Reports out of Columbus suggest Ohio State has a bona fide quarterback battle going on.

It’s more of a luxury than a problem for Ryan Day, as both options to replace CJ Stroud present major upside and the winner gets to throw to the best receiving group in college football.

Some other B1G programs find themselves at the other end of the spectrum, hoping they have 1 good option. Around the league, 12 of the 14 programs will install new or still unproven starters under center. Seven teams are expected to throw 1st-year transfers into the fire, some of them battle-tested elsewhere, others not so much.

So if you’re wondering about your team’s — or its B1G opponents’ — upside and downside at the QB position, here’s a primer:

Illinois: Luke Altmyer

Hold on job: 100% … Bret Bielema has confirmed that Altmyer has the job over senior transfer John Paddock from Ball State.

Upside: He’s a 4-star recruit from 2021 with enough size (6-2, 200), arm strength and mobility within the pocket to fit Bielema’s scheme. As a redshirt sophomore, he has potential to grow into the position over multiple years.

Downside: Very limited experience over 2 seasons at Ole Miss, with mediocre numbers (317 yards on 51.9% passing in 9 appearances, with 3 TDs and 3 INTs). New to Illinois, although Bielema says he’s already in command of the offense and the huddle.

Indiana: Tayven Jackson

Hold on job: 70% … Tom Allen is also considering fellow RS freshman Brendan Sorsby, and Dexter Williams could return from his knee injury by mid-season.

Upside: Jackson went 3-for-4 for 37 yards last season as a true freshman at Tennessee. That’s a wealth of production compared to Sorsby, who went 3-for-6 for 8 yards for the Hoosiers. Seriously, the 4-star Jackson ranked 13th among QB recruits in 2022 in 247Sports’ composite rankings, while 3-star Sorsby was 66th. Jackson is touted as being elusive in the pocket and a capable runner, which will help.

Downside: Minimal experience, new system, bad team. Played in a run-heavy offense in high school, so he might be a work in progress as a passer.

Iowa: Cade McNamara

Hold on job: 100%

Upside: Solid skills and big-game poise demonstrated while leading Michigan to CFP in 2021. Should be a great fit at Iowa, for now and possibly next season, as he has that eligibility remaining. His career 63.1% completion rate and 21-7 TD-to-INT ratio, if duplicated, would have Hawkeyes fans throwing multiple parades in his honor.

Downside: Lost job to JJ McCarthy early in 2022, then missed most of season with injury. So he’ll be rusty to start this season, regardless of practice reps. Not proven as a big-time arm talent, as Wolverines relied on running game to great extent. A 3-star recruit in 2019, the 6-1, 205-pound 24-year-old offers very little as a runner. He’s already been banged up in practice and is questionable for Week 1.

Maryland: Taulia Tagovailoa

Hold on job: 100%

Upside: High percentage passer who can get the ball to most spots on the field. Lots of experience, 4th season starting for Terps.

Downside: Not great at avoiding pressure. Takes too many sacks. Lays eggs in big games (5 picks in 2021 loss to Iowa, 74 passing yards and 7 sacks taken in 2022 shutout loss to Penn State).

Michigan: JJ McCarthy

Hold on job: 100%

Upside: Protects ball (only 5 INTs in 2022). Runs well, with B1G-high 306 rushing yards last season. At 12-1 as starter, has total confidence of coaching staff. Should be hitting his prime in Year 2 as starter.

Downside: Completion percentage waned after hot start. Not consistent hitting the deep ball. Could be better in red zone, as Jake Moody had 3 games with 4+ field goals in 2022. Michigan was just 6th best in B1G (66.2%) in converting red zone trips to TDs.

Michigan State: Noah Kim

Hold on job: 80% … As of mid-August, Mel Tucker was still saying RS freshman Katin Houser and true freshman Sam Leavitt were in the mix.

Upside: Experience in the system as backup to departed Payton Thorne. Good numbers in small sample size (14-for-19, 174 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs).

Downside: Only a 3-star recruit in 2020, the 6-2 Kim will have to overachieve to fend off talented 4-star youngsters Houser and Leavitt.

Minnesota: Athan Kaliakmanis

Hold on job: 100% … PJ Fleck hasn’t mentioned a competition. He’s too busy pumping up his new starter.

Upside: Good size and pedigree as a 6-4, 215-pound former 4-star recruit. Got some experience with 5 starts in place of injured veteran Tanner Morgan. Best outing came in win over Wisconsin, when he went 19-for-29 for 319 yards and 2 TDs. Showed some running skills with 34 carries for 140 yards over 11 appearances.

