Throughout the last 25 years, the Big Ten has undergone a slow transition from run-oriented, pro-style attacks to exciting spread offenses.
The metamorphosis has produced impressive statistics by a number of quarterbacks in recent years, including Troy Smith, Drew Stanton, and even the enigmatic Juice Williams.
But long before the new breed of athletic, versatile signal-callers emerged throughout the Big Ten, Drew Brees, Kerry Collins, and Elvis Grbac took to the air and tallied big numbers while leading their respective institutions to sterling success.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and examine the 25 best quarterbacks to grace the gridiron since 1985.
No. 25 Craig Krenzel, Ohio State (2000-2003)
By constantly reminding viewers of the size of Craig Krenzel’s brain during his playing days, the media made Ohio State games painful to watch.
But winning matters, which is why Krenzel makes the cut.
Krenzel’s statistics weren’t overly impressive, but he found a way to make plays when it mattered.
He passed for 4,493 yards and threw 28 touchdowns during his career. He was also an opportunistic runner, finishing third on Ohio State in rushing in his senior season.
His limited physical abilities were obvious, but it is difficult to overlook a 25-2 record as a starter.
Ohio State’s 2002 National Championship solidifies Krenzel’s spot in the top-25.
No. 24 Brett Basanez, Northwestern (2002-2005)
One of the more underrated players in the recent history of the Big Ten, Basanez’s name is all over Northwestern’s record books.
The competitive Basanez led Randy Walker’s potent offense and engineered wins over Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Penn State along the way.
Basanez’s best season came in 2005, when he threw for 3,622 yards and 21 touchdowns while leading the Wildcats to a 7-5 record.
No. 23 Tom Brady, Michigan (1996-1999)
Amazingly, one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history was barely good enough to make the cut.
Tom Brady’s collegiate career provided little foreshadowing to his greatness at the next level, but his two years as a starter produced solid numbers and plenty of wins.
The California native fought off Drew Henson after spending two years backing up Brian Griese and a host of others.
During his first season as a starter in 1998, Brady threw for 2,427 yards, engineering wins over Penn State and Ohio State.
He saved his best for last, passing for 369 yards and four touchdowns in Michigan’s Orange Bowl victory against Alabama as a senior.
No. 22 Drew Stanton, Michigan State (2003-2006)
Former Michigan State head coach John L. Smith once described his quarterback as “running like a drunken sailor.”
There wasn’t much beauty to it, but Drew Stanton’s style was undeniably effective.
Despite having average physical abilities, Stanton had toughness and savvy, which helped him to become one of the more productive players in Michigan State history.
He finished his career second all-time in passing yards for the Spartans and made Michigan State a difficult matchup for opposing teams.
No. 21 Juice Williams, Illinois (2006-2009)
Surprised to see Juice Williams on the list?
Although it is difficult to ignore his precipitous fall from grace in the final season of his career, the total body of work is very impressive.
Despite lacking tremendous speed as a runner or accuracy as a passer, Williams produced terrific numbers during his four-year career at Illinois.
After an impressive freshman campaign in 2006, Williams led the upstart Illini to a Rose Bowl berth and appeared poised for greatness.
Williams enjoyed his best season in 2008, when he tallied 3,892 yards of total offense. He threw for over 400 yards in three games, including a 503-yard explosion against Minnesota.
And then the bottom fell out.
The Illini began the 2009 season by losing three out of the first four games, prompting Ron Zook to bench the turnover-prone quarterback in favor of Eddie McGee.
Williams finished his career with 10,594 yards of total offense, which ranks fifth all-time in Big Ten History. He holds numerous school records at Illinois, but will likely be remembered more for his late shortcomings than his early success.
No. 20 Daryll Clark, Penn State (2006-2009)
After playing sparingly during his first two seasons in Happy Valley, Daryll Clark finally got his chance in 2008.
He responded with a terrific season that easily could have ended with an unexpected appearance in the National Championship game had it not been for an upset at the hands of Iowa.
