As part of our preseason coverage, we ranked the quarterbacks on Oregon's 2025 schedule from worst to best.
For the Oregon Ducks, the 2025 college football season will be one of great interest. After a 2024 season in which Dan Lanning's team won the Big Ten Conference in its first year as a league member, expectations were set high. Now, with an almost entirely new-look roster that returns just four starters, there are a lot of questions to be answered.
We have just a few weeks until those questions will start to be answered. As we continue our preview coverage of the upcoming season, we want to begin examining the Ducks' schedule and some of the players, teams, and coaches they will face over the coming months.
The ever-changing landscape of college football has had a significant impact on various aspects beyond the product on the field. But on the field, the Oregon Ducks defense will feel the changes in 2025 — specifically with the opposing quarterback position. In their 12 regular-season games this season, just two projected starting passers opened last season as their team's starter. Ten will either be backups now turned opening day starters, or transfers in their first season at a new program.
As we begin our preparations for the season, we're going through the best and worst position groups and units that the Ducks will face in 2025. With that being said, let's break down each projected starting quarterback that Oregon will face this season, ranked from last to first
12. Justin Lamson — Montana State Bobcats
Career Stats: 24 games | 62-for-135, 804 yards, 4 TD, 4 INT | 188 carries, 428 rush yards, 13 TD
Analysis: In two seasons with the Stanford Cardinal, Justin Lamson was primarily used as a ball carrier in short-yardage situations. While he was productive in that role, he'll have to show more with his arm to move out of the basement in these rankings. Luckily for him, the Montana State Bobcats offense relied heavily on quarterback Tommy Mellot's legs last season as he ran for over 1,000 yards and 15 scores. Lamson very well could do that across a full season — but considering he's set to face the Ducks in Week 1, it'd be major surprise if he's a high-level player right away.
11. Zane Flores — Oklahoma State Cowboys
Career Stats: 0 Games
Analysis: The projected starter for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Zane Flores will be making his second collegiate start in Week 2 against the Ducks. A 6-foot-3, 215-pound passer, Flores went 30-4 across his high school career in Nebraska while demonstrating accurate passing and enough mobility to get out of trouble at the college level. The only reason he's above Lamson on this list is that he's expected to have a higher ceiling and will have the privilege of a tune-up Week 1 game against UT Martin, presumably giving him some confidence and game experience before taking on the Ducks.
10. Drake Lindsey — Minnesota Golden Gophers
Career Stats: 3 Games | 4-for-5, 50 yards, 1 TD
Analysis: The Minnesota Golden Gophers think very highly of Drake Lindsey, with offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. expressing his excitement during fall camp. Standing 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Lindsey backed up 2024 starter Max Brosmer last season as a true freshman, appearing in just three games and utilizing a redshirt. Now calling the shots for the Golden Gophers, Lindsey lacks experience that those above him have. But if he's as advertised and his big frame and strong arm impress, he'd quickly vault up this list.
9. Billy Edwards Jr. — Wisconsin Badgers
Career Stats: 26 Games | 311-for-496, 3,322 yards, 19 TD, 10 INT | 144 carries, 375 rush yards, 13 TD
Analysis: The starter last season at Maryland, Billy Edwards Jr. was far from spectacular, as he threw for 15 touchdowns versus nine interceptions (two of which against the Ducks) while leading the Terrapins to a 4-8 record. Now the starter for the Wisconsin Badgers, Edwards, while not supremely talented, will bring stability to the position. He doesn't have tremendous arm strength nor athletic ability, but he's a solid distributor of the football. The issue: this Badgers team doesn't have a ton of weapons at his disposal, hamstringing how good he can be.
8. Mark Gronowski — Iowa Hawkeyes
Career Stats: 50 Games | 756-for-1,190, 10,330 yards, 93 TD, 20 INT | 385 carries, 1,767 rush yards, 37 TD
Analysis: In four seasons, primarily all as the starter for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, Mark Gronowski was the most prolific passer in program history and consistently one of the best players at the FCS level. For his final season, he's facing perhaps the biggest task of his career: reviving a decade(s)-long drought of average offensive play for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Their quarterbacks have repeatedly underperformed under head coach Kirk Ferentz, but none have come with the résumé that Gronowski sports. This is somewhat a leap of faith in putting him at No. 8 considering he's at Iowa, but he's shown he can play solid football at the college level.
