3 Big Ten QBs who could be a bust in 2024 college football season ft. Will Howard
The 2024 college football season is less than a month away as play is set to kick off on August 24 when eight teams take the field. While none of the Big Ten's 18 teams are amongst the group of eight teams that will play on the opening weekend, 14 of their programs will begin their season the following week.
The conference will have a new look this year, as the Oregon Ducks, UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans and Washington Huskies made the move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. Take a look at three quarterbacks - all of whom have been placed on the 2024 Maxwell Award watch list and are new to the conference - who could be busts in 2024 below.
3 Big Ten QBs who could be a bust in 2024 college football season
#1: Will Howard
Will Howard joined the Ohio State Buckeyes via the transfer portal after four years with the Kansas State Buckeyes. The four-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class has thrown for 5,786 yards, 48 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. He has completed 58.8% of his pass attempts while adding 921 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on 226 carries.
Howard has not even won the starting job with Ohio State set to begin their season on August 31. While the Buckeyes are still expected to contend for the national title, their projected starting quarterback could fall short of expectations.
#2: Dillon Gabriel
Dillon Gabriel will be donning the third uniform of his college football career in 2024. After spending the first three seasons of his career with the UCF Knights followed by two seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners, the three-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting class joined the Oregon Ducks via the transfer portal.
He has thrown for 14,865 yards, 125 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. Gabriel has completed 63.1% of his passes while adding 1,060 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns on 349 carries. He will face much tougher defenses now that he is in the Big Ten and his performance could take a step back.
#3: Miller Moss
Miller Moss will have big shoes to fill as he is set to replace former Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams as the USC Trojans' starting quarterback. The four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class has hardly seen the field in his three collegiate seasons. He has thrown for 914 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception while completing 71.7% of his passes.
Moss is inexperienced and will face some of the toughest defenses in the nation in the Big Ten. He could struggle in his first season as a starter despite high expectations.