The Sporting News ranks Big Ten quarterbacks first to last for 2025 season

An exciting season appears to be ahead in the Big Ten. After all, the conference has produced the last two national champions. Now going for a third consecutive title, some good quarterback play is going to be required.

Thankfully, the Big Ten is stacked with quality players at the position. Ranking them from top to bottom is a tough task but the Sporting News took on the task. All 18 quarterbacks from one to 18, stretching coast-to-coast as the Big Ten does these days.

As much talent as there is, plenty of inexperience will be sprinkled throughout the conference. Being able to combine that with proven guys/projections is the key. That being said, let’s check out the Sporting News’ Big Ten quarterback rankings.

1. Drew Allar, Penn State

Allar deciding to come back to Penn State for another season instantly boosted the Nittany Lions to a preseason favorite. His spot as the Big Ten’s top quarterback likely does not come up against too many arguments.

Sporting News: “Allar – a three-year starter – received some draft buzz while leading the Nittany Lions to the CFP semifinals. He returned to school, and there should not be too many complaints.”

2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has yet to officially name a starting quarterback. However, the Sporting News not only expects Sayin to win out but also perform at quite a high level as well.

Sporting News: “Sayin – a redshirt freshman who transferred from Alabama after Nick Saban retired – was a five-star coming out of high school… (Lincoln) Kienholz has made a push for the starting job in spring practice, and coach Ryan Day likely will wait until fall camp to name a starter.”

3. Luke Altmyer, Illinois

Some serious College Football Playoff buzz is coming from Champaign. Altmyer figures to be the guy who will determine how far Illinois winds up going. Sporting News places him third overall, a solid spot for the Fighting Illini’s starter.

Sporting News: “Altmyer’s return is a huge reason why Illinois is being considered an early playoff sleeper team for 2025.”

4. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA

Iamaleava spent this offseason as the top story in all of college football. He now settles into a new program at UCLA, hoping to just go out there and perform.

Sporting News: “Iamaleava is comparable to the next five-star QBs on this list, but he has enjoyed the most success on the field among those three QBs.”

5. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska

Raiola started the Big Ten quarterback’s youth movement last season, starting as a true freshman. Consistency will be needed by Matt Rhule this go-round, wanting to see massive strides during Raiola’s second year.

Sporting News: “There were ups and downs in his freshman year. Raiola did not have a 300-yard game, and he did finish with a conference-high 11 interceptions.”

6. Bryce Underwood, Michigan

There may not be a more discussed name leading into the season than Underwood. Someone who comes with a lot of hype during his recruitment, Michigan needs it to translate quickly for the true freshman.

Sporting News: “Underwood – the top quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class – remains the favorite to start. The 6-foot-4, 208-pound quarterback will have to hold off Mikey Keene, who started against Michigan for Fresno State in the opener last season.”

7. Dante Moore, Oregon

Moore made an unusual move in the NCAA transfer portal era, moving somewhere to be a backup. Time was spent behind Dillon Gabriel, learning the Oregon system. Whether or not the decision paid off will reveal itself quite quickly since the Ducks want to compete for another Big Ten title.

Sporting News: “Moore can be an efficient playmaker within the offense if he limits interceptions – which were a problem in his freshman year at UCLA.”

8. Jayden Maiava, USC

Lincoln Riley made the decision to move on from Miller Moss and fully install Maiava as the starter. Maiava now gets his chance to be the guy from the get-go as USC enters an important season.

Sporting News: “Maiava will have to improve on a 59.8% completion percentage this year, because the high-yield in a Riley offense is there in the Big Ten.”

9. Demond Williams, Washington

Washington fans got a glimpse of what the future could be like in the final two games of 2024. The future has now arrived a few months later as Jedd Fisch gives Williams the nod.

Sporting News: “Williams is a 2025 breakout candidate if he can build on that strong finish from last year.”

10. Aidan Chiles, Michigan State

Chiles followed the Michigan State coaching staff over from Oregon State, a huge win for the Spartans at the time. Now, he enters a second season as the starting quarterback, where improvements will be needed moving forward.

Sporting News: “Chiles had a bumpy first year as a starter with Jonathan Smith, but the second year at Michigan State should produce better results. Chiles flashed some play-making skills that led to the hype entering last season, but he struggled with turnovers against a brutal Big Ten schedule.”

11. Mark Gronowski, Iowa

Iowa continues to search for answers at quarterback to improve the offense. Gronowski is an addition from the FCS ranks, hoping success from South Dakota State translates in the Big Ten.

Sporting News: “The Hawkeyes’ quarterback problems continued under long-time coach Kirk Ferentz… Will Gronowski change that? He won two FCS national championships at South Dakota State with 93 TDs and 20 interceptions.”

12. Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers

Sporting News found one area where Kaliakmanis needs to improve in 2025 — connecting with receivers at a higher clip. Taking care of the ball is already a strong suit and next steps are finishing with a better completion percentage.

Sporting News: “He had just one interception in Rutgers last four games, but he will need to improve on a 53.9% career completion percentage for the Scarlet Knights to move up the Big Ten pecking order.”

13. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Curt Cignetti wants to get a little more quarterback magic out of the transfer portal. Mendoza may have a ceiling Indiana fans have not seen in a while, though, receiving first-round NFL Draft buzz.

Sporting News: “It’s another round of portal roulette, but Cignetti can make it work. We had the Hoosiers at No. 10 on this list last season.”

14. Preston Stone, Northwestern

A starter at SMU to begin last season, Stone makes his way up to Chicagoland for another opportunity. This will be his final year of eligibility, looking to make the most of it at Northwestern.

Sporting News: “(Stone) gets a fresh start with third-year coach David Braun at Northwestern… He should fit well with second-year offensive coordinator Zach Lujan.”

15. Billy Edwards Jr., Wisconsin

Wisconsin has relied on transfer quarterbacks in years past, not finding much success. Everyone involved with the program hopes Edwards will be different — especially since he has Big Ten experience. Sporting News does not have much faith.

Sporting News: “It’s a complete reset at the position, and that means more unpredictable results.”

16. Drake Lindsey, Minnesota

PJ Fleck has still not named a starting quarterback. No matter who goes out there, Minnesota does not have any starting experience on the roster. Lindsey slides down into the bottom three because of that, even if progress is expected.

Sporting News: “Lindsey is 4 of 5 for 50 yards and a TD in three appearances. He will improve under Fleck, but it will be a process.”

17. Malachi Singleton, Purdue

A lot of firsts are unfolding at Purdue this season, including head coach Barry Odom. He was able to land Singleton through the portal, somebody who got some run last season at Arkansas.

Sporting News: “(Singleton) should develop with new offensive coordinator Josh Henson, who was at USC the last three seasons.”

18. Justyn Martin, Maryland

One of multiple UCLA quarterbacks who left this offseason, Martin made a trip across the country for his next spot. Sporting News believes there might be some competition from a true freshman.

Sporting News: “Martin made one start last season, and he passed for 167 yards and a TD at Penn State. Martin will have to hold off four-star freshman Malik Washington.”