Josh Pate’s preseason Big Ten quarterback rankings didn’t just spark debate - they drew a sharp public swipe from Todd McShay.
The Ringer analyst took issue with one part of Pate’s list in particular: UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava landing at No. 10 while Michigan’s Bryce Underwood checked in at No. 5. McShay made it clear he thought the separation was way too wide.
“With all due respect, Nico at 10 with Bryce at five is bordering on criminal,” McShay wrote. “But to each their own. And FYI, I'm out west, so this isn't some weird 1:42 a.m. post.”
Pate’s list was built around a different idea than McShay’s complaint. He put Ohio State’s Julian Sayin at No. 1, followed by Oregon’s Dante Moore and USC’s Jayden Maiava, then slotted Underwood, Penn State’s Rocco Becht and Washington’s Demond Williams among the next group. McShay’s issue was less with the top of the board and more with the gap between Underwood and Iamaleava.
Pate answered directly: “Based on resume thus far, true,” Pate replied. “This is what I expect this year. As we all know, there's no crime in expectation.”
That exchange gets to the heart of the disagreement. McShay was looking more at what the quarterbacks have already shown, while Pate was making a preseason call about what he thinks they’ll do in 2026.
Iamaleava’s placement is tied tightly to the arc of his last year. At Tennessee in 2024, he helped the Vols to a 10-3 record and the College Football Playoff, throwing for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns. After that came a breakup with Tennessee amid reported NIL negotiations.
Iamaleava later said going back home to California was the real reason, and he called other accounts “false reports.”
His first season at UCLA didn’t give his stock much of a boost. The Bruins opened 0-3, fired coach DeShaun Foster and finished 3-9.
Iamaleava played in 11 games and finished with 1,928 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He also completed 64.4% of his throws, led UCLA with 505 rushing yards and scored four times on the ground.
One of his biggest moments came in a 42-37 upset of No. 7 Penn State, when he accounted for five touchdowns.
UCLA did make changes this offseason, hiring head coach Bob Chesney away from James Madison. Former NFL quarterback Derek Carr also joined the staff as a special advisor, and his California roots line up with Iamaleava’s background.
Underwood’s case is different, but Pate’s ranking still reflects a bet on growth. As a true freshman, he started all 13 games for Michigan and threw for 2,428 yards. He also ran for 392 yards and six touchdowns, though his 11 touchdown passes and nine interceptions showed how much polish he still needs.
McShay’s reaction makes sense because he’s judging the two quarterbacks by a different standard. Pate is weighing upside and future expectation. McShay seems more focused on the broader body of work and raw talent.
However you slice it, the Big Ten’s top tier still looks clear, with Sayin, Moore and Maiava at the front. After that, the next group gets messy fast, and Underwood and Iamaleava sit right in the middle of the argument.
Underwood may be the stronger pick for 2026. Iamaleava, though, still has the kind of ceiling that keeps him in the conversation, even if the team around him isn’t viewed the same way.
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