7. Preston Stone — Northwestern Wildcats
Career Stats: 28 Games | 267-for-450 yards, 35 TD, 8 INT | 88 carries, 287 rush yards, 6 TD
Analysis: The starter in 2023 at SMU, Preston Stone tossed 28 touchdowns with just six interceptions and was arguably the best quarterback in the AAC. But just three games into 2024, he was benched for backup Kevin Jennings, who went on the lead the Mustangs to the College Football Playoff out of the ACC. Now, Stone finds himself as the presumed starter for Northwestern, which struggled mightily in scoring just 16.6 points per game last season. If he can recapture his 2023 form, he very well could be considered in the second-tier of passers in the Big Ten.
6. Maalik Murphy — Oregon State Beavers
Career Stats: 18 Games | 294-for-492, 3,410 yards, 29 TD, 15 INT | 20 carries, -97 yards, 2 TD
Analysis: Maalik Murphy is onto his third college in three seasons, as he started two games at Texas in 2023 and 12 for Duke last season. He was effective for the Blue Devils, throwing 26 touchdowns and passing for nearly 3,000 yards. Now quarterbacking the Beavers in 2025, there's high expectations that Murphy can uplift a subpar passing offense at Oregon State. He has the arm to do so; but an oddity in Murphy's game is his extreme lack of mobility. When knocked off his spot in the pocket, the 6-foot-5, 235-pounder has trouble making much happen. Despite that, his arm talent and accomplishments last season place him in the upper half of this list.
5. Athan Kaliakmanis — Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Career Stats: 36 Games | 429-for-800, 5,480 yards, 35 TD, 20 INT | 200 carries, 485 yards, 6 TD
Analysis: Quietly, Athan Kaliakmanis had a solid season at Rutgers a season ago, passing for 18 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He was a big reason they finished with a 7-5 regular season record and why they have hopes for better this fall. Kaliakmanis, who began his career at Minnesota, will be entering his second season as the Scarlet Knights' starter. More will be expected of him, but the senior has improved in each season of his career. Keep an eye out for him, as he's once again flying under the radar.
4. Demond Williams Jr. — Washington Huskies
Career Stats: 13 Games | 82-for-105, 944 yards, 8 TD, 1 INT | 83 carries, 282 rush yards, 2 TD
Analysis: Though Demond Williams Jr. started just two games last season, the true freshman flashed immense potential in limited time. Just 5-foot-11, Williams is crafty in finding passing lanes and plays a dynamic and entertaining brand of football. He's very tough to defend, as he's able to slither by would-be tacklers at the last second. If he can carry over his five total touchdown finale in the Sun Bowl last season, Williams and the Huskies will be a tough matchup for any defense.
3. Jayden Maiava — USC Trojans
Career Stats: 21 Games | 325-for-522, 4,286 yards, 28 TD, 16 INT | 93 carries, 322 rush yards, 7 TD
Analysis: Like Williams, Maiava took over late in the season and shined as the starter. The difference is that Maiava spent his true freshman season at UNLV, winning the Mountain West Freshman of the Year award before joining the USC Trojans. Now the full-time starter, Maiava will be able to show off his play-making abilities even more. He plays a similar game to former Trojan passer Caleb Williams, extending plays but also being able to play within coach Lincoln Riley's masterful offense. Maiava is on track to making a name for himself on a national level in 2025 thanks to his highlight-reel abilities.
2. Fernando Mendoza — Indiana Hoosiers
Career Stats: 20 Games | 418-for-629, 4,712 yards, 30 TD, 16 INT | 135 carries, 197 rush yards, 4 TD
Analysis: One of the most prized quarterbacks in this years transfer portal, former Cal Bear Fernando Mendoza will lead the second-best FBS scoring offense from a season ago that returns a number of key pieces. Mendoza is expected to lift up the group as well, as he's a legitimate 2026 NFL Draft prospect thanks to his frame (6-foot-5, 225 pounds), arm strength and decision-making — in addition to an underrated ability to move the chains with his legs. Besides, coach Curt Cignetti always gets the best out of his quarterbacks and that should be no different with Mendoza, who's as talented a passer as Cignetti has had.
1. Drew Allar — Penn State Nittany Lions
Career Stats: 39 Games | 530-for-843, 6,302 yards, 3 TD, 10 INT | 188 carries, 560 rush yards, 11 TD
Analysis: It's a testament to the potential of Drew Allar that he lands at No. 1 on this list while still leaving much on the table in terms of the eye test. He's extremely talented, but has acted more as a conductor of the Penn State offense than a true needle-mover in his three seasons as the starter. Also a 2026 draft prospect, Allar has all the tools (he was a five-star recruit, after all) to excel at the next level. But it'll start with reaching his full potential with the Nittany Lions, who will once again be near the top of the Big Ten. Despite all of his abilities, Allar has played his worst games against the best competition — we'll see if that trend continues against Oregon.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Ranking passers Oregon Ducks football will face in 2025 season
Category: General Sports
