The CFB landscape in 2024 has a plethora of talent at quarterback. The position is more important than ever with coaches trending towards passing through the air more and running the football less over recent seasons. The B1G is not lacking in the department either, as we look at who’s been dealing the pigskin the finest within the conference.

The conveyor belt at Oregon has churned out yet another star in Dillon Gabriel. The Ducks haven’t missed a beat all season after losing Bo Nix to the pros. Oregon is sat atop the AP Poll after Week 10, unbeaten. Dillon’s amongst the favorites for the Heisman, yet his place in the hierarchy amongst Big 10 QBs is contentious. 

Indiana’s redshirt senior Kurtis Rourke has been a revelation. The player came over to the Hoosiers through the transfer portal with little fervor. 10 weeks of football later, he is spearheading the biggest fairytale story in the sport. Indiana’s offense ranks no. 1 in the B1G, off the back of their QB spraying dimes across the Memorial Stadium gridiron.

Another redshirt senior, another transfer portal acquire. Will Howard get plaudits for his performances in the Buckeyes’ victories, especially in the big spots? Howard played arguably his best game of the season when eye to eye with Dillon and the Ducks. Although his team lost in excruciating fashion, Howard’s 326 passing yards and 80% completion percentage at Autzen Stadium left a mark.

All three QBs coincidentally have 19 passing TDs this season so far. Rourke missed a game nursing a broken thumb injury on his throwing hand but still finds himself equal after his heroics on Saturday. Rourke inadvertently boasts a greater QB rating by virtue of throwing only 2 picks, compared to 5 each for his peers. With all 3 eligible for placement on the NFL draft board come April, who’s likely to make the transition over to the big league?

How the 2025 QB Draft Class shapes up

The aforementioned plethora of QB talent rings true for the 2025 draft class. After 2024 matched the record for the most quarterbacks picked in the first round, the class of ‘25 will see some regression. The likes of Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are still expected to go towards the very top as franchises chase their savior.

For Dillon, Will and Kurtis, the path to the pros will seemingly not be as straightforward. However, with a lot of football still to be played, there is time for them to put their stock in the minds of scouts and GMs. All three are in playoff contention, and shouldering a deep run will go a long way. 

As the regular season draws to a close, it remains fascinating to see 3 premier talents push each other to improve as they move around in the pecking order. Who’ll end up as QB1 in the Big 10? Who’ll succumb to the pressures of November football? We shall see.