Ranking the Big Ten’s starting quarterbacks heading into 2022

2. Aidan O’Connell-Purdue

If you watched Aidan O’Connell last year, you could see why Purdue upset Iowa and Michigan State last year and gave Notre Dame and Ohio State a game. Aidan is a gamer who thrived when he was unleashed in Jeff Brohm’s system after Jack Plummer lost the starting spot.

O’Connell put up some great stats last year throwing for 3,712 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. O’Connell is probably Purdue’s best QB since Drew Brees, and it’s not even close.

O’Connell might be due for a slight regression in passing yards just because his best receiver David Bell is gone, but I still expect a very solid season this year from Purdue.

I could be wrong though. It’s going to be hard to repeat the season O’Connell had without Bell. I don’t know about another 9-win season, but Purdue should be above average this year.

1. CJ Stroud-Ohio State

For the first few weeks of last year, it looked like Stroud was in over his head, but eventually, he settled down and had one of the best seasons in the country. He’s a sure-fire repeat Heisman finalist with weapons on offense for days.

Ohio State will win 11-12 games every year he is the starting QB, so I don’t foresee any scenario where he lets go of this top spot. Last year, Stroud threw for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

He lost his two best receivers in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, but he brings Julian Fleming, Marvin Harrison Jr, and Jackson Smith-Njiba back for another potential run at a Big Ten title.

And I’m sure some other hotshot freshman WR will break out as well because that’s just what they do at Ohio State.

I hope he drops way down this list too…