As we continue our “Top Returning” series for 2025, we now look at the top quarterbacks returning in the Big Ten. Even with talented players such as Dillon Gabriel and national champion Will Howard moving on to the NFL, there are still great quarterbacks in the conference.
There is at least one Heisman contender still in the league, along with other savvy veterans. The Big Ten is always a fun conference to watch, and these signal callers will keep that sentiment true. To be eligible for the list, you have to be returning from within the conference.
The Top Returning Big Ten Quarterbacks
4. Luke Altmyer: Illinois
Top Returning Big Ten Quarterbacks
Photo courtesy: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
The positive change in the Illinois program is apparent when its quarterback is talked about as one of the best in the conference. Luke Altmyer has earned the right to be included in this list after his 2024 performance. Through the first four weeks of the season, he threw 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions. That is an impressive feat for any level of football, but especially in the FBS.
Altmyer finished the season with 22 touchdown passes, the fifth most in the Big Ten. He also completed 211 passes of 347 attempts for 2,717 yards. The three-year starter enters 2025 with the most career-winning drives in the final minute/overtime of a game as well. He was also named a 2024 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Altmyer looks to build off of a great junior season as he and the Illini continue to prove they belong in the national conversation.
3. Dylan Raiola: Nebraska
While Dylan Raiola gets talked about much for his likeness to Patrick Mahomes, his play on the field should be talked about more. The former five-star recruit won the starting job at Nebraska almost immediately during fall camp. From there, he started all 13 games his freshman year. In that first year, Raiola finished with a 67.1% completion percentage and 2,819 passing yards. Both of these stats set new all-time records among Nebraska freshman quarterbacks.
Raiola also threw 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He clearly still has a bit of learning to do to reach his full potential. His raw abilities make him one of the most talented players on whatever field he steps on, though. The rising sophomore is expected to make a huge jump in his second season with Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule. If he starts to hit that potential this season, he could be a potential dark horse in the Heisman trophy race.
2. Billy Edwards Jr: Wisconsin (Transferred from Maryland)
Billy Edwards Jr is a veteran quarterback who had his first year as the starter for Maryland last season. He earned the starting job coming off of a 2023 TransPerfect Music City Bowl MVP performance. Edwards continued the momentum he built in that game by completing 273 of his 420 pass attempts for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns the next season.
In 2024, Edwards had the most completions, the fifth most overall passing yards, and the third most passing yards per game among Big Ten quarterbacks. Edwards was also the first Big Ten quarterback since CJ Stroud to throw for 250+ yards in the first seven games of the season. Stroud was the first to achieve this feat since 1996. Edwards will now take his talents from Maryland to Wisconsin for his senior season.
1.Drew Allar: Penn State
The top returning quarterback in the Big Ten this season is Drew Allar. Coming off of a run to the college football playoff semi-finals, Allar has been talked about as an early Heisman contender for 2025. It is easy to see why when looking at his 2024 stats.
Allar finished last season completing 262 of 394 passes for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions. He finished fourth in the conference in QBR, passing efficiency, passing touchdowns, and points responsible for. This earned him an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention nod. In 2025, many more accolades await Allar. He is also expected to bring a championship back to Happy Valley to finish his career.
Main Image: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel