My 2025 Ranking of B1G Starting QBs
*What you've already proven in college means a LOT more to me than your future projections.
**No weight provided to those starting at elite programs. I don't care about you having the advantage of OSU's weapons or Riley calling plays for you.
**Viewed purely on if there was a draft and B1G could pick any available (assumed) starting QB for 2025 only.
***Slight point deduction if your path to starting is not clear.
Tier 1 - Stars
1. Drew Allar (Penn State) - Stats are incredible. Big leap forward in completion % in '25. Has no WRs. Bias for struggling against elite programs is too much.
2. Luke Altmyer (Illinois) - Decision making was much improved in '25. Has ceiling as #1 conference guy. Scary to face in tight game in waning minutes.
Tier 2 - Budding Stars
3. Dylan Raiola (Nebraska) - Lots of hype going into 2024 and performed pretty well. Can easily see a jump in 2025. Tools are there.
4. Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) - transfer from Cal. Tons of experience for only a true Junior. Very accurate passer. Took big strides last year.
5. Demond Williams (Washington) - Isiah Williams' QB fever dream. Short but can run and throw it well. Lit up Louisville in bowl game. #1 2024 B1G QB rating.
Tier 3 - High Floor
6. Mark Gronowski (Iowa) - transfer from South Dakota St. Was awesome at FCS. A guy who's going to be play mistake-free but doesn't have big talent.
Tier 4a - High Ceiling but Unknown Floor
7. Bryce Underwood (Michigan) - 2025 #1 overall recruit. Talent is obvious. He's a freshman. Can he be 2024 Raiola?
8. Jayden Maiava (USC) - Started last four 2024 games. Would have thrown 18 ints across a full season. Great second half against TAMU in bowl game.
9. Julian Sayin (Ohio State) - 2024 #1 QB prep. Very limited action this last year but didn't impress. How would he do if you put him on Michigan State?
Tier 4b - Mendoza Line
10. Billy Edwards (Wisconsin) - transfer from Maryland. Might start Dany O'Neil. Has been serviceable. Was playing well early last year before team quit.
11. Aidan Chiles (Michigan State) - Lots of hype going into 2024 and disappointed. Decision making slightly improved but lost confidence down the stretch.
12. Athan Kaliakmanis (Rutgers) - Might be the ultimate Mendoza line returning QB. Has great running instincts. Need to hold his hand when passing.
Tier 4c - Boom or Bust/Regressed Last Time They Were Starters
13. Preston Stone (NW) - transfer from SMU. Struggled to start last year and was replaced. Put up really good 2023 numbers. Can NW find his '23 version?
14. Dante Moore (Oregon) - Disappointed as a UCLA freshman and only threw 8 passes last year. Biggest gap between surrounding talent and his own.
15. Joey Aguilar (UCLA) - transfer from App State. Regressed last year and has thrown 24 INTS across past two seasons. Can UCLA find his '23 version?
Tier 5 - We Know Nothing & Not a Former Blue Chipper
16. Justyn Martin (Maryland) - transfer from UCLA. Might not be starter. former 4-star who's only throw 35 career passes. Decent stats against PSU last year.
17. Zach Pyron (Minnesota) - transfer from Georgia Tech. Might not be starter. Backup at GT and thew a lot of picks in limited time. Willing runner.
18. Malachi Singleton (Purdue) - transfer from Arkansas. Purdue brought in a bunch of guys, could be open competition. Ranked as the 21st best transfer QB.
Notes. The gap after the first five and the remaining 13 seems substantial to me. The first five are guys who have proven they can go and win a game for their team. Guys 6 through 11 have the pedigree and potential, but either haven't done or have a history or losing a game they shouldn't. So much movement between tiers 4 and 5. Billy Edwards could be the 6th best QB in the conference or he might not start a game this year (Dany O'Neil might even be a high floor tier guy! Preston Stone was awesome last year but he's now not playing with talent superiority every game. Singleton has done almost nothing in college. Maybe he's awesome? He could also be horrendous.
Dante Moore is going to be much better than what we’ve (on the outside) seen out of him so far. Oregon’s WRs were giving him big props / vote of confidence for next year just last week.Wanted to add: What is Minnesota doing? Pyron has more career INTs than TDs and their young QBs already on the roster don't have high pedigree. Did Fleck and staff blow their staff keeping the defense together and they think they'll win games with ball control? Are one of the young QBs on roster really impressing in camp? It's really surprising to me.
it’s very possible he’ll be watching the spring portal very closely .Wanted to add: What is Minnesota doing? Pyron has more career INTs than TDs and their young QBs already on the roster don't have high pedigree. Did Fleck and staff blow their staff keeping the defense together and they think they'll win games with ball control? Are one of the young QBs on roster really impressing in camp? It's really surprising to me.
