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Michigan State's Aidan Chiles Is Left off Josh Pate's Big Ten Top 10 Quarterback List
Michigan State's Aidan Chiles Is Left off Josh Pate's Big Ten Top 10 Quarterback List originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
CBS Sports' Josh Pate revealed his Big Ten Preseason Quarterback Rankings with Penn State's Drew Allar, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, and Oregon's Dante Moore taking the top three spots, respectively.
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Former Michigan State play caller Brian Lewerke noted one name absent from the remaining seven spots: current Spartans' quarterback Aidan Chiles.
Michigan State Spartans quarterback Aidan King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
"Josh, with all due respect, this is not very good. And not just because you decided to not list the QB with the most talented arm in the B10," Lewerke commented under Pate's ranking on X.
Chiles is entering his third NCAA season and second with the Michigan State Spartans. Including his time at Oregon State, he completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,724 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions over 21 games. He also rushed for 304 yards over 114 attempts.
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When comparing to other quarterbacks on the list, Chiles statistically is either even with or surpassing them.
Nebraska's Dylan Raiola, who's ranked at No. 6 on Pate's list, has similar stats to Chiles. As a freshman in 2024, he completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. On the rushing end, he attempted 50 carries with a net negative of 65 yards. Passing-wise, Raiola is similar to Chiles, yet the Spartan could not break into the top 10 whereas the Husker with net negative rushing yards could land at No. 6.
Michigan's Bryce Underwood has yet to play an NCAA game. While ranked the No. 1 overall player, quarterback, and player out of Michigan in his recruitment class, judging Underwood's nonexistent collegiate career as equivalent to a No. 8 spot in the Big Ten is questionable. A case that can be made is the mere potential for and expectations on the incoming freshman. However, putting Underwood in the top 10, never mind also above two quarterbacks with NCAA experience, is not justifiable.
Even in a rebuilding phase that Michigan State is going through with head coach Jonathan Smith, Chiles has grown in the offseason and is more comfortable with the Spartans. Confidence and limiting interceptions will need to be his main focus. Especially with the addition of former Oregon State quarterbacks coach Jon Boyer, the cards are falling in Chiles' favor to be at least a top 10 quarterback in the Big Ten.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
