← the board · drewhoover.com · 2004–2026

The Big Ten's best quarterbacks since 2004

Taulia Tagovailoa leads with 11,256 passing yards in 41 games in the Big Ten; Curtis Painter had 11,163.

Every quarterback with 5 or more games in the Big Ten since 2004, ranked by passing yards; the lines are each player's passing yards game by game, the top 8 drawn.

passing yards · by game

passing touchdowns · by game

wins · by game

258 quarterbacks with 5+ games in the Big Tenpassing yards

#	player	seasons	games	passing yards	passing touchdowns	wins	yards of total offense	interceptions thrown
1	Taulia Tagovailoa	2020–2023	41	11,256	76	23	11,463	37
2	Curtis Painter	2005–2008	46	11,163	67	24	11,511	46
3	Adam Weber	2007–2010	50	10,917	72	17	11,790	51
4	Clayton Thorson	2015–2018	53	10,731	61	36	11,139	45
5	Sean Clifford	2018–2022	51	10,661	86	35	11,734	31
6	Trace McSorley	2015–2018	46	9,899	77	34	11,596	25
7	David Blough	2015–2018	44	9,734	69	15	9,995	43
8	Chad Henne	2004–2007	47	9,715	87	33	9,400	37
9	Tanner Morgan	2018–2022	51	9,454	65	36	9,459	32
10	J.T. Barrett	2014–2017	50	9,434	104	44	12,697	30
11	Aidan O'Connell	2019–2022	33	9,219	65	19	8,945	30
12	Connor Cook	2012–2015	43	9,194	71	37	9,403	22
13	Kirk Cousins	2008–2011	43	9,131	66	28	9,004	30
14	Tommy Armstrong Jr.	2013–2016	45	8,871	67	31	10,690	44
15	Athan Kaliakmanis	2022–2025	47	8,604	55	24	9,063	27
16	Nathan Scheelhaase	2010–2013	48	8,568	55	19	10,634	37
17	Adrian Martinez	2018–2021	39	8,491	45	14	10,792	30
18	Christian Hackenberg	2013–2015	38	8,457	48	21	8,215	31
19	Peyton Ramsey	2017–2020	40	8,314	54	22	9,393	31
20	Nate Stanley	2016–2019	44	8,302	68	30	8,198	23
21	Brian Lewerke	2016–2019	41	8,293	47	23	9,548	32
22	Drew Tate	2004–2006	35	8,237	60	21	8,326	34
23	C.J. Stroud	2020–2022	26	8,123	85	22	8,259	12
24	Nate Sudfeld	2012–2015	37	7,879	61	17	8,011	20
25	Jake Rudock	2013–2015	38	7,836	54	24	8,396	27
26	Joel Stave	2012–2015	44	7,635	48	32	7,369	37
27	Luke Altmyer	2023–2025	35	7,607	57	23	8,348	21
28	Bryan Cupito	2004–2006	36	7,446	55	20	7,449	25
29	Drew Allar	2022–2025	45	7,402	61	35	8,138	13
30	Ricky Stanzi	2007–2010	38	7,377	56	28	7,373	31
31	C.J. Bacher	2005–2008	33	7,321	43	18	7,550	43
32	Mitch Leidner	2013–2016	47	7,287	36	28	8,782	32
33	Ben Chappell	2007–2010	34	7,237	45	12	7,314	28
34	John Stocco	2004–2006	36	7,104	47	29	6,973	22
35	Jayden Maiava	2024–2026	27	6,957	53	21	7,154	19
36	Payton Thorne	2020–2022	29	6,501	49	16	6,771	24
37	Brett Basanez	2004–2005	24	6,460	33	13	7,141	17
38	Matt McGloin	2009–2012	32	6,390	46	22	6,333	19
39	Devin Gardner	2010–2014	47	6,336	44	28	7,252	32
40	Drew Stanton	2004–2006	31	6,241	40	13	7,684	27