You and me both@Indy Illini Fan @illini0440 any idea what’s going on with the Brooks? I feel like the expectation was he’d transfer.
Can anyone provide some more insight to this revelation? Very interesting to me, and I'd like to know more about this.
Not to mention the jump pass. We used to throw jump passes when playing sandlot football even when we didn't need to. Pretended we were Y.A. Tittle.Prob. not the place for this but its fun.....
Featuring: 1) punting on 2nd down 2) Tommy O'Connell playing QB 3) Crushing hits out of bounds 4) Single wing football and "split ends". 4) An Illini win. 5) Phillips 66 advertising oil good up to 1000 miles or 10 weeks. 6) And most important a tribute to the Alma Matter statue on ILL campus that will be the template for BBs statue in front of Memorial Stadium in a few years.
Or as in my case and millions of other kids - TebowNot to mention the jump pass. We used to throw jump passes when playing sandlot football even when we didn't need to. Pretended we were Y.A. Tittle.
W15: vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, 7:00 pm on FOX. As the away team, we opt for our most epic look yet ... O/B/O and the Script helmets. FifyMy very bored predictions for some of these game times and themes. I'm going to go ahead and assume that we continue to wear the various helmets, with the exception of the Butkus Era ones (which we only wore once, seemingly out of obligation, and it was the almost-collapse vs. Purdue...).
W1: vs. Western Illinois - 6:30 pm on BTN. Regular O/B/O uniforms and the Script helmets as a nod to the Citrus Bowl win. Shockingly big crowd due to the game time and hype exceeds 57k and looks like a sellout.
W2: at Duke - 2:30 pm on ACCN. Regular O/W/O uniforms and Block I helmet.
W3: vs. Western Michigan - 11:00 am on BTN. Regular O/B/O uniforms and Block I helmet. Due to the 2-0 start, we get another crowd in the 56K to 57K range.
W4: at Indiana - 2:30 pm on CBS. FINALLY get the O/W/B uniforms paired with the Arched ILLINI helmets. Big Noon opts for Michigan at once-again-overhyped Nebraska, and NBC is busy with Purdue at Notre Dame, but we get a very hyped game on CBS between two 3-0 teams.
W5: vs. USC - 6:30 pm on NBC. Orange Out game with the O/O/O uniforms and Slant ILLINOIS helmets. Our first sold out crowd of the year.
W6: at Purdue - 2:30 pm on FS1. Regular O/W/O uniforms and Block I helmet.
W7: vs. Ohio State - 11:00 am on FOX. Traditional O/B/O with the Script helmets to bring back the good juju from the Citrus Bowl. Big Noon finally makes it to Champaign, bypassing Indiana at Oregon due to IU having a clunkier-than-expected start.
W8: [BYE WEEK]
W9: at Washington - 2:30 pm on BTN. Regular O/W/O uniforms and Slant ILLINOIS helmet.
W10: vs. Rutgers - 2:30 pm on BTN. Regular O/B/O uniforms and Block I helmet.
W11: [BYE WEEK]
W12: vs. Maryland - 11:00 am on FS1. Regular O/B/O uniforms and either American flag-themed Block I helmets or the Veterans-themed Slant ILLINOIS helmets we saw this year vs. Minnesota.
W13: at Wisconsin - 2:30 pm on CBS. Regular O/W/O but finally see the Script helmets with a white jersey.
W14: vs. Northwestern - 11:00 am on BTN. Regular O/B/O uniforms, but we finally for the first time see the Slant ILLINOIS helmets with a navy jersey.
W15: vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, 7:00 pm on FOX. As the away team, we opt for our most epic look yet ... O/W/B and the Script helmets.
CFP, All Weeks: For any game in the CFP, I predict we wear either O/B/O or O/W/O and rock the Script helmets.
