Sports Illustrated has released its latest projection of every starting quarterback in the Big Ten for the 2026 college football season, assigning each player a confidence rating that reflects how firmly the publication believes the individual will earn the first‑string role.
Quarterbacks Locked In
The forecast highlights a mix of certainty and competition, with several programs already appearing to have a clear‑cut starter heading into the next campaign. Among the standout names, Illinois’ Katin Houser, Indiana’s Josh Hoover, Maryland’s Malik Washington, Michigan’s Bryce Underwood, Michigan State’s Alessio Milivojevic, Nebraska’s Anthony Colandrea, Northwestern’s Aidan Chiles, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Penn State’s Rocco Becht, UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava, USC’s Jayden Maiava, Washington’s Demond Williams Jr., and Wisconsin’s Colton Joseph are all projected to start with a high confidence level, suggesting minimal doubt about their readiness to lead their respective offenses.
Competitive Battles
The picture is not uniform across the league. At Iowa, Jeremy Hecklinski finds himself in a tight competition for the starting spot, resulting in a low confidence rating, while Minnesota’s Drake Lindsey carries a medium rating, reflecting a quarterback room that remains unsettified. Rutgers’ Dylan Lonergan also sits at a low confidence level, underscoring a deep field of candidates on the East Coast.
These projections are accompanied by a snapshot of the coaching landscape, with figures such as Bret Bielema, Kirk Ferentz, and Pat Fitzgerald among the staff whose quarterbacks are expected to drive their teams’ offensive schemes. The confidence scores, while not official, provide a narrative framework for how each school’s quarterback situation could shape its season trajectory.
Overall, the forecast paints a picture of a conference where established talent coexists with emerging arms, and where a handful of battles could redefine the early‑season rankings once the first games are played.