41	J.J. McCarthy	2021–2023	40	6,226	49	37	6,858	11
42	Terrelle Pryor Sr.	2008–2010	39	6,177	57	33	8,341	26
43	Denard Robinson	2009–2012	48	6,152	49	28	10,601	39
44	Brian Hoyer	2005–2008	36	6,147	35	20	5,918	23
45	Kellen Lewis	2006–2008	33	6,110	45	12	7,728	24
46	Trevor Siemian	2011–2014	44	5,931	27	24	5,908	24
47	Wes Lunt	2014–2016	28	5,900	36	10	5,602	12
48	James Vandenberg	2009–2012	32	5,786	35	16	5,853	20
49	Daryll Clark	2006–2009	38	5,742	43	29	6,361	16
50	Troy Smith	2004–2006	32	5,720	54	27	6,874	13
51	Julian Sayin	2024–2026	25	5,701	52	22	5,672	12
52	Shea Patterson	2018–2019	26	5,661	45	19	5,984	15
53	Taylor Martinez	2011–2013	31	5,627	46	21	7,637	22
54	C.J. Beathard	2013–2016	40	5,562	40	29	5,991	19
55	Alex Hornibrook	2016–2018	35	5,438	47	29	5,195	33
56	Graham Mertz	2019–2022	34	5,405	38	21	5,384	26
57	Demond Williams Jr.	2024–2026	32	5,405	41	18	6,481	12
58	Dwayne Haskins	2017–2018	22	5,396	54	21	5,590	9
59	Justin Fields	2019–2020	22	5,373	63	20	6,240	9
60	Dylan Raiola	2024–2026	26	5,334	37	16	5,174	19
61	Richard Lagow	2016–2017	23	5,298	34	10	5,060	25
62	Scott Tolzien	2008–2010	29	5,271	32	23	5,262	18
63	Anthony Morelli	2004–2007	32	5,262	31	23	5,153	18
64	Aidan Chiles	2024–2026	26	5,205	32	13	5,755	14
65	Spencer Petras	2018–2022	35	5,199	24	24	4,905	19
66	Dan Persa	2008–2011	30	5,181	34	18	5,897	13
67	Juice Williams	2008–2009	23	4,805	34	8	6,031	23
68	Cade McNamara	2020–2024	34	4,703	31	26	4,630	15
69	Ryan Browne	2023–2026	28	4,611	23	6	5,125	17
70	Malik Washington	2025–2026	19	4,578	26	6	4,993	15
71	Dante Moore	2024–2026	23	4,540	39	19	4,695	10
72	Mike Kafka	2006–2009	27	4,265	19	16	5,156	20
73	Michael Penix Jr.	2018–2021	20	4,197	29	14	4,362	15
74	Brandon Peters	2017–2021	33	4,163	32	16	4,476	15
75	Hudson Card	2023–2024	21	4,028	24	5	4,204	15
76	Will Howard	2024	16	4,010	35	14	4,236	10
77	Dillon Gabriel	2024	14	3,857	30	13	4,006	6
78	Noah Vedral	2018–2022	30	3,787	17	11	4,429	17
79	Kyle McCord	2021–2023	24	3,776	27	23	3,699	8
80	Drake Lindsey	2024–2026	21	3,767	28	14	3,641	11
81	Fernando Mendoza	2025	16	3,535	41	16	3,811	6
82	Elijah Sindelar	2016–2019	22	3,525	29	9	3,486	16
83	Billy Edwards Jr.	2022–2025	27	3,430	19	14	3,807	10
84	Jack Plummer	2019–2021	17	3,405	26	7	3,479	10
85	Bryce Underwood	2025–2026	19	3,352	16	13	3,967	15
86	Joey Elliott	2006–2009	22	3,326	24	11	3,621	15
87	Jack Coan	2017–2019	22	3,278	23	16	3,267	8
88	Tyler Donovan	2004–2007	23	3,227	22	17	3,706	13
89	Wilton Speight	2015–2017	21	3,192	22	17	3,093	10
90	Russell Wilson	2011	14	3,175	33	11	3,513	4
91	Tanner Lee	2017	12	3,143	23	4	3,046	16
92	Chris Laviano	2014–2016	25	3,102	21	7	3,185	15
93	Kyle Orton	2004	11	3,090	31	7	3,202	5
