We all know that when it comes to projected quarterback play in the 2023 college football season, the Oregon Ducks are as well-situated as almost any team in the nation. With Bo Nix coming back for one final collegiate season, the Ducks’ offense should be as good as any in a loaded Pac-12 conference, with Nix picking up some early Heisman Trophy buzz after his career season in 2022.
While Oregon is set at the QB position for this season at the very least, they are also in an advantageous spot when it comes to the future, as well.
Redshirt sophomore Ty Thompson surprised a lot of people by not entering the transfer portal this offseason, instead sticking around to grow and develop behind Nix in Eugene. Going into the 2024 season, he will likely have a leg up on the competition for QB1, duking it out with current true freshman Austin Novosad, a 4-star passer from Texas who was rated as the No. 10 QB in the 2023 class. The Ducks are also in a decent spot when it comes to recruiting a QB out of the 2024 class, with No. 1 overall prospect Dylan Raiola coming to town for the annual spring game, and a number of other highly-rated passers either scheduled to be on campus in the coming months or have already taken a visit to check out the Ducks.
So with all of this in mind, where does Oregon rank among the top teams in the nation when it comes to future QB power rankings? That’s a question that ESPN recently asked, ranking the best situations in the country based on projections for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons.
“Assessments are based on current rosters and committed recruits, while taking into account the likelihood of transfers, both in and out of programs,” ESPN’s Adam Rittenburg wrote. “Programs that have continuity and success with coaching quarterbacks also received special consideration.”
Let’s take a look at where the Ducks’ QB room ranks when looking at the present and the future.