The Michigan defense has been a staple for the Wolverines for quite some time now. No matter what the offense looked like, it was almost a given that the defense would still be elite. Even when Michigan won it all back in 2023, the offense wasn't horrible, but it did well enough that the defense kept things under wraps.
Now, as the Wolverines move into yet another new era under head coach Kyle Whittingham, he brings with him a great defensive coordinator, Jay Hill, who will be tasked with stopping some stellar offenses led by elite quarterbacks. It will be quite the first test for Hill and Whittingham, especially with the quarterback lineup this year.
So, while offenses as a whole are tough to overcome, let's take a look at all the gunslingers Michigan will face this season and rank them from easiest to toughest.
12. EJ Colson - UTEP
EJ Colson is expected to be named the starter for UTEP this season, which is the third game of the season for the Wolverines. Colson is at his third school in as many years, starting at the Power Conference level with UCF. Colson was one of five quarterbacks the Knights used that season, coming in the game in a limited capacity.
After Gus Malzahn left Orlando, Colson transferred to Incarnate Word, where he threw for 2,142 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. Those are solid numbers, and now with UTEP will probably have a few more weapons at his disposal. Colson still comes in at the bottom of this list, just with so little experience, and will probably struggle against Michigan's stout defense.
11. AJ Surace/Dylan Lonergan - Rutgers
The quarterback battle has narrowed down to two at Rutgers: AJ Surace and Dylan Lonergan. Surace comes in as the returning junior for the Scarlet Knights, while Lonergan is a transfer from Boston College, and head coach Greg Schiano still has yet to declare a definitive starter.
Without knowledge of a definitive starter, it is tough to rank how tough the quarterback will be at Rutgers. Lonergan is the only one of the two to come in with steady stats, throwing for 2,025 yards at Boston College after transferring from Alabama, where he rarely saw the field. Rutgers has struggled in the Big Ten on the football field, landing these quarterbacks towards the bottom of this list.
10. Hank Brown/Jeremy Hecklinski - Iowa
Like Rutgers, Iowa, yet again, is holding a quarterback battle, this time between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski. Both players come from within the program at Iowa, but quarterback battles are nothing new to the Hawkeyes.
The offense is never the worrisome part of facing Iowa, as the Hawkeyes have seriously struggled offensively in recent years. For that alone, and losing some key pieces like wide receiver Kaden Wetjen, whether it is Brown or Hecklinski, neither ranks as too tough a matchup for this Michigan defense to face.
9. Alessio Milivojevic - Michigan State
New Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald has named Alessio Milvojevic, who took over as the starter for the final four games last season, as the full-time starter for the Spartans this season. In four games, Milvojevic showed some promise, throwing for 1,267 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Milivojevic proved he could come in and perform, but now in Year 2, he needs to prove it wasn't a fluke. Michigan has already seen some of the Michigan State starters when he came in towards the end of the game, going 5-for-6 for 60 yards and a touchdown in what was garbage time for the Spartans. Michigan should be able to learn from that drive and handle what Milivojevic has to give the Wolverines.
8. Broc Lowry - Western Michigan
It may seem strange to have the Western Michigan quarterback as high as he is on this list, but there is a bit of a twist with this one. Broc Lowry is the starter for the Broncos, and his stats last season weren't amazing, with only 1,803 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions.
The reason Lowry is as high as he is on this list is because Western Michigan is the first team Michigan will face this season. That means the first game under Whittingham and the new coaching staff, and the Wolverines will be working to gel together, especially as a defense. So, while Lowry might be one of the easier quarterbacks on this list, his experience in the Western Michigan offense could make him tougher to face for the Wolverines.
7. Nico Iamaleava - UCLA
It seems insane to have Nico Iamaleava this high on this list, especially with all the drama that has ensued around this man and how poorly he played for the Bruins last season. However, that was last season, and with new head coach Bob Chesney coming over from James Madison, he could have Iamaleava playing his best football.
Iamaleava isn't a horrible quarterback and has shown signs of the talent that made him a five-star recruit in his time at Tennessee. UCLA fans are hoping to see more of that this season, and with a more experienced head coach and Iamaleava wanting to impress NFL teams this season, he is a dangerous threat to this Michigan team, putting him in the middle of the pack.
6. Drake Lindsey - Minnesota
This one may shock people, but Drake Lindsey is a great quarterback and suffers from a lack of talent around him. Even with a dearth of talent around him, Lindsey threw for 2,382 yards last season, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions, adding four rushing touchdowns to the mix. Lindsey was sacked 21 times last season, showing how inept his offense is around him.
Now, with Lindsey heading into his third season with the Golden Gophers, it could be the year he really breaks out and becomes a problem for opposing defenses like Michigan's. The middle of the field is vulnerable to Michigan with a new linebacker core, so if Lindsey gets comfortable throwing to the middle, this could be a rough one for the Wolverines.
5. John Mateer - Oklahoma
John Mateer is heading into his second and final season with Oklahoma, and his first season wasn't exactly what he had hoped it would be. Only throwing for 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions was not something Mateer wanted, while also dealing with a thumb injury during the season.
The Oklahoma-Michigan matchup is going to be huge, especially when played in The Big House in Ann Arbor, and Mateer is the toughest QB the Wolverines will face in non-conference play by far. His growth this offseason, as well as the weapons around him, make him a dangerous guy the Michigan defense will have to try to contain.
4. Rocco Becht - Penn State
Rocco Becht is new to the Big Ten this season, following his head coach, Matt Campbell, from Iowa State to Penn State. Becht is used to dominating in the Big 12, where defensive coordinator Jay Hill hails from. Hill comes from BYU, a team that found a lot of success in the last two seasons in the Big 12.
Hill will know how to handle Becht, but with new talent around him at Penn State, it makes him a bit more dangerous than at Iowa State. Hill will need to keep Becht contained as much as possible, getting constant pressure in order to keep the Nittany Lion offense at bay.
3. Josh Hoover - Indiana
Michigan will face another Big 12 transfer with Josh Hoover now at Indiana. When the Hoosiers won the National Championship, and it was known that Fernando Mendoza was heading to the NFL, head coach Curt Cignetti knew he needed a proven guy, and Hoover was the one for the job.
Now with great talent around him, like Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh at the wide receiver position, Hoover will be one of the toughest quarterbacks Michigan will face. Not only do the Wolverines have to worry about his rushing ability, but with weapons littered on the field, the secondary will be tested on every down.
2. Dante Moore - Oregon
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore made the choice to stick with the Ducks for one more season before heading to the NFL. Moore had a stellar 2025 season, almost becoming a Heisman finalist with 3,565 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Moore led Oregon to yet another College Football Playoff appearance and is now hoping to lead the Ducks to the championship.
Moore coming back to Oregon gives him that much more experience and a dangerous player Michigan will have trouble containing. This Michigan defense is good, but the linebacker core could be a problem here, with Moore using the middle of the field a lot.
1. Julian Sayin - Ohio State
As much as it pains to say this, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is the toughest quarterback Michigan will face this season. Sayin had a great first season with the Buckeyes, leading them to the Big Ten Championship, losing to Indiana, and a College Football playoff appearance, losing to Miami.
Michigan and Ohio State are two teams so familiar with each other, and Michigan will know what to expect from Sayin, but it is wide receiver Jermemiah Smith who makes Sayin so dangerous, with his ability to get open anywhere on the field. Sayin has shown to be a very accurate quarterback, completing 77% of his passes last season, making him the toughest guy to face on this list.
Add us as a preferred source on Google