94	Todd Boeckman	2005–2008	25	3,085	31	21	3,170	16
95	Caleb TerBush	2009–2012	22	3,077	25	9	3,351	14
96	Kurtis Rourke	2024	12	3,042	29	10	3,007	5
97	Andrew Maxwell	2010–2013	25	3,014	14	16	2,882	9
98	Jake Christensen	2006–2008	24	2,950	21	14	2,977	9
99	Nico Iamaleava	2025–2026	16	2,910	17	8	3,559	11
100	Robert Marve	2010–2012	24	2,879	22	11	2,964	14
101	Gary Nova	2014	13	2,851	22	8	2,846	12
102	Artur Sitkowski	2018–2022	26	2,838	14	8	2,816	23
103	Ryan Hilinski	2021–2024	22	2,831	10	6	2,758	12
104	Max Brosmer	2024	13	2,828	18	8	2,792	6
105	Austin Appleby	2013–2015	16	2,777	19	3	3,067	19
106	Cameron Coffman	2012–2013	14	2,763	15	6	2,758	12
107	Ethan Garbers	2024	11	2,727	16	5	2,863	11
108	Braedyn Locke	2023–2024	15	2,713	18	5	2,715	11
109	Tommy DeVito	2022	13	2,650	15	8	2,685	4
110	Tate Forcier	2009–2010	20	2,647	17	9	2,938	14
111	Blake Powers	2004–2007	21	2,591	22	7	2,686	20
112	Katin Houser	2022–2026	18	2,572	18	8	2,693	9
113	Miller Moss	2024	9	2,555	18	4	2,537	9
114	Perry Hills	2014–2016	20	2,551	21	9	3,194	17
115	Gavin Wimsatt	2021–2023	25	2,537	14	12	3,165	17
116	Alessio Milivojevic	2024–2026	17	2,530	17	4	2,457	7
117	Michael Robinson	2004–2005	20	2,520	18	14	3,490	15
118	Danny Etling	2013–2014	13	2,490	16	2	2,386	12
119	Will Rogers	2024	11	2,458	14	6	2,379	7
120	Brandon Kirsch	2004–2005	14	2,438	14	7	2,724	11
121	Tre Roberson	2011–2013	23	2,433	20	8	3,415	11
122	Casey Thompson	2022	10	2,407	17	4	2,386	10
123	Preston Stone	2025	13	2,400	17	7	2,403	12
124	Tyler O'Connor	2013–2016	23	2,344	20	15	2,508	11
125	Tim Brasic	2005–2006	16	2,325	11	3	2,822	16
126	Cardale Jones	2013–2015	23	2,323	15	23	2,940	7
127	Reilly O'Toole	2011–2014	30	2,319	18	11	2,709	17
128	Connor Bazelak	2022	10	2,312	13	3	2,152	10
129	C.J. Brown	2014	13	2,288	13	7	2,827	10
130	Philip Nelson	2012–2013	18	2,179	17	9	2,727	14
131	Tanner Mordecai	2023	10	2,065	9	6	2,368	4
132	Rob Bolden	2010–2011	20	2,045	7	13	2,072	14
133	Rob Henry	2010–2013	30	2,044	15	11	2,701	14
134	Rocky Lombardi	2018–2020	17	1,902	11	7	2,068	14
135	Matt LoVecchio	2004	10	1,814	13	3	1,919	6
136	Ben Bryant	2023	9	1,807	13	6	1,774	6
137	Jack Lausch	2022–2024	20	1,792	7	8	2,082	9
138	Brendan Sullivan	2022–2024	21	1,778	13	7	2,185	8
139	Tyrrell Pigrome	2016–2019	34	1,777	9	13	2,407	10
140	Giovanni Rescigno	2016–2018	23	1,776	8	5	2,146	9
141	Justin Zwick	2004–2006	20	1,755	7	16	1,811	7
142	Jeff George Jr.	2016–2017	11	1,743	11	1	1,612	15
143	Mark Gronowski	2025	13	1,741	10	9	2,286	7
144	Caleb Rowe	2014–2016	16	1,679	11	5	1,816	22
145	Rocco Becht	2026	7	1,664	12	3	1,715	5
146	Josh Hoover	2026	7	1,660	18	6	1,705	0
147	Brendan Sorsby	2022–2023	11	1,595	15	2	1,863	6
