The Big Ten football season is over and the playoffs were quite successful with a 6-4 conference, capped by the classic and spectacular victory for Ohio State over Utah at the Rose Bowl (thanks for nothing yet the Michigan).
Over the next few weeks – and hell, who are we kidding – for the next few months and beyond, we’ll be looking ahead. Sometimes it will be Buckeye specific, and other times we’ll dive into the whole Big Ten conference. In fact, we’re doing it now by predicting who will be the starting quarterback for each team in the conference in 2022.
Some, like Ohio State, are easy to get along with, while we’ll have to make a call with others depending on the reading that comes up and where some quarterbacks have the potential to go.
Here’s our call on who will be the starting quarterback for each Big Ten football team in 2022.
Illinois fighter Illini – Artur Sitkowski
October 23, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, United States; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Artur Sitkowski (9) runs with the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The situation
Sitkowski was given the keys to the starting point last season but suffered a broken arm and was lost for the season. He should be back for another race.
Statistics last season
74 of 148 (50.0%), 704 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INT
Indiana Hoosiers – Jack Tuttle
November 13, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, United States; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Jack Tuttle (14) before the Rutgers game against the Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
The situation
Michael Penix, Jr. has entered the transfer portal and that means this team will likely be Jack Tuttles’. He has shown his ability to throw the ball into the field and has the experience to lead the offense.
Statistics last season
45 of 87 (51.7%), 423 yards, 2 TDs, 5 INT
Iowa Hawkeyes – Spencer Petras
Iowa sophomore quarterback Spencer Petras shoots a second quarterback shot against Wisconsin on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
The situation
There is no doubt that Petras will be the starter next year, barring unforeseen circumstances. The offense hasn’t exactly buzzed under his leadership, but should be more of a threat with a year of experience.
Statistics last season
165 of 288 (57.3%), 1,880 yards, 10 touchdowns, 9 INT
Maryland Terrapins – Taulia Tagovailoa
November 7, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, United States; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) runs with the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The situation
Taulia Tagovailoa is back for another season, and if he has shown what he can be at the top of the ceiling, he just needs to be more consistent. Either way, it should be his team to lead in 2022.
Statistics last season
328 of 474 (69.2%), 3,860 yards, 26 touchdowns, 11 INT
Michigan Wolverine – Cade McNamara
Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara (12) looks on before passing a pass against Western Michigan during the first half on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
The situation
Despite using JJ McCarthy in some packages, Cade McNamara has assimilated well to the best option under center this season. There will be a competition with the more mobile McCarthy given a starting chance, but it’s hard to pull off what McNamara has been doing this season. He should be the guy again with McCarthy still coming in every now and then for a different look.
Statistics last season
210 of 327 (64.2%), 2,576 yards, 15 touchdowns, 6 INT
Michigan State Spartans Payton Thorne
Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) kicks the ball against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of action on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at Spartan Stadium. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
The situation
Thorne was the surprising winner of the starting post last season and had one whale per year. He’s back and will be the guy without too much drama.
Statistics last season
235 of 389 (60.4%), 3,240 yards, 27 touchdowns, 10 INT
Minnesota Golden Gopher – Tanner Morgan
November 20, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan (2) steps back for a first-half assist against the Purdue Boilermakers at TCF Bank Stadium. Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The situation
Tanner Morgan has announced a return for an additional year of eligibility and there is no doubt that he will be the starter with the experience and talent he brings to the program.
Statistics last season
149 of 249 (59.8%), 2,044 yards, 10 TDs, 9 INT
Nebraska Cornhuskers – Casey Thompson
November 26, 2021; Austin, Texas, United States; Texas Longhorns quarterback Casey Thompson (11) throws a pass during the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
The situation
It’s going to be weird to watch a Nebraska game without Adrian Martinez under center, but he entered the transfer portal and won’t be with the schedule. Former Texas quarterback Casey Thompson returns the other way on the freeway from the transfer portal. Look for him to take over and be the guy next year for Scott Frost.
Statistics last season
165 of 261 (63.2%), 2,113 yards, 24 touchdowns, 9 INT
Northwestern Wildcats, Ryan Hilinski
October 30, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, United States; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Ryan Hilinski (12) passes the ball in the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ryan Field. Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
The situation
Ryan Hilinski and Andrew Marty have split their time during the season, but with Marty on the way, Hilinski is expected to be online to start next year.
Statistics last season
95 of 176 (54.0%), 978 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INT
Ohio State Buckeyes – CJ Stroud
Sat Jan 1, 2022; Pasadena, California, United States; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback CJ Stroud (7) celebrates after a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the 108th Rose Bowl game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Utah Utes at the Rose Bowl. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
The situation
Of course, Stroud will be the clear owner next year. You don’t put on the show he’s put on this season, including going to New York as a Heisman finalist, and you don’t get a grip on the starting work. It should be another fun campaign in 2022 for the OSU offense.
Statistics last season
317 of 441 (71.9%), 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns, 6 INT
Penn State Nittany Lions – Sean Clifford
October 23, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, United States; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) runs with the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini during overtime at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The situation
Sean Clifford started the 2021 season on fire, then caught the injury bug and struggled to find consistency finishing the year. Still, he’s a seasoned starter and will be the guy next year.
Statistics last season
261 of 428 (61.0%), 3,860 yards, 21 touchdowns, 8 INT
Purdue Boilermakers – Aidan O’Connell
Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell waves to his receivers before taking the shot in the third quarter against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
The situation
O’Connell has had a hugely productive year in 2021 and returns to that base in 2022. It’s his team and Purdue’s offense should hum into the passing game again.
Statistics last season
314 of 440 (71.6%), 3,712 yards, 28 touchdowns, 11 INT
Rutgers Scarlet Knights – Gavin Wimsatt
Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Gavin Wimsatt (9) throws the ball during the fourth quarter on Friday, December 31, 2021 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. Deacons Wake Forest Demon and Rutgers Scarlet Knights faced off in the 2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Wake Forest defeated Rutgers 38-10. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
The situation
Noah Vedral is the returning starter, but Gavin Wimsatt is the future in the post with much greater potential and a ton of hype. Whether Vedral starts the year or not, it looks like Wimsatt has to be the guy to give the team the best chance of winning as the season progresses.
Statistics last season
9 of 21 (42.9%), 45 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 INT
Wisconsin Badgers – Graham Mertz
Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) scores a second quarter touchdown against the Army on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin Samantha Madar / USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
The situation
Graham Mertz may not have found the sweet spot of consistency yet, but he still has the best arm and best talent of any quarterback that Madison has come across in recent memory. He will be the leader of this team again, and if he can bottle all that potential, it will definitely marry a whale from a racing game and be a problem for the rest of the league.
Statistics last season
169 of 284 (59.5%), 1,958 yards, 10 TDs, 11 INT
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