ESPN predicts 2025 starting quarterback for every Big Ten team

ESPN predicted the 2025 starting quarterback for every Big Ten team while diving into the competition for the spot at each school.

Some schools have good situations whether it’s with a returning QB or a transfer. Some schools have little options and others have myriad quarterbacks.

Let’s dive into ESPN’s predictions of every starting quarterback in the Big Ten for the 2025 season.

Illinois 

Projected starter: Luke Altmeyer
Competition: Ethan Hampton

Altmeyer is coming off his second season as a starter for the Fighting Illini, throwing for 2,712 yards and 22 touchdowns to just six interceptions. They’ll need the experience next year. Hampton transferred in from Northern Illinois and also helped NIU upset Notre Dame.

Indiana

Projected starter: Fernando Mendoza
Competition: Grant Wilson

Mendoza was solid at Cal this past season, but surprisingly entered the transfer portal. It’ll be the second straight year IU has a new QB coming from elsewhere. Wilson started 14 games for Old Dominion in total, but was injured for most of 2024. Mendoza threw for over 3,000 yards this fall.

Iowa

Projected starter: Mark Gronowski
Competition: Brendan Sullivan

Gronowski was a much hyped transfer in from South Dakota State. He was a four-year starter who went 49-6 and was the top FCS player in 2023. Sullivan started three games last season for the Hawkeyes.

Maryland

Projected starter: Justyn Martin 
Competition: Malik Washington

Billy Edwards Jr. transferred to Wisconsin so the Terps brought in Martin from UCLA. He appeared in just five games in three seasons. Washington is a four-star freshman QB going into next year, so he could be a distinct possibility.

Michigan State

Projected starter: Aidan Chiles
Competition: Tommy Schuster

Chiles was all over the place in 2024 for the Spartans. But he followed Jonathan Smith from Oregon State to MSU last year. He’ll get the first crack. But Schuster spent the ‘24 season behind him, so he’ll certainly be gunning for the position.

Michigan

Projected starter: Mikey Keene
Competition: Bryce Underwood, Davis Warren

Keene comes in from Fresno State and also spent time at UCF. He’s a veteran, but he’ll have stiff competition with Underwood, Michigan’s highest rated QB recruit ever. Warren started most of 2024, but Underwood seems like the guy who could win the competition in the end if Keene has challengers.

Minnesota

Projected starter: Drake Lindsey
Competition: Zach Pyron, Dylan Wittke

Lindsey is a Minnesota recruit who sat last season. It could be his time as he has impressive traits. Georgia Tech transfer Pyron will challenge for the spot and Wittke could provide good depth and another voice in the room for the Gophers.

Nebraska

Projected starter: Dylan Raiola
Competition: None

Raiola has depth behind him, but he started as a true freshman for a reason. The funny Patrick Mahomes comparisons aside, Raiola should be better as a sophomore. He could very well emerge as one of the better QBs in college football as long as he continues to develop properly. He helped the Huskers to their first bowl since 2016.

Northwestern

Projected starter: Preston Stone
Competition: Mike Wright, Jack Lausch, Ryan Boe

Stone comes in from SMU who has plenty of experience, starting at quarterback in 2023 before suffering an injury and was eventually replaced by Kevin Jennings this past season. Wright might change positions, Lausch seems bound for the backup spot and Boe could emerge higher on the depth chart. But he might need to wait a bit.

Ohio State

Projected starter: Julian Sayin
Competition: Tavien St. Clair

Sayin impressed the Ohio State staff behind the scenes this year and is in line to start next year at quarterback. St. Clair is a five-star and could be a gem of a QB, but might have to wait. Sayin is the leader in the clubhouse since Air Noland transferred to South Carolina and Will Howard will go to the NFL after the national championship game.

Oregon

Projected starter: Dante Moore
Competition: Austin Novosad

Moore transferred in from UCLA prior to the 2024 season. He is a former five-star and started for the Bruins. He learned behind Dillon Gabriel this year. He’s the frontrunner and could do wonders for Dan Lanning’s team. Novosad remained after the season and is likely the backup and could be used in the event of struggles or an injury. The staff is high on him.

Penn State

Projected starter: Drew Allar
Competition: Ethan Grunkemeyer

Allar is back as the quarterback next year, barring anything unforeseen. His RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen are back too. Beau Pribula transferred to Missouri and should start at QB there. Grunkemeyer looks like the 2026 starter once Allar goes to the pros.

Purdue

Projected starter: Malachi Singleton
Competition: EJ Colson, Evans Chuba, Bennett Meredith

Barry Odom will have his pick of the little but SIngeleton is the most intriguing option. A dual threat quarterback, Singleton transferred in from Arkansas. Purdue needs some kind of spark and he could be the one to provide it for 2025.

Rutgers

Projected starter: Athan Kaliakmanis
Competition: None

Kaliakmanis has one year left and actually threw for 2,696 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Rutgers hasn’t seen quarterback numbers like that in quite some time. There are some intriguing young QBs behind him, but they’ll have to wait until 2026 as Rutgers looks for a third straight bowl game next season.

UCLA

Projected starter: Joey Aguilar
Competition: Dermaricus Davis, Karson Gordon, Henry Hasselbeck, Robert McDaniel

There are a lot of quarterback options here but Aguilar got the extra year of eligibility for 2025. He comes in from Appalachian State. He threw for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns over the last two years.

USC

Projected starter: Jayden Maiava
Competition: Sam Huard, Husan Longstreet

Maiava got the nod late in the year and is the USC quarterback moving forward. Huard transferred in and would be an intriguing option for Lincoln Riley. Longstreet is also a nice recruit, who flipped from Texas A&M in this class.

Washington

Projected starter: Demond Williams Jr.
Competition: None

Jedd Fisch brought his former Arizona quarterback with him and Williams became the starter late in the 2024 season. He’s the guy for 2025 and there aren’t many options behind him as it stands. It seems like the coach believes in his signal caller.

Wisconsin

Projected starter: Billy Edwards Jr.
Competition: Danny O’Neil

Edwards was mentioned before as the quarterback left Maryland for Wisconsin. He’s the favorite to start after many QBs left via the transfer portal. Luke Fickell will likely go with Edwards but O’Neil is an intriguing player and could be the long term guy this coming year or next.