2025 Previews for Returning FBS QBs
Previewing Big Ten QBs on Indiana's schedule, other notable Big Ten returning QBs, and other FBS returning QBs, using BSB's new QB Profiler
If you hadn’t heard, Indiana has a highly anticipated QB from Cal on the roster for the 2025 season. His name is Fernando Mendoza, and he’s been present in many, many early 2026 NFL mock drafts – the latest CBS Sports mock has him No. 1 Overall to the Cleveland Browns.
There has been a ton of analysis in Bite-Sized Bison on Mendoza – all consolidated into one recent post – as well as a graphical profile in the Week 1 Preview, which will be updated and recurring during previews all season.
But I still wanted to include the graphical profile because it is the visual I’ll be using to preview several returning QBs in the Big Ten (and beyond) throughout this post.
Observations:
Mendoza’s completion percentage ranked 10th among qualifying FBS QBs, directly behind Kurtis Rourke (68.9%).
Current Indiana slot WR Jonathan Brady was Mendoza’s most-targeted receiver in the following scenarios: second down, red zone, and when the game was within 10 points.
Behind a very poor OL (28th percentile in pressure rate), Mendoza tended to run the ball in high-leverage situations (third down, red zone, fourth quarter).
Mendoza specialized in short, quick passes in 2024. That will likely be the case in 2025 as well but with far more shots downfield than he was able to take at Cal. His depth of target should increase by a decent margin.
Let’s get into some notable Big Ten QBs, beginning with those on Indiana’s schedule in 2025.
Big Ten Returning FBS QBs on Indiana’s 2025 Schedule
Luke Altmyer, Illinois
I wrote longer on Luke Altmyer in a recent BSB, but it will be interesting how Altmyer fares without his two playmaking pass-catchers, Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin. He should continue facing a ton of pressure, since Illinois has all the same faces along its OL in 2025.
Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
Aidan Chiles, who was brought from Oregon State to Michigan State by Jonathan Smith with high hopes for his development, should have a better showing in 2025. His rolling EPA showed some leveled consistency toward the end of the season. He leaned a lot on his legs in several contexts (buying time to throw and designed carries among them), which will continue to serve him well, but he must develop more as a passer.
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Tino Sunseri has one of the most dynamic arms now in his offense, with Nico Iamaleava in a UCLA uniform. The difference, though, is that Iamaleava faced below-average pressure and had above-average time to throw at Tennessee, but he still never seemed particularly comfortable, with a scramble rate in the 95th percentile. Without the talent of his Tennessee pass-catchers at UCLA, it should be entertaining to see how he develops – and how he handles Indiana’s pressure on QBs when UCLA visits Bloomington.
Drew Allar, Penn State
Penn State is truly all-in for 2025. Drew Allar had a solid 2024 campaign but needed to do so with one of the least effective WR rooms. Only one WR recorded more than 38 targets, while TE Tyler Warren was targeted 135 times (4th-most among all FBS pass-catchers and RB Nic Singleton was targeted the third-most on the team. OC Andy Kotelnicki wants to change that, as Penn State spent at the position for this season – Troy thousand-yard WR and 16th-highest graded receiver Devonte Ross, big-bodied USC WR Kyron Hudson, and Syracuse slot WR Trebor Pena, a near-thousand-yard receiver and one of Kyle McCord’s two favorite receivers in 2024. There are 212 targets at the top of Allar’s game that need to be filled, and they will most likely go to those three, which is a dangerous proposition for the Big Ten.
Billy Edwards, Wisconsin
Billy Edwards trended downward as the season progressed, but finding any success at all behind one of the worst offensive lines in the FBS was impressive. Indiana saw the threat Edwards can be when he’s surrounded by playmakers like Kaden Prather and Tai Felton. Next to Vinny Anthony, he should have a stable of high-floor receivers to spread the ball to behind an offensive line I graded 5th-best going into the season. Unfortunately for Edwards, he plays the toughest schedule in the nation this season.
Ryan Browne, Purdue
Of all the wildcards among returning FBS QBs, Ryan Browne is one of the most unpredictable, given the roster turnover and coaching changes in West Lafayette, He has a body of work similar in size to Arch Manning at Texas, which makes it difficult to know what he is capable of in the offense. Let’s just say expectations are low.
Other Notable Big Ten Returning QBs
Demond Williams Jr., Washington
Demond Williams, the No. 12 QB in 2024 class and a transfer from Arizona, is set to start for Washington in 2025, which is good news for the Huskies. In his 157 dropbacks, Williams was very consistent (see the lack of ups and downs in the rolling EPA) and was also efficient (78% completion percentage). He has great athletic ability, carrying the ball on 21% of snaps played, and he was slightly above average in turnover-worthy plays. He simply doesn’t play like a young QB. Expect a lot of really solid play from Williams in 2025; it might raise the ceiling for this Washington team.
Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers
After transferring from Minnesota, Athan Kaliakmanis did not have it ways at Rutgers – 26th percentile in pressure rate, 10th percentile in drops rate – but he managed to grade in the top-50 among FBS QBs. He should have some improvement along the OL this season, but only marginally. It may be another tough year for the third-year starter.
Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
While it’s important to keep in mind that Dylan Raiola was a true freshman in 2024, I expected more from him than what we saw. There just isn’t much to speak for here, except for his completion percentage (66.3%, 17th in FBS). He saw a fairly average pressure rate and hardly any drops from his receivers, yet he graded 73rd among FBS QBs and had negative EPA in high-leverage situations. The Huskers bolstered the OL a bit and added a couple pass-catchers in response to losing three of the top-four targeted receivers, but the development needs to be there for Raiola and for the offensive scheme.
Jayden Maiava, USC
Jayden Maiava had his ups and downs in 2024, but his overall body of work was fairly impressive by the end of the season. In just 177 dropbacks, he ranked in the 79th percentile of total big-time throws, plus he took care of the ball and handled pressure well. Lincoln Riley could have given more effort toward filling out a better OL, but with a full offseason of development as the starter, Maiava could be a very solid QB in 2025.
Notable Non-Big Ten Returning FBS QBs
Arch Manning, Texas
In his small sample size of 2024, the potential for Arch Manning is clear. Can he expand it into a full season in 2025? That’s to be determined.
John Mateer, Oklahoma
John Mateer is one of my favorite returning QBs this season, but he wasn’t watched much because he played on the West Coast for a program that was left behind by the rest of its conference. Mateer did a lot with little in 2024, but he was incredibly efficient and logged one of the best rushing seasons by a pass-first QB (149 attempts, 1,008 yards, 15 TDs). He now will play for Oklahoma, joining former Purdue WR Deion Burks, who missed all of last season due to injury. That will be one of my personally most anticipated duos this year.
Carson Beck, Miami (FL)
I’m suspicious of Carson Beck, who will be playing at Miami this season. He experienced a pressure rate in the 95th percentile (very good), but he was not very efficient analytically, highlighted by a 0.00 EPA/play on third down.
Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
The trio of Cam Skattebo, Jordyn Tyson, and Sam Leavitt really made Arizona State’s offense tick in 2024, and while it lost Skattebo – a 1-of-1 RB who captured America’s attention during the CFP – it brought in Army transfer RB Kanye Udoh (179 carries, 1,117 yards in 2024). With this offensive architecture, Leavitt is set for his particular style of play once again, which is not good news for teams on Arizona State’s schedule.
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Garrett Nussmeier is the definition of a distributor – not much pressure, didn’t take sacks on the minimal pressure, above-average at taking care of the football, did not run the ball often, dropped back as much as anyone in the country, and converted on big-time throws.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
No QB used his legs to get away from pressure more than LaNorris Sellers in 2024, and it really capped his ceiling, especially in the red zone. South Carolina has bolstered its interior OL and should be improved.
DJ Lagway, Florida
DJ Lagway loved to push the ball downfield as a true freshman in 2024, which made him great for first and second downs but not-as-great on third down or in the red zone. By true-freshman standards, his last season is promising for what his potential could be in 2025 and beyond.
Josh Hoover, TCU
Josh Hoover is notable for Indiana fans because he was once committed to Indiana’s 2022 class (via Nick Sheridan) but de-committed amidst the degradation of the Tom Allen Era and is now one of the top QBs in the country. One of the most impressive stats here is that he ranked in the 95th percentile in yards/dropback while also ranking in the 8th percentile in time to throw – meaning quick passes for a lot of yardage. He also made plenty of big-time throws. He needs to be better on third down, though.
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
Brendan Sorsby has caught the eyes of several NFL scouts and has two seasons to play himself into a possible NFL opportunity. Sorsby lost many of his most-trusted pass-catchers between seasons but does retain for Ohio State TE Joe Royer, who is poised for a staller season in 2025, and added three new receivers and a new starting RB. His daul-threat style has carried over from Indiana, as he ranked 31st among FBS QBs in non-sack rushing yardage (522 yards).
Joey Aguilar, Tennessee
Joey Aguilar has a small tie to Indiana in that Indiana had its attention on the App State passing attack (a former Sun Belt foe). Tino Sunseri brought Aguilar to UCLA before Nico Iamaleava committed to the Bruins, and Kaedin Robinson was committed to UCLA before being denied eligibility for the 2025 season. Makai Jackson (tied for most targets at App State and most-targeted on 2nd downs) is in Indiana’s WR room.