Quarterback Battles in the Big Ten Ahead of 2026 Season
With the college football season approaching, the Big Ten is gearing up for another championship run, but quarterback uncertainties remain a key focus in the conference.
Several teams have established starting quarterbacks, while others are navigating competitive battles. Iowa is looking to replace Mark Gronowski, with Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown as the main contenders. Hecklinski, in his third season, has limited game experience, while Brown, entering his fourth season, has previously started two games at Auburn.
Nebraska faces a challenge after losing Dylan Raiola to the transfer portal, creating an opportunity for UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea, who is favored to take the starting role. He will compete against last season's backup, TJ Lateef, who has starting experience, and Daniel Kaelin, a lesser-known transfer. Rutgers is also in search of a new quarterback to replace Athan Kaliakmanis, with AJ Surace and experienced transfer Dylan Lonergan as the top candidates. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's Luke Fickell is under pressure to find a reliable quarterback, with Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph likely to start, but competition remains from Danny O'Neil and promising newcomer Deuce Adams.
