A year after four experienced quarterbacks led four big ten teams into the college football playoffs, the league’s top 2025 QB storyline is about the foreshadowing prospects that they will have a chance to shine. While well-known merchandise like Drew Allar of Penn State and Luke Altmyer of Illinois are back, there are many other signal callers, with a year or less power four times starting the meeting.
These include one of the most exciting college football prospects of the Michigan era at Bryce Underwood. The first upfront prospect for the 2025 class has been reportedly urgently needed an upgrade in the quarterback game in a Wolverines’ plan.
But starting from a new life can be dangerous. Just ask Dylan Raiola of Nebraska or Dante Moore of Oregon. Raiola played a lot of potential as a true freshman last season, but if Cornhuskers issued a victory record in conference games for the first time since 2016, he would need to make a huge sophomore leap. Moore will start last season after his disappointed real freshman campaign at UCLA in 2023, after playing the Ducks last season.
8-4 teams in CFP? Top 10 Commissioner Tony Petitti explains the vision of college football playoffs
Brandon Marcelo
Then, there is Julian Sayin. Ohio State Redshirt Freshman is a top five-star prospect with a mission to be successful Buckeyes quarterback. If he can stand up to Lincoln Kienholz (the prospect of a former star in itself), he will face Texas and Arch Manning Week 1.
As the season approaches, this is our biggest effort to rank the Big Ten expected starting quarterbacks.
18. Drake Lindsey of Minnesota
Given that Minnesota often leans towards the old-fashioned Top 10 Western style, there is usually a QB that flys out of the hat in this system. Tanner Morgan performed well in 2019, and Max Brosmer performed well last season. But those seasons weren't the norm, and this Gophers looked perfect for beating the Rocks. Lindsey tried to pass five times last season in Redshirthing. The prospect of the top three stars is well respected by Minnesota staff, but remains a mystery.
17. Ryan Browne, Purdue University
Brown filled in for the injured Hudson card, Brown completed 18 of 26 passes for 26 yards and completed 297 yards with three touchdowns and had no interceptions in Illinois' overtime loss last season. He also rushed for 118 yards, and his performance seemed to indicate a bright future. However, the boiler manufacturer’s former staff postponed it to the card once they came back. Now, Brown has to stand up to the starter of Arkansas transfer Malachi Singleton and proved that last year's performance against Illini was more than just a situation.
16. Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers
Kaliakmanis has never completed more than 54% of the passes in three seasons with Minnesota and Rutgers. He scored a total of 2,696 yards last season but ranked 126th in efficiency among the 158 FBS quarterbacks, who tried at least 100 throws. Last year, the top 10 easy-to-manage slates gave way to more challenging schedules including Oregon, Illinois, Ohio State and Penn State. Don't hold your breath for a breakthrough in the senior season.
Rutgers returned to one of Athan Kaliakmanis' most experienced quarterbacks.
Getty Images
15. Malik Washington, Maryland
Washington attributes the 2025 recruiting cycle to the 247Sports ranking as the fifth-ranked quarterback in the class. 247SPORTS Scout Director Andrew Ivins compared him to former Tennessee quarterback and NFL Tourist Josh Dobbs. He can follow the schedule of the start, excluding Penn State, Ohio or Oregon. But, just like any real freshman has sucked the rope into four offensive aspects, don't expect it.
14. Preston Stone in the northwest
Kevin Jennings was eliminated by SMU’s quarterback early last season, who led the Broncos CFP. But he suffered a leg injury at the end of the season in late November in 2023. He threw 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns before his injury while leading the Broncos into a 10-win season. He is a veteran who can drag it on and will make a major upgrade for the Wildcats at quarterback if he gets close to the 2023 player.
13. BillyEdwards Jr., Wisconsin
Third-year coach Luke Fickell brought Maryland's Edwards from Kansas, and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes to No. 99 in total offense last season. Edwards should improve the progress the quarterbacks gets in 2024, as he threw 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns last season at Maryland. But that's at this point considering his range in the top quarterback in the league.
12. Mark Gronovski, Iowa
Gronowski led South Dakota State to win consecutive FCS national titles while proving himself as a double threat talent for four years as a starter. He is a beautifully decorated veteran who, with a 49-6 career record, will automatically upgrade what the Hawkeyes have run at quarterbacks over the past few years. The limitations of supporting the actor and the system will limit his production, but Gronowski will bring fresh air to the program.