148	Anthony Colandrea	2026	7	1,561	14	5	1,895	4
149	Zack Mills	2004	9	1,553	8	3	1,614	11
150	Bart Houston	2013–2016	25	1,540	9	23	1,531	5
151	Max Bortenschlager	2016–2017	12	1,522	11	4	1,508	5
152	AJ Bush Jr.	2018	10	1,413	6	4	2,146	10
153	Dustin Sherer	2006–2009	14	1,389	6	10	1,411	6
154	Ethan Grunkemeyer	2024–2025	11	1,348	8	7	1,302	5
155	Jack Tuttle	2019–2024	22	1,337	7	11	1,455	8
156	Kasim Hill	2017–2018	13	1,313	11	7	1,358	4
157	Davis Warren	2022–2024	16	1,288	7	13	1,292	10
158	John Paddock	2023	6	1,278	9	2	1,239	3
159	Zack Annexstad	2018	7	1,277	9	3	1,188	7
160	Josh Jackson	2019	10	1,274	12	3	1,221	6
161	Noah Kim	2022–2023	8	1,264	9	3	1,322	6
162	Tayven Jackson	2023–2024	11	1,263	6	7	1,315	6
163	Colton Joseph	2026	6	1,198	10	4	1,531	5
164	Joe Milton III	2018–2020	13	1,194	5	6	1,350	6
165	Max Shortell	2011–2012	13	1,162	8	3	1,224	7
166	Deacon Hill	2022–2023	14	1,152	5	10	1,016	8
167	John O'Korn	2016–2017	17	1,146	4	12	1,123	6
168	Edward Wright-Baker	2010–2011	11	1,109	5	3	1,202	5
169	Steven Threet	2008	10	1,105	9	2	1,306	7
170	Jon Beutjer	2004	8	1,082	8	2	1,084	4
171	Heinrich Haarberg	2023–2025	30	1,068	7	17	1,656	8
172	Dylan Lonergan	2026	5	1,066	10	2	1,110	6
173	Johnny Langan	2019–2023	51	1,043	8	18	1,883	10
174	Ryker Fyfe	2013–2016	16	1,043	10	11	1,030	6
175	Allan Evridge	2007–2008	13	1,015	5	8	1,016	5
176	TJ Lateef	2025–2026	9	986	6	5	1,128	1
177	Evan Simon	2021–2023	15	952	5	4	956	7
178	Ron Kellogg III	2012–2013	12	941	7	10	927	4
179	Hank Brown	2025–2026	8	939	6	6	952	2
180	Conor Rhoda	2014–2017	10	927	6	7	927	4
181	Eddie McGee	2007–2010	34	917	3	16	1,304	10
182	Kenny Guiton	2010–2013	16	893	16	16	1,276	4
183	Ryan Mallett	2007	11	892	7	8	854	5
184	Zander Diamont	2014–2016	15	873	2	4	1,386	5
185	Andrew Marty	2019–2021	14	857	8	4	1,183	8
186	Hunter Johnson	2019–2021	9	856	5	2	898	8
187	Chayce Crouch	2015–2017	17	852	4	9	1,212	6
188	Keith Nichol	2009–2011	33	826	9	23	963	3
189	Alex Padilla	2020–2022	11	821	3	7	768	4
190	Joe Bauserman	2008–2011	21	812	7	18	858	2
191	Aidan Smith	2019	8	760	3	1	971	9
192	Kyle Bolin	2017	6	711	3	2	721	6
193	Tanner McEvoy	2013–2015	25	709	5	20	1,415	6
194	Demry Croft	2015–2017	12	708	4	5	1,057	7
195	Nick Sheridan	2008–2009	10	701	2	4	804	6
196	Hunter Simmons	2025	8	664	2	2	642	7
197	Brad Bower	2004	7	658	4	3	704	3
198	Damon Dowdell	2004	5	657	4	1	787	6
199	Zack Oliver	2012–2015	13	648	3	6	646	8
200	Will Levis	2019–2020	14	644	3	9	1,117	2
201	Curt Phillips	2009–2013	13	642	5	8	890	5
202	Danny O'Neil	2025	6	635	5	3	693	5
203	Luke McCaffrey	2019–2020	11	608	3	4	1,138	6
204	M.J. Rivers II	2018	7	547	3	1	612	3
205	AJ Surace	2025–2026	6	533	8	2	496	4
