Garbers does have a 66.2% completion percentage and should be a steady starter with the new regime. Schlee is the more mobile option and could still be used in some run packages.
15. Illinois
Starter: Junior Luke Altmeyer (9 career starts)
Backup: Sophomore Donovan Leary
Situation: Altmyer returns after making nine starts last season. He suffered a concussion and finished the season as a backup to John Paddock. Altmyer's best game was a 212-yard, three-TD performance in a 27-26 victory against Minnesota. Altmyer had 1,883 passing yards, 13 TDs and 10 interceptions last season, but the Ole Miss transfer should have more success in his second season with the program. Donovan Leary is in his third season with Illinois and stayed out of the transfer portal. Cal Swanson – a redshirt freshman – could fight for the backup job this spring.
16. Maryland
Starter: Sophomore MJ Morris (4 career starts)
Backup: Junior Billy Edwards Jr. (1 career start)
Situation: Taulia Tagovailoa is gone after 41 starts with the Terrapins over the last four seasons, and there is an interesting competition for coach Mike Locksley heading into 2024. Morris transferred from NC State, where he had 719 passing yards, seven TDs and five interceptions last season. Billy Edwards Jr. developed a role in the last season as a short-yardage “Tush Push” option – he had three TDs against Michigan. Edwards was 6 of 20 for 126 yards and a TD in the Music City Bowl, but the Terrapins won 31-13. It's a competition with those two and Cameron Edge, a redshirt sophomore. There likely will not be an answer until fall camp.
17. Rutgers
Starter: Junior Athan Kaliakmanis (13 career starts at Minnesota)
Backup: Junior Gavin Wimsatt
Situation: This is a true competition that likely will spill over into fall camp for Rutgers, which finished 7-6 and reached a bowl game last season. Kaliakmanis transferred from Minnesota, where he passed for 1,838 yards, 14 TDs and nine TDs. Wimsatt is the returning starter for Rutgers, where he finished with 1,735 yards, nine TDs and eight interceptions. He also added 11 rushing TDs. Combined, those two quarterbacks had a 50.4% completion percentage. That will be the separator in the competition, but it’s a good bet both see playing time throughout the season.
18. Northwestern
Starter: Junior Brendan Sullivan (4 career starts)
Backup: Senior Ryan Hilinski
Situation: Sullivan and Ben Bryant were the Wildcats' two starting quarterbacks last season. Sullivan started in four games, and his best effort was when he finished 16 of 23 for 265 yards and two TDs in a 33-27 victory against Maryland. Hilinski and sophomore Jack Lausch could compete for the starting job, but Sullivan has the edge. Second-year coach David Braun hired offensive coordinator Zach Lujan, who was part of two FCS national championship teams at South Dakota State. Northwestern quarterbacks combined for 20 TDs and eight interceptions last season.
