Ranking every projected Big Ten starting QB by PFF grade

The Big Ten Conference will have some really good QBs once again.

Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The Big Ten Conference had some really great QBs in 2024. Kurtis Rourke, Dillon Gabriel, Will Howard, and Max Brosmer were all towards the top of the list, but all four --among others -- are gone after graduating. There will be some new faces that emerge inside the conference, along with a few key returners.

There are also some new kids in town that could take command of the Big Ten. Ohio State's Julian Sayin, Oregon's Dante Moore, and Michigan's Bryce Underwood all have the capabilities to become a top gunslinger in the Big Ten, but none of the three have much experience with their respective school.

Using Pro Football Focus, we are going to rank every projected Big Ten QB by their 2024 overall grade. A few QBs, like Underwood, won't have any grade since they didn't play in '24.

How they stack up against one another

1. Mark Gronowski - Iowa (83.1 grade) *South Dakota State*

2. Drew Allar - Penn State (82.2 grade)

3. Demond Williams Jr. - Washington (82.0 grade)

Demond William — Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

4. Preston Stone - Northwestern (81.9 grade) *SMU, 111 snaps in 2024*

5. Jayden Maiava - USC (81.6 grade)

6. Nico Iamaleava - UCLA (78.3 grade) *Played for Tennessee in 2024*

7. Fernando Mendoza - Indiana (77.4 grade) *Played for Cal in 2024*

8. Athan Kaliakmanis - Rutgers (77.3 grade)

9. Luke Altmyer - Illinois (76.4 grade)

Luke Altmye — Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

10. Billy Edwards Jr. - Wisconsin (75.9 grade) *Played for Maryland in 2024*

11. Aidan Chiles - Michigan State (74.3 grade)

12. Dylan Raiola - Nebraska (72.1 grade)

13. Drake Lindsey - Minnesota (71.5 grade) *six snaps in 2024*

14. Ryan Browne - Purdue (67.0 grade)

15. Dante Moore - Oregon (58.4 grade) *nine snaps in 2024*

Dante Moor — Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

16. Julian Sayin - Ohio State (583 grade) *14 snaps in 2024*

T17. Bryce Underwood - Michigan (N/A)

T17. Malik Washington - Maryland (N/A)

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Published Jul 20, 2025

Trent Knoop

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

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