Go Illini
I mean, as the away team I think OSU would get the first pick (which is why I included that wording), and I think they would go with red.W15: vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, 7:00 pm on FOX. As the away team, we opt for our most epic look yet ... O/B/O and the Script helmets. Fify
Amazing work. Your analysis is very good, and though I have some disagreements, I think you will be pretty close to the end result. Unfortunately for you and others, I will doubt we see O/W/B on the road until it actually happens. For some reason it just isn't on their radar. I would like to see it too, especially for road games like Indiana and Wisconsin where the home team is a red team. But it just doesn't seem to be a likely option.My very bored predictions for some of these game times and themes....
Wish it had worked out for Kofi in the NBA so we could see more of him on this board and just in general.
I forgot to strike-through the "as the away team".I mean, as the away team I think OSU would get the first pick (which is why I included that wording), and I think they would go with red.
My very bored predictions for some of these game times and themes. I'm going to go ahead and assume that we continue to wear the various helmets, with the exception of the Butkus Era ones (which we only wore once, seemingly out of obligation, and it was the almost-collapse vs. Purdue...).
W1: vs. Western Illinois - 6:30 pm on BTN. Regular O/B/O uniforms and the Script helmets as a nod to the Citrus Bowl win. Shockingly big crowd due to the game time and hype exceeds 57k and looks like a sellout.
W2: at Duke - 2:30 pm on ACCN. Regular O/W/O uniforms and Block I helmet.
W3: vs. Western Michigan - 11:00 am on BTN. Regular O/B/O uniforms and Block I helmet. Due to the 2-0 start, we get another crowd in the 56K to 57K range.
W4: at Indiana - 2:30 pm on CBS. FINALLY get the O/W/B uniforms paired with the Arched ILLINI helmets. Big Noon opts for Michigan at once-again-overhyped Nebraska, and NBC is busy with Purdue at Notre Dame, but we get a very hyped game on CBS between two 3-0 teams.
W5: vs. USC - 6:30 pm on NBC. Orange Out game with the O/O/O uniforms and Slant ILLINOIS helmets. Our first sold out crowd of the year.
W6: at Purdue - 2:30 pm on FS1. Regular O/W/O uniforms and Block I helmet.
W7: vs. Ohio State - 11:00 am on FOX. Traditional O/B/O with the Script helmets to bring back the good juju from the Citrus Bowl. Big Noon finally makes it to Champaign, bypassing Indiana at Oregon due to IU having a clunkier-than-expected start.
W8: [BYE WEEK]
W9: at Washington - 2:30 pm on BTN. Regular O/W/O uniforms and Slant ILLINOIS helmet.
W10: vs. Rutgers - 2:30 pm on BTN. Regular O/B/O uniforms and Block I helmet.
W11: [BYE WEEK]
W12: vs. Maryland - 11:00 am on FS1. Regular O/B/O uniforms and either American flag-themed Block I helmets or the Veterans-themed Slant ILLINOIS helmets we saw this year vs. Minnesota.
W13: at Wisconsin - 2:30 pm on CBS. Regular O/W/O but finally see the Script helmets with a white jersey.
W14: vs. Northwestern - 11:00 am on BTN. Regular O/B/O uniforms, but we finally for the first time see the Slant ILLINOIS helmets with a navy jersey.
W15: vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, 7:00 pm on FOX. As the away team, we opt for our most epic look yet ... O/W/B and the Script helmets.
CFP, All Weeks: For any game in the CFP, I predict we wear either O/B/O or O/W/O and rock the Script helmets.
Go Illini
I’m hoping your right that we only have 1 game on peacock all yearAmazing work. Your analysis is very good, and though I have some disagreements, I think you will be pretty close to the end result. Unfortunately for you and others, I will doubt we see O/W/B on the road until it actually happens. For some reason it just isn't on their radar. I would like to see it too, especially for road games like Indiana and Wisconsin where the home team is a red team. But it just doesn't seem to be a likely option.
I also desperately hope that we keep a rotation of the script Illinois, the ILLINOIS, and the arched Illini helmets (and I have to accept that Block I will also inevitably be in that rotation too, though it is my least favorite of the bunch). But I must admit that I am holding my breath for that to happen. This was supposed to be a 100th anniversary special, and I have a feeling there will be internal pushback to having such a large rotation of helmets (at least they are all orange). I think we have a special advocate in Josh Whitman for his ILLINOIS helmets. I think Block I will last as it is supposed to be our most identifiable helmet and core branding (I disagree). I think they must like the script Illinois seeing as they used it for a special game (but perhaps it does become our "special" "bowl game helmet" rather than entering our regular rotation. If there is one that gets axed, maybe it is arched Illini? They only used it once for the least important game of the year. I happen to agree it is our best helmet for the home blues, so I want it in the rotation. But who knows. I went ahead with this exercise assuming all of the 2024 helmets were available for 2025.
