Michigan football’s 2025 schedule shapes up to be somewhat easier than 2024 was. Today, we examine the 12 projected starting QBs the Wolverines are set to face and power rank them accordingly:
There’s no doubt the Michigan Wolverines played a gauntlet of a schedule in 2024. At the quarterback position, Michigan had to face Quinn Ewers, Miller Moss, Dillon Gabriel, Kurtis Rourke, Will Howard and Jalen Milroe. Will opposing quarterbacks be even better in 2025, or will they take a step back?
Let’s take a look and power rank each projected starting quarterback on Michigan’s upcoming schedule:
12. Joe Labas, Central Michigan
Labas started for the Chippewas to begin the season prior to undergoing season-ending surgery on his arm. He’s not guaranteed to be the starter, but he did throw for 1,114 yards in just five and a half games last season, so he’ll get the first shot.
11. Jack Layne, New Mexico
New Mexico experienced a breakout season for quarterback Devon Dampier in 2024. Unfortunately for the Lobos, it was a little too good, as Dampier transferred to Utah. With essentially an entirely new quarterback room in 2025, Layne appears to be the most likely to start. He most notably was the one keeping Idaho in the game against Oregon in late August before going down with in injury in the fourth quarter. He missed the next month and a half before returning and taking Idaho to the FCS quarterfinals.
10. Justyn Martin, Maryland
Mike Locksley and the Terrapins were hurt by the transfer portal arguably more than any other Big Ten team. To replace the three quarterbacks they lost this offseason, they brought in Justyn Martin from UCLA.
Martin has always screamed of potential, but just hasn’t been able to get on the field at UCLA. Through two seasons, he’s attempted just 35 passes with one touchdown. He will likely get the first crack at the starting job.
9. Preston Stone, Northwestern
Despite returning both Jack Lausch and Mike Wright at quarterback, Northwestern is likely to turn to Stone, a transfer from SMU. He is a fascinating character, as he started the past two seasons. However, in 2024, he was benched in favor of Kevin Jennings, who led SMU to the College Football Playoff.
Stone has more experience than most Northwestern quarterbacks ever seem to have, so he should step into the starting role.
8. Malachi Singleton, Purdue
Hudson Card waited a comically long time to declare for the NFL Draft, doing so just last week. However, Purdue was prepared and brought in Singleton from Arkansas, where his claim to fame is a game-winning touchdown run over No. 4 Tennessee.
However, Singleton is largely unproven despite the SEC playing time. He only appeared in five games for the Razorbacks last season and only attempted more than 10 passes once. On his career, he has thrown for 358 yards and one touchdown, with 17 additional carries for 71 yards and three touchdowns. The fact he was able to get playing time at an SEC school is just about the only reason he is as high as No. 8 on this list.
7. Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
The leader of the Michigan State program, Chiles displayed mixed results last year. Turnovers were a major issue, as his 13:11 touchdown-to-interception ratio won’t inspire much confidence. However, he did show major signs of progress throughout the season, all while accumulating 2,415 passing yards. If he has another offseason of progress, he could be a top half of the Big Ten caliber quarterback.
6. Demond Williams Jr., Washington
Williams was brought on to be the “future face of the program ,” according to Jedd Fisch. Demond played sporadically in 2024 as a change-of-pace quarterback, but with Will Rogers now gone, it’s Williams’ time to shine. Williams threw for 944 yards with eight touchdowns and just one pick. However, the ground is where he did most of his damage, running for 83 times for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Maybe it’s my biased Michigan-brain, but Williams running through Michigan’s front seven is etched in my mind. If he can take a step forward as a passer, he could be a disruptor in the Big Ten.
5. Billy Edwards Jr., Wisconsin
Edwards transferred to Wisconsin from Maryland having passed for 2,881 yards last season with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He’s no slouch as a runner either, as he rushed 81 times for 150 yards and five touchdowns. He is by no means an elite quarterback, but he’s a veteran, savvy player who is efficient and can provide the Badgers with the stability they’ve been missing at the position for the entire Luke Fickell era.
4. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Sayin is the great unknown on this list. A five-star recruit, he quickly abandoned ship in Alabama in favor of sitting the bench at Ohio State. In 2024, he threw a whopping 12 passes (completing five) for 84 yards and one touchdown. There are certainly quarterbacks on this list who are more polished and experienced, but it’s tough for me to put Sayin behind them knowing he’ll be throwing the ball to Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith. I wanted to drop Sayin lower on this list, but it wouldn’t shock me if he leads the entire conference in passing in 2025.
3. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
Raiola occasionally flashed brilliance as he completed 77 percent of his passes in a win over Colorado in his second career start. He also threw for nearly 300 yards in a win over Wisconsin late in the season. However, he also had some absolute clunkers. Raiola is still “the guy” in Lincoln, and I expect him to take a major step forward in 2025.
2. Jayden Maiava, USC
After playing at UNLV in 2023, it was a bit of a surprise when Maiava transferred to USC to be a backup. Midway through the season, he supplanted Moss as the starting quarterback. In the final four games (including the Las Vegas Bowl), Maiava led USC to a 3-1 record while throwing for 1,135 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions, along with three rushing touchdowns. It may be ambitious to put Maiava as high as No. 2, but Lincoln Riley has demonstrated excellence at developing quarterbacks, and Maiava had a very strong showing when finally being handed the keys.
1. John Mateer, Oklahoma
Mateer was arguably the biggest transfer of the college football offseason. Mateer was a bona fide star at Washington State last season, completing 224-of-347 passes (64.6 percent) for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed 178 times for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns.
While learning a new offensive scheme always presents its challenges, Mateer is easily the most talented quarterback on Michigan’s schedule in 2025. I would argue the gap between him and No. 2 on this list is larger than the gap between No. 2 (Maiava) and No. 7 (Chiles). Wink Martindale will certainly have his hands full early in the season.