Although he fought to overcome a stigma of coming up short in big games, Clark’s numbers during his two seasons as a starter speak for themselves.
The Youngstown, Ohio native threw for over 3,000 yards in 2009 and led the Nittany Lions to a victory over LSU in the Capital One Bowl.
No. 19 Jeff Smoker, Michigan State (2000-2003)
Jeff Smoker’s up-and-down career in East Lansing featured plenty of production and a battle with addiction.
Thanks in part to the dominance of teammate Charles Rogers, Smoker captured both the single-season and career passing yardage marks at Michigan State.
After struggling mightily during a disappointing 2002 season, Smoker rebounded by having his best season in 2003, throwing for 3,395 yards and 21 touchdowns despite no longer having Rogers at his disposal.
Michigan State made up for underachieving during Smoker’s first three seasons at the helm by finishing 8-5 in 2003.
No. 18 Jack Trudeau, Illinois (1982-1985)
Like his counterpart Chuck Long, Jack Trudeau is barely eligible but clearly deserves a spot in the top-25.
In his first season as a starter in 1983, Trudeau threw for 2,446 yards and 18 touchdowns while leading Illinois to a seemingly improbable Rose Bowl Berth.
Despite a blowout loss to UCLA in the Rose Bowl, it was clear that Illinois had a special quarterback.
Illinois was mediocre during his final two seasons under center, finishing a combined 13-9-1. But along the way, Trudeau climbed up the Illini record books.
He remains the school’s all-time passing yardage leader.
No. 17 Drew Tate, Iowa (2003-2006)
Iowa fans will never forget “the catch”, when Drew Tate connected with unheralded wideout Warren Holloway as time expired to give Iowa thrilling win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl.
The play capped off a miraculous season for the Hawkeyes, when Tate, a first-year starter, engineered a 10-2 record despite having almost no help from the running game.
Tate was thrust into spotlight and things began to unravel. The Hawkeyes underachieved dramatically in the next two seasons, which were characterized by close losses and off-field problems.
Tate’s fiery demeanor led to clashes with offensive coordinator Ken O’ Keefe.
Known for his ability to improvise under pressure, the Texas native is second all-time in passing yards for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa fans can’t help but think what could have been.
No. 16 Kyle Orton, Purdue (2001-2004)
Kyle Orton tended to drift into Joe Tiller’s doghouse from time to time, but he still managed to have an outstanding collegiate career.
The Iowa native finished with 9,337 yards in his Purdue career and had his best season in 2004, when he threw for 3,090 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Orton was occasionally replaced by the more athletic Brandon Kirsch during his senior season and was never able to consistently generate wins for the Boilermakers.
No. 15 John Stocco, Wisconsin (2003-2006)
Like many college players, John Stocco looked awful early in his career. He routinely was overwhelmed by the pass-rush and struggled to find consistency.
But as his career progressed, he just kept getting better and better.
Stocco finished his career with 7,217 yards and had his best season in 2005, when he threw 21 touchdowns despite being sacked an incredible 37 times.
His 31-7 record as a starter solidifies his position as one of the best quarterbacks in the Badgers’ history.
No. 14 John Navarre, Michigan (2001-2004)
Surrounded by a bevy of weapons throughout his career with Big Blue, John Navarre showcased a strong arm and enjoyed considerable success.
Teamed with the likes of Marquise Walker and Braylon Edwards, Navarre picked apart Big Ten defenses, especially when given time to throw the ball.
Scrambling was certainly not his forte.
Navarre threw for 9,254 yards and 28 touchdowns during his three years at the helm in Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines compiled a 28-10 record during his three seasons as a starter, capped off by a 28-14 loss at the hands of USC in the 2004 Rose Bowl.
No. 13 Joe Germaine, Ohio State (1996-1998)
Joe Germaine currently ranks third all-time in passing yards at Ohio State, but could have easily challenged Art Schlichter for the top spot in the Buckeye record books had he not been part of a platoon for two seasons in Columbus.
John Cooper alternated snaps between Jermaine and Stanley Jackson in 1996 and 1997, when the Bucks went a combined 21-4.
