Ranking the top 15 college football starting quarterbacks for 2023
![LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 02: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans stands in the pocket during the third quarter of the PAC-12 Championship football game against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utah Utes won 47-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 02: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans stands in the pocket during the third quarter of the PAC-12 Championship football game against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utah Utes won 47-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/15391e3f6fbe891077c504afe454a760cebd28cc6109254794c7e24e6dc16180.jpg)
5. Michael Penix, Washington
These Pac-12 quarterbacks are really good and the league is going to have three of the top six quarterbacks heading into the 2023 college football season via our rankings.
If you toss in Rising, that’s four in the top 10 because Caleb Williams is obviously making the list. However, the Pac-12 isn’t known for pass defense so the numbers might be a little inflated.
Penix had never thrown more than 14 touchdown passes in a season. He had also never played in more than seven games. A healthy Michael Penix completed 65 percent of his passes and threw 38 touchdown passes.
With the weapons coming back, Penix could throw 40. He’s going to have a strong season before likely heading to the NFL draft, but I could see a slight regression from last season, which will still have him among the best in college football.