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Pac-12 quarterback power rankings: Does Shedeur Sanders crack the top tier?

By Josh Yourish

Oct 28, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders reacts against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders reacts against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 4, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws a pass against the USC Trojans during the second quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws a pass against the USC Trojans during the second quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports /

Pac-12 QB rankings No. 1: Michael Penix Jr.

  • Passing yards: 3,201
  • TD: 26 INT: 7
  • Comp: 69.4%
  • YPA: 9.9

What Michael Penix Jr. is doing as a downfield passer from the pocket should have him in consideration for teams drafting in the first round. 20.2% of his passes travel 20+ yards downfield and he’s completed 47% of those throws for an average of 16.5 yards per attempt.

He has a trio of superstar receivers in Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan and that certainly helps, but Penix is aggressive and accurate to all levels of the field. His 9.8 yards per attempt is the best among Pac-12 quarterbacks and he has 22 “big-time throws” as graded by PFF to just four turnover-worthy plays. He has seven interceptions, but they’ve graded that at least three of those were not his fault.

It’s not just the big plays he makes, it’s the big losses that he avoids. Penix has a pressure-to-sack rate of 7.5% which is ninth best in the country, among quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks.

This weekend, Penix put up 256 yards and two touchdowns against USC in a game where the Huskies relied heavily on the run game. It wasn’t his biggest game, but he’s now beaten Williams and Nix head-to-head.

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