Ranking B1G QBs entering Week 14: Can Warren produce in The Game?

Week 13 saw Will Howard put forth an almost flawless performance, Kurtis Rourke and the Indiana offense struggle mightily in a loss to Ohio State and Davis Warren help Michigan actually show some offensive spark.

Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel is back this week after Oregon enjoyed a bye.

Let’s check in on each B1G QB heading into Week 14:

18. Jack Lausch, Northwestern

Lausch and the Wildcats took a major step back last week in Ann Arbor in a 50-6 loss to Michigan. Lausch was just 10-of-21 passing for 106 yards and matched a career high with 2 interceptions. The Wildcats were held to 10 rushing yards, including 33 yards they lost on 6 sacks. They could not get the run game going, and they couldn’t consistently move the ball through the air. Next up is a date this week against Illinois at Wrigley Field.

Last week’s ranking: 18

17. Jackson Stratton, Iowa

With Brendan Sullivan out, Stratton got the call in Iowa’s 29-13 win over Maryland last week. The walk-on transfer from Colorado State didn’t really have to do much as the Hawkeyes leaned on the running game — Iowa finished with 268 rushing yards on 58 attempts — and their defense. Star tailback Kaleb Johnson rushed for 164 yards and 1 touchdown on a career-high 35 carries to pace the offense, which will likely need more through the air this week when the Hawkeyes host Nebraska. Stratton went 10-of-14 passing for 76 yards in the win over the Terrapins.

Last week’s ranking: N/R

16. Davis Warren, Michigan

Have the Wolverines woken up offensively? Warren had career highs with 26 completions and 35 attempts for 195 yards (his 2nd-highest total) with 1 touchdown and 1 interception in the team’s 50-6 blowout win over Northwestern this past weekend. Things are expected to be much more difficult for this offense, though, in The Game against Ohio State. The Buckeyes’ defense is nasty, so Warren and crew will be thoroughly tested as they try to potentially spoil OSU’s season.

Last week’s ranking: 16

15. Hudson Card, Purdue

The Boilermakers have dropped 10 straight games following last weekend’s loss to Michigan State. They will likely match a school record with an 11th loss under 2nd-year head coach Ryan Walters unless they can stun Indiana. Purdue did rally from being down 24-3, though. With a chance to drive for a game-tying touchdown midway through the 4th quarter, Card threw a pass toward Max Klare that was picked off by linebacker Jordan Turner. Card gave the Boilermakers a chance to tie on the next drive, but Jahmal Edrine dropped a long pass while behind the secondary. Purdue ended up turning it over on downs at midfield. Card was 26-of-47 for a career-high 342 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception, so he gave his team a chance to win. But Purdue has endured a disastrous season.

Last week’s ranking: 15

14. Braedyn Locke, Wisconsin

In a 44-25 loss to Nebraska, Locke went 20-of-30 passing for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns. A very solid game. But his 4th-quarter interception extended his streak of getting picked off at least once to 8 games. That will be an offseason focus for him and the Badgers, whose offensive plays were called by tight ends coach Nate Letton.

Locke is completing just 56.4 percemt of his throws and has thrown 10 picks this season.

Last week’s ranking: 14

13. Aidan Chiles, Michigan State

In the win over Purdue, the Oregon State transfer helped lead drives that ended with 3 touchdowns and a field goal on MSU’s first 4 drives in the 1st half to take a 24-3 lead. But then the offense bogged down and struggled to move the ball in the 2nd half. Chiles finished 15-of-31 for 159 yards yards and threw multiple touchdown passes for the 3rd time this season. He needs to work on his accuracy this offseason, but the Spartans are a win away from being eligible for a bowl with 1st-year head coach Jonathan Smith. Sparty plays Rutgers at home in the final regular-season game.

Chiles is tied with UCLA’s Ethan Garbers for most interceptions in the league (11).

Last week’s ranking: 13

12. Ethan Garbers, UCLA

Garbers and the Bruins are coming off a tough loss to rival USC in Pasadena. The Trojans rallied in the 4th quarter to score a 19-13 victory. Garbers was 20-of-29 for 265 yards, and he gave the Bruins a chance to win even behind an offensive line that was reshuffled and featured a 4th-string left tackle.

Last week’s ranking: 11

11. Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers

Rutgers endured a heartbreaking 38-31 loss to Illinois this past weekend at home. Kaliakmanis was 18-of-36 for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he was lethal on the ground as well. He had 13 carries for 84 yards and 2 scores. The Scarlet Knights were seconds away from their 1st in-conference 3-game win streak since joining the Big Ten in 2014.

Kaliakmanis has struggled with his accuracy all season. He is completing just 54.5 percent of his throws, which is the lowest in the league outside of Lausch.

Last week’s ranking: 10

10. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska

The 5-star true freshman threw for 293 yards and 1 touchdown in Nebraska’s 44-25 win over Wisconsin last Saturday to help the Cornhuskers become eligible for a bowl for the 1st time since 2016. The Huskers were able to score points on 6 straight possessions before Raiola kneeled a couple times as the clock was running out.

