Pac-12 QB Power Rankings entering Week 6: Caleb Williams is lapping his 2022 Heisman pace
Pac-12 football in Week 5 saw some fantastic quarterback displays at the top of the league. We’ve also go some movement at the bottom.
Here’s Saturday Out West’s Pac-12 quarterback power rankings entering Week 6. These will be updated weekly throughout the season.
12. Ashton Daniels/Justin Lamson, Stanford
Last week: 11
In a 42-6 loss to Oregon, Daniels and Lamson combined to complete 14 of their 24 passes for just 133 yards. It looks like Oregon’s defense is legit, so the season-low for yardage (222) can partially be attributed to the Ducks’ dominance, but neither quarterback has been particularly impressive this season anyway. Lamson holds a Total QBR of 22 this season, the worst of the qualified Pac-12 passers.
11. Sam Jackson V/Ben Finley, Cal
Last week: 10
Cal outlasted Arizona State for a 24-21 win, but it did so in spite of the pass game. Jackson played the entire game, finishing with 130 yards and a touchdown on 12-of-29 passing. This season, the Golden Bears are 111th in pass efficiency (6.2 yards per play) and 109th in quarterback rating.
10. Jaden Rashada/Trenton Bourguet/Drew Pyne, Arizona State
Last week: 12
Bourguet returned to the field after missing most of the Fresno State game and all of the USC game with an injury. Bourguet completed 26 of his 41 passes for 344 yards. Arizona State outgained Cal on a per-play basis, but really struggled on third and fourth downs (3-15, 2-5) in the loss and a fourth-quarter interception from Bourguet led directly to a Cal touchdown. Bourguet has shown enough as a stand-in quarterback for Arizona State over the last two seasons that coach Kenny Dillingham will have a real decision to make when Rashada returns to the fold.
9. Bryson Barnes/Nate Johnson, Utah
Last week: 7
This is the first week Cameron Rising comes off the above line. Utah is five games in and has yet to see Rising suit up for a game. We’ll see if Rising is able to return after the bye week; Utah hosts Cal on Oct. 14. This offense is not good enough to challenge for another Pac-12 title if Rising is not part of it, and even then I’m not sure anymore. The Utes scored a season-low seven points against Oregon State last Friday and the quarterback carousel swung back to Barnes in the second half. Johnson simply could not hit his targets throughout the game. Barnes has three interceptions on the year while Johnson is completing 54% of his passes. Johnson’s total QBR ranks ninth among qualified Pac-12 passers. If Barnes were eligible to qualify, his would rank 11th.
8. Jayden de Laura/Noah Fifita, Arizona
Last week: 9
Fifita filled in for the injured de Laura and performed admirably in a tough spot. Making his first career start against a top-10 team in front of a huge crowd, Fifita completed 27 of his 39 passes for 232 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Arizona looks like it has two quarterbacks that coach Jedd Fisch is comfortable turning to. The job is likely still de Laura’s when he returns to full health, so Fifita’s engagement level becomes something to watch from that point on.
7. Dante Moore, UCLA
Last week: 8
UCLA was on a bye in Week 5. Moore moves up one spot, but only because the Utah performance was so poor that room had to be dropped. Moore threw an interception on the first play of the game the last time he was on the field. UCLA needs him to be better against Washington State this Saturday.
6. DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State
Last week: 6
Uiagalelei completed 14 of his 25 passes in the 21-7 win over Utah, throwing for 204 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He had a couple of key throws to the sidelines that resulted in chunk plays for the Oregon State offense, but he also threw a fourth-quarter interception that should not have been thrown.
5. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Last week: 5
Sanders bounced back from a dreadful performance against Oregon by throwing for 371 yards and four touchdowns against USC. Sanders completed 30 of his 45 passes and showed in the second half why he’s so dangerous. Give him time and he can make just about every throw on the field. The comeback attempt from CU began with 2:14 to play in the third quarter. At that point, Sanders was 18-for-29 passing. He hit 12 of his last 16 and led three touchdown drives.
T3. Bo Nix, Oregon
Last week: 4
Nix is the only quarterback in the country with an 80% completion rate on the season. He has 15 passing touchdowns against only one interception. As Oregon has raced out to a 5-0 start, Nix has been absolutely fantastic. Against Stanford, he threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns. With Caleb Williams and Michael Penix Jr. putting up gaudy numbers, Nix’s Heisman candidacy looks more like a longshot. But I’d argue Nix deserves some recognition with the sport’s top quarterbacks because of how efficiently he’s operating right now.
T3. Cameron Ward, Washington State
Last week: 3
Ward and the Cougars were idle in Week 5. I’m looking to see how he fares against a very strong UCLA defense in Week 6.
2. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Last week: 2
Penix completed 30 of his 40 passes against a defense that simply would not let him beat them deep. Penix was held under 400 passing yards for the second consecutive week as a result. The blistering pace with which Penix began the season has somewhat slowed as teams try to figure out the best way to defend UW’s passing game. Penix’s biggest test of the year comes in two weeks when he goes against Oregon and one of college football’s best pass defenses. You don’t typically see “Heisman Moments” until November, but a big performance against the Ducks could absolutely play a role in Penix bringing home the award.
1. Caleb Williams, USC
Last week: 1
Williams has strengthened his hold on the title of “best in the country” over the last two weeks. He earned the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honor this past week after throwing six touchdown passes against Colorado. Yes, six. That tied his single-game career-high and made him the first FBS player in the last 25 years to throw six passing touchdowns in a game for multiple schools. Williams is nine touchdowns ahead of his 2022 Heisman-winning pace.