The Pac-12 has a conference-best 6 quarterbacks on the preseason Manning Award watch list, which was published on Tuesday morning.

Arizona’s Jayden de Laura, Oregon’s Bo Nix, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., Utah’s Cameron Rising, Washington State’s Cameron Ward and USC’s Caleb Williams all made the cut.

Williams is 1 of 5 players from last year’s group of finalists to be named to the 2023 preseason watch list. The award was ultimately won by Georgia’s Stetson Bennett.

“We have another outstanding group of quarterbacks on our Watch List,” Archie Manning said in a press release. “We’re excited to get a new season rolling to see who will rise up and establish themselves as the best in the country. We’ll add another batch of quarterbacks to the Watch List midway through the season to allow us to recognize transfers and young QBs who have become stars in their new roles or with their new schools.”

Led by last year’s Heisman Trophy winner in Williams, the Pac-12 has a stacked group of returning quarterbacks for the 2023 season. No other conference has more than 4 representatives on the Manning Award’s preseason watch list.

The Manning Award was created by the Sugar Bowl and honors the achievements of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning in college football. It has been given out annually since 2004.

The last Pac-12 player to win the Manning Award was Oregon’s Marcus Mariota in 2014.