Downside: Mediocre numbers spelling Morgan, with more picks (4) than TDs (3) thrown. Outside of Wisconsin game, didn’t do much as a passer as Fleck rode RB Mo Ibrahim. So he’s still unproven as a leader and decision-maker in the clutch.

Nebraska: Jeff Sims

Hold on job: 100% … Casey Thompson is gone and Chubba Purdy will remain a backup for now. Henrich Haarberg might be the future.

Upside: Experience, having made 23 starts — including 10 as a true freshman — at Georgia Tech. Good size at 6-4, 220. A dual-threat QB, with 4,464 passing yards and 1,152 rushing yards over the past 3 seasons as a Yellow Jacket.

Downside: The TD-INT ratio was only 30-23 in the ACC, and B1G West foes Iowa and Illinois have some serious ball hawks.

Northwestern: Ben Bryant

Hold on job: 85% … The transfer from Cincinnati should hold off Brendan Sullivan and last year’s Game 1 starter, Ryan Hilinski.

Upside: Experience. He’s a 6th-year senior coming off a solid year with the Bearcats (2,731 yards, 61.2%, 21 TDs, 7 INTs, 9-2 W-L record). Motivated. Wants to impress NFL scouts in final college season.

Downside: A 3-star in 2018, he’s running out of time to have a breakthrough. And he’s walking into a mess in Evanston in the wake of a hazing scandal and coaching change. Coming off a foot injury that ended his season after 11 games in 2022.

Ohio State: Kyle McCord

Hold on job: 55% … It’s late August, and Ryan Day is saying things that indicate he’s really unsure about CJ Stroud’s replacement. RS freshman Devin Brown has closed the gap on true junior McCord.

Upside: A high 4-star recruit in 2021, the 6-3, 215-pound McCord profiles as a classic pro-style passer who should thrive in the Buckeyes’ offense. He has 12 games worth of experience, including a start vs. Akron (13-of-19, 318 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) as a true freshman.

Downside: Brown, a near clone of McCord in size and recruiting ranking, profiles as the better all-around athlete, but with zero experience throwing the ball for the Buckeyes. With some OSU insiders thinking Brown will prevail, it’s clear McCord hasn’t taken command of the offense despite a head start in the race.

Penn State: Drew Allar

Hold on job: 95% … If he struggles mightily, staff is high on mobile RS freshman Beau Pribula. James Franklin hasn’t made it official yet.

Upside: Big and strong at 6-5, 243. Rose to 5-star status with strong finish to high school career. Arm-wise, he has scouts drooling.

Downside: Green. Played in 10 games as freshman, but only saw meaningful snaps in opener when Sean Clifford was out briefly with cramps. Expected to be adequate at best as a runner.

Purdue: Hudson Card

Hold on job: 100%

Upside: What’s not to like? A 4-star, top-100 recruit in 2020, the 6-2, 210-pound junior proved good enough to make 5 starts over the past 2 seasons for Texas before getting crowded out by No. 1 overall recruits Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. The career stats are solid: 65.5% completion rate with 11 TDs vs. 2 picks. He seems like a perfect fit for Purdue.

Downside: He may need some time to acclimate to new surroundings, B1G defenses and colder weather. Couldn’t hold on to Longhorns starting job vs. Casey Thompson in 2021 or Ewers in ’22. Arm strength isn’t elite. Despite good mobility, wasn’t good at avoiding sacks, going down 18 times in 13 appearances over 2021-22.

Rutgers: Gavin Wimsatt

Hold on job: 95% … Greg Schiano is committed to starting the season with Wimsatt over fellow returnee Evan Simon. Lasting the season is another matter.

Upside: Wimsatt has ideal size at 6-3, 225 and had enough upside coming out of high school in 2021 to earn a 4-star rating. Just 19 years old, he could still blossom.

Downside: He posted awful numbers while making 6 starts in 2022, and he’s still at Rutgers. Maybe new OC Kirk Ciarrocca helps, but the Scarlet Knights’ offense may not be salvageable.

Wisconsin: Tanner Mordecai

Hold on job: 100%

Upside: Huge. Coming off 7,000+ yards and 72 TDs over the past 2 seasons at SMU, the 6-2, 218-pound redshirt senior is exactly what new coach Luke Fickell and OC Phil Longo were looking for in the transfer portal.

Downside: He did also throw 22 picks over the past 2 seasons, and against much weaker competition than the B1G brings. Adjusting to tougher opponents and cold, windy late-season weather will be a challenge.