Raiola is completing 66.4 percent of his throws, but he has thrown 10 picks this fall.

Last week’s ranking: 12

9. Demond Williams Jr., Washington

A new era began in Seattle the last time we saw the Huskies in action. Williams replaced starter Will Rogers, and he helped lead the Huskies past UCLA 31-19 to clinch bowl eligibility. He led 3 2nd-half scoring drives as the Huskies extended their home win streak to 20 games. Rogers was 13-of-21 for 115 yards and 1 touchdown when he was pulled after throwing 2 interceptions. Head coach Jedd Fisch said he thought it was the right time to give Williams an opportunity, and he proceeded to complete 7-of-8 passes for 67 yards and 1 score and scrambled for 31 more yards.

Last week’s ranking: 9

8. Billy Edwards Jr., Maryland

Edwards was further banged up in a 29-13 loss to Iowa last weekend. He started the game nursing an injury to his throwing hand and was replaced by backup MJ Morris after 2 possessions, and the Terrapins trailed 13-0 at halftime. Edwards went back in and led Maryland to the Iowa 3-yard line in the 3rd quarter, but he was injured by a hit from defensive back Xavier Nwankpa. He has taken some hits all season, and head coach Mike Locksley complimented his toughness after the game.

Edwards ranks 3rd in the B1G with 261.9 passing yards per contest.

Last week’s ranking: 8

7. Jayden Maiava, USC

The UNLV transfer helped rally the flu-ridden Trojans to a 19-13 win over crosstown rival UCLA last week. They were trailing going into the 4th quarter at the Rose Bowl, but Maiava connected on a 4-yard touchdown to Ja’Kobi Lane midway through the frame to help the Trojans become bowl eligible. Up next for Maiava and the Trojans is a home game against Notre Dame. Can ‘SC spoil ND’s CFP plans?

Maiava took over for Miller Moss a few weeks ago and has passed for 546 yards with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.

Last week’s ranking: 7

6. Max Brosmer, Minnesota

All good things, sadly, must come to an end. Brosmer’s streak of 206 passes without an interception ended when he was picked off by Penn State’s Dominic DeLuca in the 2nd quarter of a 26-25 loss. He also lost a fumble on the 1st play of the 4th quarter. Both of those turnovers set up field goals for Penn State, which ultimately ended up being costly.

Brosmer has a 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and has been a real bright spot for the Golden Gophers this season despite a couple of miscues in the loss to the Nittany Lions.

Last week’s ranking: 6

5. Luke Altmyer, Illinois

Altmyer and the Fighting Illini stole a win over Rutgers this past weekend. Trailing by 1 point at the 40-yard line with 14 seconds to play and no timeouts, Altmyer connected with Pat Bryant at the 22, and the star receiver found his way to the end zone for the winning touchdown with 4 seconds left to give the Illini a 38-31 victory. Altmyer was just 12-of-26 passing, but he had 249 yards and 2 touchdowns as well as a 30-yard rushing score.

Altmyer has an impressive 20-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio on the season.

Last week’s ranking: 5

4. Drew Allar, Penn State

Allar passed for 244 yards and 1 touchdown, rushed for 1 score and directed 2 late 4th-down conversions to help PSU stave off Minnesota 26-25 this past Saturday and stay alive for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Once again, Tyler Warren was a top target. The star tight end had 8 receptions for 102 yards as the Nittany Lions notched their 3rd straight 10-win season.

Allar is tied for 2nd in the league in passing yards per attempt (9.6) and 3rd in completion percentage (72.2).

Last week’s ranking: 4

3. Kurtis Rourke, Indiana

Rourke and the Hoosiers endured a nightmare afternoon last weekend in Columbus. In the 38-15 loss to Ohio State, special teams mistakes and a dominant Buckeyes defense that sacked Rourke 5 times were too much to overcome. IU’s 151 total yards were its fewest this season as the Buckeyes beat the Hoosiers for the 30th straight time. Rourke was just 8-of-18 for 68 yards.

On the season, Rourke ranks 1st in the conference in yards per attempt (9.7), 2nd in interceptions (just 4) and 2nd in passer rating (175.2)

Last week’s ranking: 2

2. Will Howard, Ohio State

Performances like the one he had in the 38-15 win over Indiana are why Ryan Day and his staff brought in Howard from Kansas State. The transfer finished 22-of-26 passing for 201 yards and accounted for 3 touchdowns.

Howard is tops in the B1G in passer rating (180.5), touchdowns (26) and completion percentage (74.0).

Last week’s ranking: 3

1. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

Gabriel and the Ducks are coming off a bye and finish the regular season by hosting Washington on Saturday night. The last time they were in action, Gabriel and the Ducks survived a scare in Madison. He went 22-of-31 for 218 yards with 1 interception, and they were trailing 13-6 and facing 4th-and-9 from Wisconsin’s 41 when the 4th quarter started. But they would score a tying touchdown with 13:14 remaining, and a dominant final frame gave the Ducks a 16-13 victory.

Gabriel is 2nd in the conference in yards per game (278.7), touchdowns (22) and completion percentage (73.8).

Last week’s ranking: 1