206	Chubba Purdy	2022–2023	11	529	2	3	782	6
207	Danny O'Brien	2012	6	523	3	3	441	1
208	Matt Robinson	2018–2020	11	508	1	2	492	1
209	Dusty Kiel	2010–2011	9	498	3	3	500	3
210	Justin Siller	2008–2011	26	496	3	13	760	2
211	Chris Pazan	2004–2005	8	474	2	1	420	4
212	Pat Devlin	2007–2008	10	459	4	10	461	0
213	Jason Manson	2005–2006	8	440	1	5	519	5
214	Malachi Singleton	2025	11	439	5	1	641	2
215	Shane Morris	2013–2016	11	434	0	6	521	5
216	Beau Pribula	2023–2024	23	424	9	20	995	1
217	Jeremy Hecklinski	2025–2026	6	418	4	5	429	1
218	Logan Smothers	2021–2022	11	413	0	3	574	1
219	Evan Watkins	2010–2011	7	378	2	4	441	5
220	Andrew Brewer	2006–2009	28	368	1	15	570	4
221	Brock Thomas	2025–2026	9	358	2	8	367	1
222	Damion Terry	2014–2017	24	356	1	17	602	2
223	MJ Morris	2024	7	350	5	2	362	5
224	Andrew Bunch	2018–2019	6	333	2	1	372	2
225	Devin Brown	2022–2024	14	331	3	13	368	1
226	Austin Burton	2021–2022	12	317	3	8	383	2
227	Tommy Stevens	2016–2018	20	304	4	18	810	1
228	Chase Wolf	2019–2022	10	292	3	8	283	5
229	Alberto Mendoza	2024–2025	9	292	5	9	479	1
230	Joe Burrow	2016–2017	9	287	2	9	340	0
231	Chris Chugunov	2019	9	286	6	9	276	0
232	Christian Veilleux	2021–2022	5	282	3	4	317	0
233	Jeff Sims	2023	5	282	1	2	471	6
234	Tate Martell	2018	6	269	1	6	397	0
235	Lincoln Kienholz	2023–2025	9	250	1	8	318	0
236	Dylan McCaffrey	2018–2019	10	242	3	8	408	0
237	TJ Green	2017–2019	7	236	0	4	268	1
238	Ryan Brand	2017	5	204	1	2	250	2
239	Tony Mortensen	2004–2008	10	179	1	6	216	3
240	Matt Alviti	2014–2017	13	169	1	6	313	0
241	Johnathan Lewis	2017	7	167	2	2	278	4
242	Cole Snyder	2019–2021	7	165	1	3	213	0
243	Alex Orji	2022–2024	20	155	3	16	547	2
244	Cole Kramer	2019–2023	18	129	4	11	355	3
245	Aaron Bailey	2013–2014	13	122	2	5	325	1
246	Khristian Martin	2025	5	105	1	3	113	0
247	Tyler DeSue	2018–2019	7	104	1	3	98	0
248	Jack Miller III	2020–2021	5	101	0	5	123	0
249	Lance LeGendre	2019–2020	6	98	0	2	191	2
250	Peyton Mansell	2018	5	83	0	4	114	1
251	Grant Wilson	2025–2026	6	79	2	6	130	0
252	Ryan Boe	2024–2026	9	59	0	7	168	2
253	Cam Fancher	2026	5	59	0	2	86	1
254	Carl Richardson	2021–2022	5	58	0	1	58	1
255	Joe Brennan	2011	6	48	0	6	57	1
256	Russell Bellomy	2012–2014	5	46	0	3	62	4
257	Chris Streveler	2014–2015	8	37	1	6	280	1
258	Tylin Oden	2016	6	2	0	1	146	0

Also in the Big Ten: running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, defenders, kickers, punters. Every school and conference: schools, conferences. The games are ESPN's box scores since 2004 (the Method says where they fall short); a position is the roster's, else read off the box score, so a tight end from before 2014 may be listed with the wide receivers.