For attendance, I expect not terrible but slightly underwhelming showings for WIU (Friday night) and WMU (early game weak opponent). USC and OSU will be sellouts. Rutgers will be a near sellout but fall just short (Dad's Day, but now November and bad opponent). Maryland will also be a tick down, and Northwestern is going to be relatively pretty rough, but not as bad as years past, for obvious calendar reasons...
W1: vs. Western Illinois - (FLEXED TO FRIDAY) 7:00 PM FS1. Regular O/B/O uniforms and script Illinois helmets to acknowledge the bowl win.
W2: at Duke - 11:00 AM on ESPN2. Regular O/W/O uniforms and ILLINOIS helmet for good early season road vibes like the Nebraska game.
W3: vs. Western Michigan - 11:00 am on Peacock. Regular O/B/O uniforms and arched Illini helmet. I think this is our most likely Peacock game this season.
W4: at Indiana - 2:30 pm on CBS. I wanted (to be conservative) to drop us to a lesser timeslot, but it's a pretty weak week, and we should be one of the best games. O/W/W uniforms paired with the ILLINOIS helmets. Once again, this appears to be our big game road look.
W5: vs. USC - 11:00 on FOX. Orange Out game with the O/O/O uniforms and ILLINOIS helmets. Agreed, our first sold out crowd of the year. Bold take, we get the Big Noon game, but not Big Noon Kickoff. My guess is that CBS or NBC will use their top game selection for the season to have Oregon at Penn State (maybe white out game if on NBC). Then OSU and Washington has to be in a later timeslot. So the 11:00 kickoff is basically us or Indiana at Iowa. I hazard a guess that we get the game, but Fox decides not to send the crew for a pregame show in Champaign, either going in studio, or sending the crew to Penn State even though the game isn't on Fox.
W6: at Purdue - (FLEXED TO FRIDAY) 7:00 pm on FOX. Regular O/W/O uniforms and Block I helmet. I still expect to have two Friday games on Fox/FS1, and this seems like an obvious candidate.
W7: vs. Ohio State - 11:00 am on FOX FINALLY WITH BIG NOON KICKOFF. O/B/B with the "big game" Script helmet. We still will have to do our part with a great record to have the hype around this game to hopefully have Big Noon Kickoff show up on campus. I would love to say I expect to be 6-0 heading into this game, but I think we need to accept that 4-2 could be a possibility, hopefully not 3-3. Still, 11:00 on Fox seems to be almost a given, considering the other big games with big brands that week are on the west coast and our biggest competition is NW at Penn State (not likely to be an interesting game any way you slice it) and Iowa at Wisconsin, which OSU helps us be more compelling than that game. Anyway, this game has a chance to be the "biggest game in Memorial Stadium history", and I expect the hype to at least come close to matching that potential. To do something different, went blue pants at home because blue > Ohio, and the bowl game helmets.
W8: [BYE WEEK]
W9: at Washington - 2:30 pm on FS1. Regular O/W/O uniforms and ILLINOIS helmet. Maybe BTN is the better call. I just think the game is compelling enough to at least make it onto FS1.
W10: vs. Rutgers - 2:30 pm on BTN. O/B/B uniforms and arched Illini helmet. Went with blue pants because red team, and "throwback" helmet for Dad's Day.
W11: [BYE WEEK]
W12: vs. Maryland - 11:00 am on BTN. O/B/O uniforms and agreed on either American flag-themed Block I helmets or the Veterans-themed ILLINOIS helmets with stars for Military Appreciation Day.
W13: at Wisconsin - 2:30 pm on CBS. O/W/W with a simple block I helmet. I don't necessarily expect the hype at-large to be great for this game, but it is a very weak slate, so we sneak onto CBS.
W14: vs. Northwestern - 11:00 am on FS1. O/O/O uniforms with script Illinois helmets for Senior Day.
W15: vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, 7:00 pm on FOX. I guess there is no point not to dream. O/W/O with ILLINOIS helmets
CFP, All Weeks: I would agree: "For any game in the CFP, I predict we wear either O/B/O or O/W/O and rock the Script helmets."
hes gotta get a real QBPeople sleeping on Rutgers. Schiano is quietly building something nice.