Saturday Tradition’s Big Ten quarterback rankings ahead of Week 3: How low can Iowa’s signal-caller go?

It was supposed to be nonconference cupcake week in the Big Ten, with just a couple of exceptions. All 14 teams played as favorites on Saturday, with only 2 of them expected to be challenged: Iowa (-3.5 vs. Iowa State) and Illinois (-4 vs. Virginia). Only Maryland (-26.5 at Charlotte) had to go on the road.

But then the games actually happened, and down went not only Iowa but heavy favorites Wisconsin, Nebraska and Northwestern, too. Quarterback play wasn’t the main issue for anyone other than Iowa, and Ryan Hilinski posted a monster game while trying in vain to rally the Wildcats against Duke.

The stats from the other games, as is wont to happen in the early season, might be skewed, either to the obnoxiously good by sieve-like opposing defenses or to the humble by early exits of starters in blowout victories. In winning the starting job at Michigan, JJ McCarthy improved his season completion rate to 93.8%, earning himself a few rungs toward the top of our ladder. … And on that note, we’re announcing that we’ll have no more dual or tri-entries. Now that Jim Harbaugh has picked a guy, we will too, even if Rutgers won’t.

We’ll temper our reaction to the Week 2 data given the lopsided nature of most of the games, while also heaping the appropriate amount of scorn on the Hawkeyes’ offense — if that’s even possible.

Heading into Week 3, this is what we have:

20. Spencer Petras, Iowa

Week 2 stats: 12-26, 92 yards, INT. … Season stats: 45.1%, 201 yards, 2 INTs

The Hawkeyes have no offense, and Petras should be able to sue the Ferentzes for malpractice and non-support. But still … . Among the 12 B1G quarterbacks who qualify (minimum 15 attempts per game), only Petras has a QB rating below 100, and he’s well below, at 70.36.

19. Evan Simon, Rutgers

Week 2 stats: 10-13, 156 yards, 2 TDs. … Season stats: 72%, 219 yards, 2 TDs

Simon again shared the job with fellow sophomore Gavin Wimsatt in a 66-7 thumping of Wagner. Incumbent starter Noah Vedral remained out with an injury that could cost him more time. Wimsatt hasn’t shown much so far as a passer (45%, 1 TD, 2 INTs), but he does provide a running threat (102 yards on 9.3 per carry through 2 victories). Someone will take the first snap Saturday afternoon at Temple; we’re just not sure who.

18-13. Best of the backups

We’ll take the best 6 backups in the league, led by 5-star Drew Allar at Penn State and recently demoted Cade McNamara at Michigan, over anyone the Hawkeyes or Scarlet Knights have to offer right now.

Drew Allar does not look like a true freshman quarterback.
pic.twitter.com/NTRlkULJop

— Tyler Calvaruso (@tyler_calvaruso) September 10, 2022

12. Payton Thorne, Michigan State

Week 2 stats: 18-28, 212 yards, 2 INTs. … Season stats: 57.7%, 445 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs

Thorne hated his performance in a 52-0 victory over Akron, so we’ll let him provide the commentary.

Thorne says his inconsistent passing "is pissing me off because (it was) the same thing last week. And that's never been an issue for me."

— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 10, 2022

11. Graham Mertz, Wisconsin

Week 2 stats: 18-31, 227 yards, 2 TDs, INT. … Season stats: 68.1%, 446 yards, 3 TDs, INT

The former highly-regarded 4-star recruit has not elevated Wisconsin’s offense since taking over as the starter in 2020. The Badgers remain a ground-based attack, and when they need something more, Mertz hasn’t been able to deliver. The latest example came in Saturday’s loss to 17.5-point underdog Washington State. Mertz wasn’t awful, but he didn’t find a higher gear, either.

10. Casey Thompson, Nebraska

Week 2 stats: 23-34, 318 yards, TD. … Season stats: 63.9%, 866 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs

Obviously, based on the stats above, Thompson isn’t at fault for the 45-42 loss to Georgia Southern that got Scott Frost fired. The Texas transfer has been mostly good through the Huskers’ 1-2 start. He’s even rushed for 4 TDs, all of the short-yardage variety. The INTs are the knock — he rates worst in the league along with Michigan State’s Payton Thorne is that category.