In 1998, his only season as a full-time player, Germaine passed for 3,108 yards and 24 touchdowns to lead Ohio State to an 11-1 record and a No. 2 ranking in the final AP Poll.
Germaine led numerous late rallies during his college career, including a drive to lift the Buckeyes to a 1997 Rose Bowl win over Jake Plummer and Arizona State.
No. 12 Darrell Bevell, Wisconsin (1992-1995)
Highlighted by a 10-1-1 season in 1995 that included a Rose Bowl victory UCLA, Darrell Bevell’s career in Madison was filled with tremendous success.
On an individual level, Bevell became Wisconsin’s all-time leader in passing yards while posting three of the best seasons in school history.
On a team level, Wisconsin struggled during Bevell’s freshman and senior seasons while prospering during his sophomore and junior campaigns.
No. 11 Curtis Painter, Purdue (2005-2008)
Quietly, Curtis Painter nearly broke Drew Brees’ all-time Big Ten passing yardage mark during his outstanding career at Purdue.
After playing sparingly as a freshman, Painter distinguished himself by throwing for over 4,000-yards as a sophomore in 2006.
In 2007, he threw for 3,848 yards and 29 touchdowns. His numbers declined sharply during his senior season, thanks to injuries and a lack of talent around him.
Keep in mind that Painters’ records are somewhat inflated when compared to his predecessors thanks to the NCAA’s decision to begin counting stats from bowl games.
Still, there is no question Painter ranks in the top-15.
No. 10 Chad Henne, Michigan (2004-2007)
The man who got his first tattoo when he was in junior high remains under appreciated by some Michigan fans despite his extremely productive college career.
Henne is Michigan’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes, shattering the previous marks as a four-year starter.
His outstanding numbers as a freshman (2,743 yards, 25 touchdowns) suggested that he would supplant Elvis Grbac as the greatest quarterback in school history.
Instead, Henne’s production declined slowly during the next three years, bottoming out in his senior campaign in 2007.
Michigan compiled a 38-14 record during Henne’s reign, but lost all four games to Ohio State, three out of four bowl games, and suffered one of the most infamous upsets in college football history at the hands of Appalachian State.
No. 9 Bobby Hoying, Ohio State (1993-1995)
The man who supplanted Kirk Herbstreit at Ohio State had arguably the second-best single-season of any quarterback in school history in 1995.
Bobby Hoying threw for 3,269 yards and 29 touchdowns while leading the Bucks to an 11-2 record in 1995, capped off by 20-14 loss at the hands of Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl.
A three-year starter, Hoying was surrounded by a bevy of talent, including Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, speedster Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn, Rickey Dudley, Pepe Pearson, and Raymont Harris.
He finished his career with a 30-7-1 record as a starter.
No. 8 Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State (2008-Present)
Has Terrelle Pryor finally improved as a passer? If the Rose Bowl was any indication, the answer appears to be yes.
His athletic ability as a dual-threat quarterback led to comparisons to Vince Young and placed incredible pressure on his broad shoulders from the moment he chose to sign with the Buckeyes.
Pryor has certainly lived up to his reputation as a runner, but struggled mightily with accuracy during his sophomore season, causing conservative head coach Jim Tressell to scale back the offense even more.
A 266-yard performance in Ohio State’s win over Oregon reminded college football fans that the sky is still the limit for Pryor.
Although the Bucks’ face questions at wide receiver entering the 2010, Pryor seems poised for a big year and a spot in the 2011 NFL Draft.
No. 7 Kurt Kittner, Illinois (1998-2001)
After becoming a starter during his freshman season, Kurt Kittner turned his early struggles into impressive success.
The steady signal-caller improved, as did Illinois’ record under head coach Ron Turner.
As a senior, Kittner threw for 3,256 yards and 27 touchdowns while leading the Illini to a Big Ten Title and a berth in the Sugar Bowl.
Kittner finished his career just three yards behind Jack Trudeau on Illinois’ all-time passing yardage list and engineered the most prolific offense in school history in 2001.
