Northwestern Wildcats projected starting QB Aidan Chiles was placed far down the totem pole of the nation's top QBs.
The Northwestern Wildcats have become a program to watch under head coach David Braun and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly with the new Ryan Field nearing completion.
The Wildcats face an uphill battle for position in a stacked Big Ten Conference and have taken a page from their rivals' books in securing transfers this offseason.
One of them is quarterback Aidan Chiles, the former Oregon State Beavers and Michigan State Spartans starter who boasts a live arm, quick feet and the attitude necessary to leap from above average to great in one season's time.
On Tuesday, the New York Times' Antonio Morales and Sam Khan Jr. released their rankings of the top 138 quarterbacks in the country with Chiles occupying a surprisingly low position.
Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder (30) pressures Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles (2) during the second half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
Chiles' Ranking Unveiled
Coach Braun's projected new starting quarterback was placed in the nation's sixth highest tier, good for a 70th overall ranking nationally.
Chiles, a 6-foot-3, 225 pound signal caller from Long Beach, Calif., started last season on a promising note as he threw for 212 yards on 12-of-21 completions against the USC Trojans along with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
He hit rock bottom a week later as he finished with a 39.1 passer rating in a 38-27 road loss to Nebraska that included a 9-of-23 stat line, zero touchdown passes and two interceptions.
Chiles lasted until the ninth week of the season and was eventually benched in favor of redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic.
Will Chiles Top Stone in 2026-27?
Chiles has all the tools Braun and Kelly need to make the Wildcats' offense a better one in 2026-27 but a lot depends on the intangibles between the new NU quarterback's ears.
Chiles drew the ire of MSU fans two seasons ago when he declared that he "no longer care(d) about the fans, except the people that stayed" at the Spartans' season-ending 41-14 home loss to Rutgers on Nov. 30, 2024.
The tall, rangy gunslinger's talents seem tailor made for coach Kelly's offense, but fans thought the same thing about Jonathan Smith and Brian Lindgren's offense last year.
The feeling here is that Chiles will have a much better season, and it will start with the continuity in Braun's program and the good vibes NU will have to start the season as the new Ryan Field becomes the program's exciting, and cozy, new home.
