Top returning Big Ten quarterbacks heading into 2026 season

In early September 2025 against Oregon State, Moore connected with freshman wideout Dakorien Moore for a touchdown on a throw outside the numbers, and he showed even more zip with his arm on a key 24-yard completion to Malik Benson with under a minute remaining in regulation at Iowa to set up Oregon's winning field goal.

Moore's decision to return to Eugene gives Oregon a realistic chance of becoming the fourth consecutive unique Big Ten champion, joining Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan. If he completes the job he began with last year's trip to the CFP semis, chances are Moore won't be returning for his senior year.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin

It's easy — but unfair — to diminish Sayin's success as simply a byproduct of the elite talent surrounding him. The 2025 Heisman finalist certainly benefits from playing alongside blue-chip recruits including star receiver Jeremiah Smith and 2026 NFL Draft's No. 4 overall pick wideout Carnell Tate, but he shares responsibility for an ability to get the ball into his playmakers' hands.

Sayin led FBS with a remarkable 77 percent completion percentage. He couldn't have placed the ball more perfectly on the following touchdown to Smith against Purdue, dropping the ball into his hands 45 yards downfield, or when finding Tate in stride for a 57-yard score against Penn State.

The former five-star prospect was also comfortable navigating the pocket, rolling out to the right while keeping his eyes downfield and finding receiver Brandon Inniss for a touchdown against Wisconsin. 

Earlier in the same game, he calmly sidestepped 3rd-and-long pressure while remaining in the pocket and rifling the ball to Tate between two defenders.

Sayin's season ended rough, throwing two touchdowns and three interceptions while averaging 272.5 yards per game in the Big Ten championship game and CFP quarterfinal losses. He must be better down the stretch in 2026, and Sayin has the tools to avoid a repeat.

Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr.

Williams almost didn't return to Washington after briefly attempting to transfer despite previously signing a deal to remain with the program. It makes sense why others wanted him after completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 3,064 yards, 31 total touchdowns and eight interceptions a season ago while leading Washington to a 9-4 record.

Williams added 611 rushing yards, and his mobility also came in handy when avoiding pressure, including this highlight-reel play against Washington State when he broke out a tackle and found a receiver downfield for a big gain.

USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava

Maiava has been another success story for USC coach Lincoln Riley. After transferring from UNLV ahead of the 2024 season, he set career-highs in completion percentage (65.8 percent), passing yards (3,711) and passing touchdowns (24) last year as the Trojans finished 9-4, their best record since 2022.

While Maiava must make another leap to match the success of Riley's former Heisman-winning quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield, he laid the groundwork as a junior.

Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood

Underwood, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 high-school recruiting cycle, was up-and-down as a true freshman last season, finishing the year 202-of-335 (60.3 percent) for 2,428 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

He demonstrated enough to understand why he was so highly-touted entering college, however, threading the needle between three defenders against Ohio State and showing off his legs with a touchdown scramble in Week 3.

Underwood is nowhere near a finished product, and the 2026 season can go any number of ways with former longtime Utah coach Kyle Whittingham taking over after Sherrone Moore's scandalous exit. But with so much turnover, he's undoubtedly one of the top returning Big Ten quarterbacks.