The quarterback spot is in a really healthy spot at several <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/">conferences</a>, specifically in the Power Five. However, when it comes to potential, <a href="https://twitter.com/GregMcElroy">Greg McElroy</a> thinks the <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/heisman-trophy-contenders-the-big-tens-top-5-candidates-in-2023/">Big Ten</a> is the league with the best quarterback collection.



McElroy shared that prediction in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHgS-Rtb5HU">a recent episode of ‘Always College Football’</a>. While he recognizes that not every quarterback in the conference is going to be a hit, he says the combined capacity of the prospects across the board is too much to ignore.



“I’ll make a bold prediction. How’s this sound? There is not a conference with more upside at the quarterback position than the Big Ten,” McElroy said. “I just listed off six or seven guys that might by vying for All-Conference selections.”



“There might be some question marks at <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/rutgers-scarlet-knights/">Rutgers</a>, maybe <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/ben-bryant-9648/">Ben Bryant</a> isn’t the answer at <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/northwestern-wildcats/">Northwestern</a>. Maybe there’s a couple guys. I don’t know how it all works out. I don’t know if <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/indiana-hoosiers/">Indiana</a> is going to necessarily have a guy that’s a difference maker,” said McElroy. “Either way, the upside, collectively based on what we know now? To what they might ultimately be at the end of the regular season? Nobody has a higher upside than the Big Ten.”



<a href="https://www.on3.com/college/michigan-wolverines/news/greg-mcelroy-says-jj-mccarthy-clear-no-1-quarterback-big-ten/">This conversation starts</a> with <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/michigan-wolverines/">Michigan’s</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jj-mccarthy-50402/">JJ McCarthy</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/maryland-terrapins/">Maryland’s</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/taulia-tagovailoa-110451/">Taulia Tagovailoa</a> as veterans who have been at their schools for some time. Then, from there, it deep dives into six quality transfers out of the portal in <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/wisconsin-badgers/">Wisconsin’s</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/tanner-mordecai-110154/">Tanner Mordecai</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/smu-mustangs/">SMU</a>), <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/iowa-hawkeyes/">Iowa’s</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/cade-mcnamara-16629/">Cade McNamara</a> (Michigan), Northwestern’s Ben Bryant (<a href="https://www.on3.com/college/cincinnati-bearcats/">Cincinnati</a>), <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/purdue-boilermakers/">Purdue’s</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/hudson-card-48300/">Hudson Card</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/texas-longhorns/">Texas</a>), <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/nebraska-cornhuskers/">Nebraska’s</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jeff-sims-59657/">Jeff Sims</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/college/georgia-tech-yellow-jackets/">Georgia Tech</a>), and <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/illinois-fighting-illini/">Illinois’</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/luke-altmyer-80529/">Luke Altmyer</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/ole-miss-rebels/">Ole Miss</a>).



That’s eight players before you even get to the fresh faces. That group would include <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/ohio-state-buckeyes/">Ohio State’s</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/kyle-mccord-76778/">Kyle McCord</a>, or <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/devin-brown-35932/">Devin Brown</a> depending on <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/ohio-state-buckeyes/news/ohio-state-can-delay-picking-a-starting-quarterback-for-2023/">who you ask</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/penn-state-nittany-lions/">Penn State’s</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/drew-allar-38915/">Drew Allar</a>, and <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/minnesota-golden-gophers/">Minnesota’s</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/athan-kaliakmanis-143696/">Athan Kaliakmanis</a>. Besides Kaliakmanis, each of these players are set to get their first real dose of <a href="https://www.on3.com/category/football/news/">college football</a> snaps this fall.



At that point, you’re at 11 at least with only <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/michigan-state-spartans/">Michigan State</a>, Indiana, and Rutgers with names that don’t quite reach this level. In the end, that’s McElroy’s point. Other leagues might be heavier at the top but, from top to bottom, he says the Big Ten takes the cake when it comes to quarterbacks.



“McCord <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/ohio-state-buckeyes/news/kirk-herbstreit-believes-ohio-state-quarterback-battle-could-leak-into-season/">could be a dude</a>, Aller <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/penn-state-nittany-lions/news/drew-allar-under-pressure-in-2023-with-penn-state-complete-roster-jd-pickell/">could be a dude</a>. (Athan) Kaliakmanis could be a dude, Jeff Sims <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/nebraska-cornhuskers/news/jeff-sims-nebraska-greg-mcelroy-buying-stock-spring-practice-huskers-matt-rhule/">could be a dude</a>. All these things could be true,” Mcelory said. “We’ll find out. But, either way, it’s a really solid group of Big Ten quarterbacks across the board.”

QBs Drew Allar, JJ McCarthy, Taulia Tagovailoa, Cade McNamara, Jeff Sims, Kyle McCord (Big Ten)

On3 Football

Greg McElroy believes Big Ten has most upside at quarterback

team image

The Main Board

Football

Basketball

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Teams

Fan Sites

Forums

Shows

team-link

College Football News

College Football Player Rankings

College Football Rankings

College Football Playoff

College Basketball News

Women's Sports

College

NIL News

NIL Valuation

NIL Deals

NIL Deal Tracker

Sports Business

Transfer Portal News

NCAA Transfer Portal News

NCAA Transfer Portal

Transfer Portal Rankings

Transfer Portal Team Rankings

Transfer Portal

NCAA Transfer Portal Home

Football Recruiting

Basketball Recruiting

Database

Team Rankings

Player Rankings

Industry Comparison

Commitments

Recruiting Prediction Machine

Recruiting

High School News

Schools

High School Search

Rankings

High School Rankings

Scores

High School Scores

High School

NFL Draft

NFL Draft News

Draft By Stars

College Draft History

College Draft Totals

NBA Draft

NBA Draft News

Draft

NASCAR

Culture

Sports Betting

About

On3 App

Advertise

Press

Contact

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Lettermen Row

Lettermen Lounge

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

Greg McElroy believes Big Ten has most upside at quarterback

Bracketology update

Deion Sanders

OSU hires OC

Instant Impact

Dabo Swinney