The Big Ten is expected to be one of the most competitive conferences in college football in 2024, but a few teams are still trying to figure out their quarterback situation.
Multiple Big Ten teams with their eyes on reaching the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024 still need to find their man under center for this upcoming season. The expanded Big Ten will be one of the most competitive and entertaining conferences this season with Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA coming over from the Pac-12.
Having the right man at quarterback will be vital for all 18 teams, because the margin of error is slim with how loaded every team’s schedule is.
With that said, let’s take a look at three Big Ten teams who will be figuring out their quarterback situation during spring camp in the coming weeks.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
Thanks to player retention, a loaded recruiting class and one of the best transfer hauls in the country, Ohio State has the best roster in the Big Ten heading into 2024, but one position battle is yet to be solved, and that’s quarterback.
This battle is an interesting one because there are three candidates for the job. The favorite is Kansas State transfer Will Howard. The fifth-year quarterback comes to Columbus after accumulating 5,786 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, 25 interceptions, along with 19 rushing touchdowns in 34 career games.
Challenging Howard are redshirt sophomore Devin Brown and true freshman and Alabama transfer Julian Sayin. Brown served as the Buckeyes’ backup last season, mostly playing in a wildcat role. Brown’s production was minimal though, as he went 16-28 passing for 217 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.
Sayin, who signed with Alabama in December, was allowed to opt out of his letter of intent with the Crimson Tide after Nick Saban retired. The 5-star recruit likely won’t be much of a factor in this Spring battle, but if the loser of the battle between Howard and Brown transfers, Sayin needs to be prepared to be the Ohio State backup in 2024.
As it stands today, the job is Howard’s to lose.
2. Michigan Wolverines
The reigning national and Big Ten champions are dealing with a lot of overhaul from their 2023 squad. Not only is head coach Jim Harbaugh gone, but so is starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. First year head coach Sherone Moore has a critical decision to make this spring, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if this one went into the summer.
There isn’t a lack of options for Moore when it comes to his quarterback battle. Last season’s backups, Alex Orji, returns as a redshirt sophomore, as does grad senior and former Indiana starter Jack Tuttle. Joining the two seasoned quarterbacks in the battle are redshirt sophomore Jayden Denegal, who was a 3-star recruit, and 2024 4-star recruit Jadyn Davis.
Orji did not attempt a single pass in 2023, but he did run the ball 15 times for 86 yards and a touchdown. Tuttle saw the most action of all of the reserve quarterbacks in 2023, going 15-17 passing for 130 yards and a touchdown. Denegal also saw some time, going 4-5 passing for 50 yards and a touchdown.
This is probably the most competitive quarterback battle in the Big Ten this season, with all four options bringing something different to the table. The freshman Davis may have the highest ceiling of any quarterback on the roster, but unseating three upper classmen won’t be easy.
3. Nebraska Cornhuskers
One of the most compelling teams in the Big Ten in 2024 might be the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Year one under Matt Rhule showed signs of improvement for a program that was in the gutter, but now it’s time to take the next step.
In order to take that next step, Rhule needs to find his franchise quarterback. He may have found that guy in true freshman 5-star Dylan Raiola, who is a legacy of the school, but Raiola will have to work to earn the job on day one.
Competing with Raiola is redshirt junior Heinrich Haarberg, who went 77-157 passing for 967 yards with 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 10 games in 2023. These numbers aren’t eye-popping by any means, but the fact Haarberg does have in-game experience in the Big Ten is a fact that cannot be overlooked.
Another quarterback who will look to challenge Raiola is fellow true freshman and former 3-star recruit Daniel Kaelin. A Nebraska native, Kaelin had a solid offer sheet that included Missouri, Florida State, Miami and North Carolina. He was committed to Nebraska before Raiola was and did not look to move off of that commitment when Raiola came on board, meaning Kaelin certainly isn’t afraid of competition.
The fanbase is looking for a reason to get excited about Nebraska football again, and Raiola starting would certainly do that.