9. Connor Bazelak, Indiana

Week 2 stats: 16-29, 197 yards, 2 TDs, INT. … Season stats: 54.3%, 527 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs

The Missouri transfer and his Hoosiers woke up after a scoreless first half to subdue Idaho 35-22. Blanked for a half by the Vandals? Not good.

8. Tommy DeVito, Illinois

Week 2 stats: 17-25, 196 yards, 2 TDs, INT. … Season stats: 67%, 622 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs

The Syracuse transfer has stabilized the QB position for Bret Bielema, posting solid stats to complement B1G leading rusher Chase Brown. (Yes, that is the exact same sentence from last week. Still applies after a 24-3 thrashing of Virginia.) The Illini will look to improve to 3-1 a week from Thursday when they host Chattanooga under the lights.

7. Tanner Morgan, Minnesota

Week 2 stats: 14-18, 287 yards, TD. … Season stats: 73%, 461 yards, TD

The efficient 6th-year senior hands off a lot in PJ Fleck’s offense, but he’s been rock solid on his limited attempts through 2 blowout victories.

6. Sean Clifford, Penn State

Week 2 stats: 19-27, 213 yards, TD. … Season stats: 60.9%, 495 yards, 5 TDs, INT

The opening drive against Ohio was classic “good Clifford,” as he went 7-for-7 for 71 yards and then got pushed across the goal line for a rushing touchdown. He gave way after 2 incompletions in the second half, and 5-star freshman Drew Allar put on a show. Clifford’s grip on the job will be as good as his winning percentage, which will get a test Saturday afternoon at Auburn.

5. Ryan Hilinski, Northwestern

Week 2 stats: 36-60, 435 yards, 2 TDs, INT. … Season stats: 64.3%, 749 yards, 4 TDs, INT

Don’t look now, but Northwestern thinks it’s Purdue! Hilinski did everything he could to rally the Wildcats from an early hole against Duke, including turning running back Evan Hull into a 200-yard receiver. The rally came up short, but the former transfer from South Carolina of the SEC is on a roll. He’s averaging a league-best 374.5 passing yards per game.

4. JJ McCarthy, Michigan

Week 2 stats: 11-12, 229 yards, 3 TDs. … Season stats: 93.8%, 259 yards, 3 TDs

McCarthy made the most of his first start for the Wolverines, making very short work of Hawaii. Set up to win his quarterback competition with Cade McNamara, he took full advantage. UM fans will look forward to Saturday’s start vs. lowly UConn and many more to come. He’s a major threat as a runner, too, averaging 16.5 yards on 4 carries. This ride is just getting started.

If you tweet "JJ McCarthy", it's a free automatic 20 likes minimum on Michigan Twitter right now.

— WC (@WolverineCorner) September 12, 2022

3. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland

Week 2 stats: 27-31, 391 yards, 4 TDs, INT. … Season stats: 78.5%, 681 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs

Tagovailoa found his rhythm after a mundane opener, by his standards, against Buffalo. He racked up all 4 of his TDs against Charlotte within his first 17 throws, all but 1 of them completions. We’re bringing back the earworm. Ah, Lia, here we go again. (Click it. You know you can’t resist.)

2. Aidan O’Connell, Purdue

Week 2 stats: 17-19, 211 yards, 4 TDs. … Season stats: 59.7%, 567 yards, 5 TDs

O’Connell easily could have doubled those totals against Indiana State, but coach Jeff Brohm backed off after halftime in a 56-0 win over the Sycamores. In a near pick-’em game at Syracuse this week, O’Connell will have a chance to really cut it loose.

1. CJ Stroud, Ohio State

Week 2 stats: 16-24, 351 yards, 4 TDs. … Season stats: 69%, 574 yards, 6 TDs

Now that Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka have settled in at receiver, Stroud should keep rolling this Saturday night vs. Toledo. Once Jaxon Smith-Njigba returns, look out.

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