Josh Pate Faces Todd McShay’s Blunt Criticism Over Big Ten QB Rankings

The Ringer's Todd McShay did not bother with subtlety when Josh Pate posted his preseason Big Ten quarterback rankings.

The former ESPN NFL draft analyst saw UCLA's Nico Iamaleava at No. 10, Michigan's Bryce Underwood at No. 5, and called the gap close to indefensible.

The disagreement is really about what a preseason list should measure. McShay leaned toward demonstrated ability and raw talent, while Pate made a sharper bet on who will deliver more in 2026.

Todd McShay challenges Josh Pate's projection

First of all, this feels teeing up for a podcast collab. Or perhaps we're unknowingly awash to recently completed pod as McShay and Pate both cover college football and this is the primetime for tapping into new audiences.

While Pate ranked Ohio State's Julian Sayin first, Oregon's Dante Moore second, USC's Jayden Maiava third, McShay focused on the five spots separating Underwood and Iamaleava.

"With all due respect, Nico at 10 with Bryce at five is bordering on criminal," McShay wrote. "But to each their own. And FYI, I'm out west, so this isn't some weird 1:42 a.m. post."

Can't say anything online without people tracking your movements down to the second. If McShay wants to post at almost 2 a.m. his time, your time, east coast, west coast. Let him!

McShay's point seemed clear, though. Iamaleava belongs above Underwood, or much closer. Pate effectively conceded that Underwood does not own the better college career before defining the list on his terms.

With all due respect, Nico at 10 w/ Bryce at 5 is bordering on criminal… but to each their own. —and FYI; I’m out west, so this isn’t some weird 1:42am post https://t.co/yjkM3mqr4I
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) August 10, 2026

"Based on resume thus far, true," Pate replied. "This is what I expect this year. As we all know, there's no crime in expectation."

That answer makes the ranking easier to understand, but not impossible to challenge. Underwood at No. 5 is a forecast of a major sophomore leap. Iamaleava at No. 10 is a warning that his recent direction matters more than his best tape.

There's a clear first tier in the Big Ten occupied by Sayin, Moore and Maiava. The drop down to Tier 2 is a big one and you can sort the next four quarterbacks (Indiana's Josh Hoover, Underwood, Penn State's Rocco Becht and Washington's Demond Williams) in any kind of order.

McShay's criticism lands because they are measuring by two different standards. Pate, judging Underwood on unrealized potential, gave the Michigan QB room to grow from freshman mistakes. McShay seems to be viewing this from a wider perspective, perhaps lending to his experience as an NFL scout. Pate's projection is more in line with a preseason ranking than anything.

UCLA's Nico Iamaleava is paying for a chaotic year

Iamaleava's placement cannot be separated from what happened after the 2024 season. That year, he led Tennessee to a 10-3 record and the College Football Playoff, throwing for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns. Then came a breakup with the Vols amid reported NIL negotiations.

Iamaleava later said returning home to California was the driving factor and called other accounts "false reports."

The move hurt his stock, and this past season's team results didn't help. UCLA started 0-3, fired coach DeShaun Foster and finished 3-9. Iamaleava threw for 1,928 yards with 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 11 games. The Bruins haven't slept on their laurels by any means. They hired head coach Bob Chesney away from James Madison this offseason.

Former NFL quarterback Derek Carr recently joined the UCLA staff as a special advisor, so all of his experience should help Iamaleava's development. It also doesn't hurt that Carr grew up in California, same as the 21-year-old signal-caller he'll be mentoring.

UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) is looking for a big improvement from last year's 3-9 finish. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Still, putting Iamaleva 10th reduces a down season to a QB-only failure. He completed 64.4% of his passes, led UCLA with 505 rushing yards and four rushing scores, and accounted for five touchdowns in a 42-37 upset of No. 7 Penn State. That performance showed his ceiling.

Underwood deserves credit, too. As a true freshman, he started all 13 games, passed for 2,428 yards, and added 392 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His 11 touchdown passes and nine interceptions showed how much refinement remains, but surviving that workload at Michigan was meaningful. There's a lot of overlap between these quarterbacks with big arms and dual-threat abilities.

Both quarterbacks have tremendous upside compared with much of the Big Ten's lower half. Underwood may be the better 2026 bet, but Iamaleava has the potential to surpass him even if the Bruins are the lesser team.

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