Where Bo Nix ranks among Oregon Ducks’ all-time greatest passers
The 2023 college football season officially came to an end for the Oregon Ducks on Monday with a 45-6 win over the Liberty Flames in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The historic college career of quarterback Bo Nix had its final chapter as well.
Nix went out with a bang, breaking numerous records on his way to a 28-for-35 showing for 363 yards and 5 touchdowns. Now that Nix’s career as a Duck is over, we can look at his numbers as a whole and figure out where he stands in the history of quarterbacks to play at Oregon.
When it comes to elite passers, the Ducks have had a number of them. From Bill Musgrave to Danny O’Neil; from Joey Harrington to Darron Thomas; from Marcus Mariota to Justin Herbert, there’s a long list of former greats to come from Eugene. Nix is another member of that long list. But where does he ultimately stand in Oregon history after his two incredible seasons as a Duck? Let’s take a look:
Marcus Mariota
Steve Dykes/Getty Images
Years at Oregon: 2012-2014
Career Passing Yards: 10,796
Career Passing TD: 105
Total Career TD: 136
Analysis
No shocker who the No. 1 guy on this list is. Marcus Mariota was a transcendent talent and his 136 total touchdowns is a record that will likely never be broken at Oregon.
Justin Herbert
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Years at Oregon: 2016-2019
Career Passing Yards: 10,541
Career Passing TD: 95
Total Career TD: 108
Analysis
The top two guys on this list are in a tier of their own. They are the only ones to surpass 10,000 passing yards and 100 total touchdowns. Herbert could have had an even better career, considering he was asked to run a conservative offense under Mario Cristobal.
Bo Nix
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Years at Oregon: 2022-2023
Career Passing Yards: 7,738
Career Passing TD: 69
Total Career TD: 90
Analysis
If you were to take the numbers for Nix’s entire career — 14,989 yards, 108 passing TDs, 147 total TDs — you can obviously make the argument he had the best career of any QB on this list. We’re talking about Oregon careers, though, and even with just two seasons as a Duck, Nix will go down as one of the best passers to ever come through Eugene.
Bill Musgrave
AP Photo/Jeff Robbins
Years at Oregon: 1987-1990
Career Passing Yards: 8,343
Career Passing TD: 60
Total Career TD: 64
Analysis
Bill Musgrave was a breath of fresh air for Oregon, leading the Ducks to their first bowl game in 26 years and playing as a four-year starter in Eugene. Musgrave is a valued member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
Danny O'Neil
Mike Powell /Allsport
Years at Oregon: 1991-1994
Career Passing Yards: 8,301
Career Passing TD: 62
Total Career TD: 67
Analysis
Danny O’Neil’s career wasn’t littered with many wins, but he achieved one of the more impressive feats in all of sports. He was named co-MVP of the 1995 Rose Bowl despite the Ducks’ loss to Penn State.
Kellen Clemens
Years at Oregon: 2002-2005
Career Passing Yards: 7,555
Career Passing TD: 61
Total Career TD: 67
Analysis
Again, Kellen Clemens wasn’t at Oregon when the team won often, but he was part of the turnaround in Eugene and had a big part in getting the Ducks to where they are now. His stats certainly speak for themselves.
Joey Harrington
Jeff Gross/ALLSPORT
Years at Oregon: 1998-2001
Career Passing Yards: 6,911
Career Passing TD: 59
Total Career TD: 78
Analysis
Nobody in their right mind is going to argue with Joey Harrington’s standing in Oregon history. As Captain Comeback, I was honestly surprised he wasn’t higher on the list of career passers in Eugene. Few people left a bigger legacy with the Ducks.
Darron Thomas
Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Years at Oregon: 2008-2010
Career Passing Yards: 5,910
Career Passing TD: 66
Total Career TD: 75
Analysis
Few QBs helped Oregon reach the heights Darron Thomas did. DT was the leader of teams that went to the Rose Bowl in 2009 and the BCS National Championship game in 2010. He gets overshadowed by the guys that came right after him, but Thomas had an awesome career at Oregon.
Chris Miller
Mike Powell /Allsport
Years at Oregon: 1983-1986
Career Passing Yards: 6,681
Career Passing TD: 39
Total Career TD: 48
Analysis
Chris Miller often gets overlooked as one of the top quarterbacks to come through Eugene. He played for the Ducks in an era when not a lot of success took place, but the stats he put up were impressive regardless.
Dan Fouts
Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports
Years at Oregon: 1970-1972
Career Passing Yards: 5,995
Career Passing TD: 54
Total Career TD: 59
Analysis
Dan Fouts will always be an Oregon legend, but his career is better remembered for what he did in the NFL rather than at the collegiate level. It would be hard to find anyone who would argue the member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame is one of the best to ever do it in Eugene.
Akili Smith
Years at Oregon: 1997-1998
Career Passing Yards: 5,148
Career Passing TD: 45
Total Career TD: 51
Analysis
You have to respect guys that are on this list with only two seasons to show for it. You also have to assume someone like Akili Smith would be far higher on the list if he played in today’s era, when QBs are more often utilized for their running ability. Smith could do it all, and he will be remembered well for it.
Dennis Dixon
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Years at Oregon: 2004-2007
Career Passing Yards: 5,129
Career Passing TD: 38
Total Career TD: 50
Analysis
The unfortunate reality is Dennis Dixon’s career will likely be remembered more for what could have been, rather than what actually was. After a torn ACL late in the season against Arizona, Dixon missed on a likely Heisman Trophy win, and a chance to lead Oregon to the BCS National Championship game. Still, his career in Eugene was incredible, and he has the stats to back it up.
