Big Ten passing yardage leaders after Week 3

Big Ten passing yardage leaders after Week 3

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Big Ten passing yardage leaders after Week 3

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava continues to lead the Big Ten in passing yardage after his performance on the road against Rutgers on Saturday. Maiava passed for 277 yards and 2 touchdowns to add to his Big Ten-leading passing yardage and touchdown total. Maiava does have the built-in advantage of having played an extra game after USC started the season in Week 0. If going by passing yards per game, Maiava's 293.3 yards per game would rank fourth in the Big Ten at this stage of the season.

Joining Maiava in the 1,000-yard passing club this week is Purdue's Ryan Browne, who continues to rack up yards through the air. Browne passed for a season-high 378 yards with 3 touchdowns in a hard-fought road loss at UCLA on Saturday night. Browne's 341.3 yards per game currently leads the Big Ten and is second in the nation behind Oregon State's Braden Atkinson.

Penn State's Rocco Becht continues to be among the Big Ten's top-10 passing leaders, but this week's opponent from Wisconsin has jumped ahead of him. Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph passed for 362 yards with 3 touchdowns for his best game of the early season in a Week 3 win over Eastern Michigan.

Here are the Big Ten's top 10 passing yardage leaders after Week 3.

1. Jayden Maiava, USC

Sep 4, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws the ball before the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

  • Passing yards: 1173
  • Passing TDs: 12 (leads Big Ten)
  • Interceptions: 1

2. Ryan Browne, Purdue

Nov 28, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

  • Passing yards: 1024
  • Passing TDs: 7
  • Interceptions: 1

3. Malik Washington, Maryland

Sep 19, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Malik Washington (7) passes in the first half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

  • Passing yards: 892
  • Passing TDs: 6
  • Interceptions: 0

4. Demond Williams Jr., Washington

Sep 12, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Utah State Aggies linebacker Jordan Pendleton (17) pressures Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (1) into throwing an incomplete pass during the third quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

  • Passing yards: 890
  • Passing TDs: 5
  • Interceptions: 1

5. Dante Moore, Oregon

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore throws a pass before the game as the Oregon Ducks host the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 25, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

  • Passing yards: 849
  • Passing TDs: 9
  • Interceptions: 0

6. Julian Sayin, Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) throws under pressure from Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 1, 2025.

  • Passing yards: 839
  • Passing TDs: 6
  • Interceptions: 1

7. Katin Houser, Illinois

Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Katin Houser (4) runs the ball during the first half against the Southern Illinois Salukis at Gies Memorial Stadium.

  • Passing yards: 758
  • Passing TDs: 8
  • Interceptions: 2

5. Colton Joseph, Wisconsin

Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph (1) throws pass during the first quarter of their game against Eastern Michigan Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

  • Passing yards: 752
  • Passing TDs: 5
  • Interceptions: 2

9. Rocco Becht, Penn State

Sep 12, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

  • Passing yards: 751
  • Passing TDs: 9
  • Interceptions: 0

Drake Lindsey, Minnesota

Sep 19, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey (5) makes a pass against the Akron Zips during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

  • Passing yards: 747
  • Passing TDs: 4
  • Interceptions: 1

Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Big Ten passing yardage leaders after Week 3

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