11. Aidan Chile, Michigan
As a first-year starter and playing for an unbuilt show, things happened, like we should have expected from Chili last season. There are some hope flashes in his Redshirt freshman season, but there are also some facial player moments. However, Chile has now entered his third season with offensive coach Jonathan Smith and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren. The Spartans also have a good group of passers in the fold, and the offensive line is nowhere to be compared. This should be a season of significant progress.
10. Dante Moore, Oregon
UCLA threw the fire as a real freshman in 2023 and then replaced him as a starter mid-season. It was a strange development plan for the five-star prospect, and he was considered the fourth-ranked player in his class by the 247Sports. Now, after a year in Oregon’s much-needed redshirt, Moore has scored his second shot in the starting show. After the Ducks previously chose to make merchandise on the portal led by Dan Lanning, the Ducks shone in his ascent.
Dante Moore will lead Oregon in 2025 after supporting Dillon Gabriel a year ago.
Getty Images
9. Jayden Maiava
When Maiava took over last November, UC’s season was fired, but he gained some valuable experience and experienced the Trojan offense. Usually, people with the Lincoln Riley cream from QB will become great, Can This is the case again here. Maiava will make some mistakes, but he will also make up for them and make sure the Trojans are subject to another high-powered attack.
8. Bryce Underwood, Michigan
Michigan State's quarterback is unlikely to be worse than last season. Given Underwood’s comparison with Cam Newton and Vince Young, Wolverine and Iowa may be there in terms of the Big Ten upgrades in Iowa’s QB’s most upgrades. It would be unwise to hope that Underwood will be close to the final product, though. If this is an upward ranking, he will be number one, but there will be potholes in 2025.
7. Dylan Raiola of Nebraska
Raiola has experienced the predictable growth pain of a true freshman quarterback but still manages to lead the 2024 Cornhuskers debut since 2016. His pass only has 7.5 air yards per attempt, putting him into the lower quadrant of the FBS quarterback, as his target depth is the target depth of corn. However, as Raiola enters 2nd grade with greater comfort and maturity, you should definitely buy stocks. For some reason, he is the second quarterback in the 2024 grade.
6. Nico Iamaleava of UCLA
Iamaleava is not a contender for the Heisman Trophy, he is the 2024 Tennessee Redshirt freshman, and some people expect him to be. But he was effective, completing 63.8% of the 2,616 yards pass, with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. Given that he is ranked second in the 2023 category, second only to Arch Manning, expectations are still high. Iamaleava's departure from Tennessee's controversial environment will only exacerbate the pressure he faces for the Bruins facing serious personnel issues and a tough timeline.
5. DemondWilliams, Washington
Williams was incredible with a limited sample size last season, ranking second nationwide, among those trying to get at least 100 passes. He has little qualifications, and half of his 105 attempts are in the performance of his duties. But Williams showed great potential in Washington's last two games, losing to Louisville 35-34 in a 374-yard pass game. Williams became a true sophomore, given that head coach Jedd Fisch's track record was quarterback.
4. Luke Altmyer of Illinois
Altmyer won the job in 2023 and then established himself as one of the top 10 quarterbacks last year. Ole Miss's transfer passed 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns, second only to six interceptions, while Illinois's first 10-win season since 2001. He has added some weight in 2025 and will play a manageable timeline behind a great offensive line.
3. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Mendoza is ranked fourth in the fourth quarterback every 247 seasons after Cal threw over 3,000 yards last season. He has already caused a buzz in the 2026 NFL Draft, a potential first-round pick that should thrive in a system that produced 3,000-yard passers last season. As one of the most important portal acquisitions of this cycle, Mendoza is easily down.
Fernando Mendoza (15) took over Indiana quarterback after transferring from Cal.
Getty Images
2Julian Sayin, Ohio State University
Ohio State may be doing a big hunt in the transfer market as it tries to replace Will Howard. It does not state the Buckeyes’ belief in Sain. He is the third quarterback in the 2024 class, behind Florida's DJ Lagway and Nebraska's Dylan Raiola. Now, after learning the ropes behind Howard during a red shirt season, he is ready to quickly sublimate into the elite realm where Ohio quarterbacks live. It won't be too difficult to look good because the top American reception rooms help.
1. DrewAllar, Penn State University
Under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, Allar went from being good last season to being great last season. Nittany Lions lost star Tyler Warren to the NFL, but they attracted some much-needed receiver talent from the portal, which would give Allar a chance to match or surpass last year's passer efficiency of 153.5. This mark ranked the highest among QB's conference return starters, and Allar should be more comfortable in Kotelnicki's second year. The elite running room and excellent offensive line also contributed to his career.