No. 6 Kerry Collins, Penn State (1992-1994)
Kerry Collins ushered Penn State into Big Ten play in spectacular fashion during his first full season as a starter in 1993.
Teamed with Bobby Engram and Ki-Jana Carter, Collins engineered the Nittany Lions to a 10-2 record capped off by an impressive Citrus Bowl win over Tennessee.
That was only the beginning.
The 1994 edition of the Nittany Lions boasted one of the most prolific offenses in Big Ten History and finished the season undefeated and No. 2 in the AP Poll.
Collins’ numbers were hindered a bit by Penn State’s reliance on the ground game, but his 22-2 record during his two seasons as a starter is unparalleled.
No. 5 Elvis Grbac, Michigan (1989-1992)
Elvis Grbac will certainly be remembered among the pantheon of greats to ever lace it up for the Maize and Blue.
During his four years at Michigan, Grbac played alongside the likes of Desmond Howard and Tyrone Wheatley.
Not surprising, the Wolverines enjoyed a great deal of success. Michigan claimed four Big Ten titles and compiled a 38-7-3 record.
Grbac’s best season came in 1991, when threw for 2,085 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing nearly 65 percent of his passes.
Despite failing to tally any of the five highest single season passing marks, Grbac ranks third on Michigan’s career passing yardage list.
No. 4 Chuck Long, Iowa (1982-1985)
Chuck Long is barely eligible, but there is no question that he deserves a spot in the top-5.
A four-year starter, Long thrived in Hayden Fry’s offense and resurrected the Hawkeyes’ program.
He remains Iowa’s all-time leader in total passing yards and compiled a 35-13-1 record as a starter.
The Illinois native finished as the runner-up in the 1985 Heisman Trophy voting to Bo Jackson after leading Iowa to a 10-1 regular season.
Iowa finished the historic 1985 season with a 45-28 loss to UCLA in the Rose Bowl, thanks in large part to star running back Ronnie Harmon’s mysterious fumbles.
No. 3 Troy Smith, Ohio State (2003-2006)
After finally beating out the highly touted Justin Zwick for good late in 2004, Smith’s career took off.
Known as both a passer and a runner, the confident Smith won the Heisman Trophy as a senior in 2006 after an incredible season.
Smith threw for 2,542 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2006, but struggled in the National Championship game as Ohio State fell to Florida 41-14.
The last player signed as part of the 2002 recruiting class, Smith will be remembered as one of the best quarterbacks in Big Ten history.
No. 2 Antwaan Randle El, Indiana (1998-2001)
One of the most dynamic athletes in the history of the Big Ten, Antwaan Randle El was simply a joy to watch during his career in Bloomington.
Despite being surrounding with very little talent, Randle El was enough to the Hoosiers competitive all by himself.
His numbers are as ridiculous as the moves he displayed during his college career.
Randle ranks fifth all-time on the NCAA’s total offense list and became the first player to pass and rush for over 40 touchdowns.
He finished his career with an astounding 11,364 yards and 92 touchdowns. He became the first player to accumulate at least 2,500 yards in each of his four collegiate seasons.
Randle El also caught four passes for 30 yards, returned 16 punts for 149 yards, and punted eight times for 240 yards.
The multi-talented Illinois native also played briefly for Indiana’s baseball and basketball teams before concentrating solely on football.
No. 1 Drew Brees, Purdue (1997-2000)
Cowboy Joe Tiller brought his prolific offense to Purdue from Wyoming and enjoyed instant success thanks to an undersized kid from Texas lined up in the shotgun.
Drew Brees finished his three-year career as a starter with a 24-13 record, capped off with a loss to Washington in the 2001 Rose Bowl.
Brees is at the top of the Big Ten record book in numerous categories, including passing yards, completions, and attempts. He passed for at least 300 yards 16 times during his career, including two 500-yard performances.
Brees won the Maxwell Award in 2000 and finished third in Heisman Trophy balloting in that same year.
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