Spring practices for NCAA Division I football teams are underway and there are plenty of quarterback battles to keep an eye on. Several of those battles reside in the Big Ten, with a few in the SEC. Teams are hesitant to name starters early with spring transfers on the horizon. On that note, let’s dive in and examine the 10 biggest quarterback battles for spring 2024.
1 – Ohio State
After losing the last two games of the 2023 season including a dreadful 3-point effort in the Cotton Bowl, Ryan Day added transfer Will Howard to compete with Air Noland and Julian Sayin. Also in the mix are Devin Brown and Lincoln Kienholz. Figuring out who will get the starting nod will not be easy given that each of the five was a blue-chip prospect. Howard threw for 5786 yards and 48 touchdowns, adding 921 yards on the ground in 34 games at Kansas State. While Howard is the favorite, everyone involved in the Ohio State football program will look at the development of 2024 recruits Nolan and Sayin. The Buckeyes have immense talent across the board on offense. Howard has the experience to guide this attack, giving him the edge to start the season at quarterback.
2 – Michigan
Replacing J.J. McCarthy is not an enviable task, yet it is what is facing coach Sherrone Moore to begin the post-Jim Harbaugh regime. Moore brings in a system revolving around line of scrimmage dominance and a heavy rushing attack. Michigan has an experienced option in Jack Tuttle, who has nearly 200 collegiate passing attempts under his belt. There is a higher ceiling with sophomores Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji, as well as freshman Jadyn Davis. Denegal saw limited play last year and Davis will need time to reach his potential. That leaves Orji, who saw action in playoff wins against Alabama and Washington last season. He has shown he can pick up yardage with his legs, averaging six yards per attempt on 21 carries. There are questions as to what he can do in the passing game. A decision at quarterback likely won’t be made until the fall, but the edge to get the starting job goes to Orji.
3 – Oregon
With the departure of Bo Nix, Oregon wasted no time by getting transfers Dante Moore from UCLA and Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma and previously UCF. Gabriel completed nearly 70 percent of his passes last season with 30 touchdowns and 12 rushing touchdowns. Moore is a five-star prospect who threw for 11 touchdowns as a freshman last season. Gabriel is the favorite to land the starting role and could be in the mix for a Heisman Trophy. However, Moore could push Gabriel, and even if Moore doesn’t get the starting nod, could be needed at some point as Oregon plays its first season in the ultra-physical Big Ten conference.
4 – USC
The departure of Caleb Williams will be felt, but the 372-yard, six-touchdown effort by Miller Moss in the Holiday Bowl last season could have eased some questions. However, Lincoln Riley brought in Jayden Maiava from UNLV, which added some competition to the quarterback room. Maiava threw for 3085 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Riley is proficient at developing quarterbacks and believes that Maiava and Moss are both capable of being starters. There is plenty of time to determine which player will emerge as the number one quarterback. Maiava has more game experience, yet Moss has had more time in the system. The edge goes to Moss, but don’t be surprised if Maiava emerges.
5 – Washington
Washington lost quarterback Michael Penix Jr and now is in a rebuilding phase with all new starters in 2024. Former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers has the edge over Dermaricus Davis and Demond Williams Jr to be the starter in 2024. Rogers put up impressive numbers in the SEC with over 12000 yards passing and 94 touchdowns. Davis and Williams Jr are both four-star prospects out of high school. They are the future of the program but are unlikely to beat out Rogers this year due to Rogers’ experience at the collegiate level.
6 – Florida
Florida is coming off a 5-7 overall record including losing their last five games. Quarterback Graham Mertz was very efficient behind center, throwing for over 2900 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was impressive with a 73 percent completion rate and took care of the football. Five-star prospect D.J. Lagway improved considerably over the offseason and could make some noise in spring practices. However, it’s highly unlikely that Mertz will lose his starting position in his last collegiate season of 2024. Look for Lagway to be the starter for the 2025 campaign.
7 – Nebraska
After Jeff Sims and Chubba Purdy transferred, Heinrich Haarberg was the only quarterback with experience remaining on the roster. His 2023 numbers were underwhelming in the passing game, completing just 49 percent of his attempts, although he was proficient on the ground, gainin 477 yards and five touchdowns. The biggest move in the offseason for Nebraska was the signing of five-star recruit Dylan Raiola, who had been committed to Georgia. Raiola is now the odds-on favorite to win the starting quarterback role, but that all depends on whether or not coach Matt Ruhle believes he is ready. If Haarberg does start the season behind center, don’t be surprised if that is short-lived and the Dylan Raiola era begins.
8 – South Carolina
South Carolina struggled to a 5-7 record and 3-5 in the SEC East in 2023. LaNorris Sellers completed all four passes for 84 yards in limited action last season. With Spencer Rattler heading to the NFL, the Gamecocks needed depth at quarterback. They added Robby Ashford, who attempted only 27 passes last season with Auburn, after throwing for over 1600 yards and adding another 709 on the ground in 2022. Ashford will give Sellers a run for his money this spring, but the feeling is that Sellers, who has more experience in the system, will get the nod by the start of the season.
9 – Auburn
Despite a relatively mediocre 6-7 record last season, the Tigers were pretty solid at quarterback behind Payton Thorn. He was a post-spring arrival from Michigan State last year and threw for 1755 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed 515 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground. On the downside, his average per attempt was low and his interception rate was too high. Competing with Thorn for the starting job will be freshman Walker White, Hank Brown, and Holden Geriner. Thorn is the favorite to start at the beginning of the season, but White has the best shot of seeing playing time and his progress is something to watch.
10 – Arkansas
Arkansas struggled offensively most of last season, averaging a mere 20 points per game in the SEC. Taylen Green and Jacolby Criswell are arrivals via transfer and they will be competing with redshirt freshman Malachi Singleton for the starting position. Green threw for 25 touchdowns and added 19 on the ground over the past two seasons at Boise State, while Criswell is in his second season in the program. Singleton has great skills in both the passing and running game but likely needs time to develop before contributing for the Razorbacks. There is a degree of uncertainty as to which direction head coach Sam Pittman will go, but the hunch is that Green lines up under center this fall.
