ESPN predicts 2026 starting QB for every Big Ten team

ESPN predicted the starting QB for every Big Ten team during the 2026 season. It’s early, but we can see where some of these competitions might go.

There are plenty of quarterbacks returning, transfers and guys who have developed. No matter what, it should be an intriguing conference when looking under center.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the starting QB predictions from ESPN. We start in Champagne.

Illinois

2026 starter: Katin Houser, East Carolina transfer

Houser became the starting QB for ECU back in 2024 and looked pretty darn good this past season. He threw for 3,300 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has a career completion percentage of 62.8% and 43 touchdowns.

Indiana

2026 starter: Josh Hoover, TCU transfer

The national champions reloaded at QB in the transfer portal before their season was even over! Hoover goes from the Big 12 to the Big Ten looking to help Indiana with a repeat bid. He finished 2025 with 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions to go along with a 65.9% completion percentage.

Iowa

2026 starter: Jeremy Hecklinski

Hecklinski was the backup QB to Mark Gronowski this past season and he’ll battle it out with Hank Brown. ESPN predicts Hecklinski, a sophomore, to take over after spring ball. Although, the competition could go through the summer as well.

Maryland

2026 starter: Malik Washington

Washington is back for the 2026 season to play for Mike Locksley. The sophomore QB threw for 2,963 yards, 17 touchdowns, six interceptions, a 57.7% completion percentage, 303 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns this past fall.

Michigan State

2026 starter: Alessio Milivojevic

Milivojevic took over for Aidan Chiles, who we’ll see on this list later, down the stretch. He’s new coach Pat Fitzgerald’s projected starting QB for 2026. At the end of the year, Milivojevic had 1,267 yards, 10 touchdowns and three picks.

Michigan

2026 starter: Bryce Underwood

Following Sherrone Moore’s firing, the new coach had to be able to secure Underwood to stay in Ann Arbor. Kyle Whittingham did just that. As a freshman, he threw for 2,428 yards, 11 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 60.3% completion percentage. He added 392 rushing yards and six scores. The former five-star-plus QB prospect will likely benefit from a new offensive approach.

Minnesota 

2026 starter: Drake Lindsey

Lindsey redshirted in 2024, took over last year and proves to be the long term solution at QB for Minnesota. Last year, he threw for 2,382 yards, 18 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He did not throw an interception during the final three games of the year.

Nebraska 

2026 starter: Anthony Colandrea, UNLV transfer 

Dylan Raiola transferred to Oregon, so there was a need at QB for Nebraska. Enter Colandrea from UNLV. Under Dan Mullen last season, he threw for 3,459 yards, 23 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 65.9% completion percentage.

Northwestern

2026 starter: Aidan Chiles, Michigan State transfer

Chiles was mentioned before and he’ll play for Northwestern this year. He’s the projected starting QB, per ESPN, for David Braun. However, he’ll have to compete with Ryan Boe, who’s in his third year with the program.

Ohio State

2026 starter: Julian Sayin

Sayin set the world on fire, mostly, throughout the 2025 season. There’s no competition here for the redshirt sophomore QB. He’ll be in the Heisman conversation in 2026 one again after he threw for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 77% completion percentage.

Oregon 

2026 starter: Dante Moore

Moore could’ve been the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, potentially, but the QB elected to return to school. Building off a run to the CFP Semifinals, Moore could win the Heisman next season. He threw for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 71.8% completion percentage last year.

Penn State 

2026 starter: Rocco Becht, Iowa State transfer

Becht followed Matt Campbell to Penn State via the portal. The QB reunites with his head coach and could be the steady hand the Nittany Lions need. He threw for 2,584 yards, 16 touchdowns, nine interceptions, a 60.5% completion percentage, 116 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

Purdue

2026 starter: Ryan Browne

Browne started throughout 2025 and is the projected starting QB again. Malachi Singleton transferred to App State. Browne finished the season with 2,153 yards, nine touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 58.9% completion percentage.

Rutgers

2026 starter: Dylan Lonergan, Boston College transfer

Lonergan is well traveled from Alabama and Boston College and is the projected starting QB for the Scarlet Knights. He’ll have to compete with AJ Surace, who’s developed the last two years and is the heir apparent to Athan Kaliakmanis. Surace was one of the higher rated QB prospects recruited by Rutgers this century.

UCLA

2026 starter: Nico Iamaleava

Nico Iamaleava was part of a huge transfer saga last year, arriving at UCLA from Tennessee. The QB got off to a rough start, but picked it up down the stretch. It’ll be up to new coach Bob Chesney to unlock his fill potentially as he goes into Year 3 as a starter.

USC

2026 starter: Jayden Maiava

Maiava was another solid QB under Lincoln Riley last year, but not Heisman level, at least yet. But now that he’s back, he can build off of 3,711 yards, 24 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 65.8% completion percentage.

Washington

2026 starter: Demond Williams

Williams had some electric moments as QB for the Huskies last year. Now he’s back, despite a lot of portal issues where he was going to leave then signed a deal to come back. He finished 2025 with 3,065 yards, 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 69.5% completion percentage to go along with 611 rushing yards and six rushing scores.

Wisconsin

2026 starter: Colton Joseph, Old Dominion transfer

Luke Fickell and company hope they can go through one season of QB play healthy! Joseph comes in from Old Dominion and could provide some stability after throwing for 2,624 yards and rushing for 1,007 last season. He had 34 total touchdowns.