Big Ten Media Days 2024: 5 QBs under most pressure for the Indianapolis event ft. Will Howard
The Big Ten Media Days 2024 are a spectacle for fans and media, but there's plenty of pressure involved. For a handful of quarterbacks, it's the start of a season in the spotlight. These passers will probably make the difference between success and underachievement.
Here are five passers whose names came up frequently at Big Ten Media Days and who will feel the pressure in 2024.
Big Ten Media Days 2024: 5 B1G QBs under pressure
1. Will Howard, Ohio State
If CJ Stroud couldn't get the Buckeyes over the hump and into a national title, how can Howard? That's the question the Kansas State transfer is seeking to answer in Columbus. A year ago, Kyle McCord was a game manager but left OSU behind Michigan in the Big Ten race.
Howard is a talented and experienced dual-threat QB. He has a wealth of talent around him at receiver and in the backfield. But Howard's task is tall and a bevy of talented passers (again, CJ Stroud!?!) couldn't get OSU to the top. Can Howard do it?
2. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Gabriel is in two new spots, first as a UCF transfer moving to the P5 world at Oregon and second in the Big Ten. The Ducks are definitely the team most in the public eye implicated in the question of whether the West Coast Big Ten additions can thrive. Oregon is regarded as a national competitor, but it's far from clear that they have earned that right.
Gabriel thus has two levels of proving to do. He was brilliant at UCF, but can the 5-foot-11 veteran dice up defenses in the Big Ten? And can he prove that the Ducks are neither soft nor overrated? There's plenty of pressure there.
3. Drew Allar, Penn State
The Nittany Lions seem to perenially be a team that's close to their big-time goals but always ends up a bit short. With Michigan and Ohio State fixed atop the Big Ten and Oregon now involved, Allar is a key to a possible statement season for PSU.
A season ago, Allar was solid, throwing just two interceptions against 25 touchdowns. But PSU lost to Michigan and Ohio State. If Allar can get the Nittany Lions to the CFP, he will have had a tremendously successful season. But it should be a massive challenge.
4. Cade McNamara, Iowa
Can Iowa play offensive football? After a 10-win season that featured the Hawkeyes averaging an embarrassing 15.4 points and 235 yards per game, it's a fair question. McNamara, a Michigan transfer, started five games and wasn't particularly impressive before he was knocked out by a season-ending injury.
Iowa will have a big-time defense. They haven't allowed 20 points per game in any of the last seven years. But can McNamara create enough points to make the Hawkeyes a contender? The heat is on and the senior is the only one who can provide the answer.
5. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
Nebraska has had seven consecutive losing seasons. That's frankly unbelievable, but Raiola, a true freshman, is tasked with being the man to break that string. Sure, he might not be the Game 1 starter, but in the long term, it's his team. If Nebraska is ever going to be any semblance of "back" to its original glory, Raiola will probably be an important part of it.
It's fair to wonder not only if Nebraska can reach its old levels of dominance, but even whether they can be any good at all. Raiola carries plenty of pressure heading into his freshman season.
Which Big Ten passers are you looking forward to seeing in 2024? Let us hear your thoughts about the group in the comments section below.