PAC-12 SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

LAS VEGAS – Oregon quarterback Bo Nix was named the 2023 Pac-12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Conference office announced ahead of Friday’s Pac-12 Championship Game, presented by 76®. The award, which is presented in each of the 24 sports sponsored by the Pac-12, was established to honor collegiate student-athletes who are standouts both academically and in their respective sports disciplines.

Nix is the second Duck all-time to earn the Pac-12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, which was initiated during the 2007-08 season. He’s the first since fellow Oregon signal-caller Justin Herbert secured the accolade in 2019. Nix is a graduate student studying Communications at Oregon and boasts a 3.91 cumulative GPA. He is currently a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, the “Academic Heisman” which annually recognizes a football student-athlete who is the absolute best in the country for his academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. He was also named to the 2022 Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll after three years on the SEC Academic Honor Roll during his career at Auburn. 

Nix has led No. 5 Oregon (11-1, 8-1) to the Pac-12 Championship Game in his second season with the Ducks, leading the nation in passing yards per game (325.5) and completion percentage (78.6), while ranking second in passing touchdowns (37) and passer rating (189.92). His 78.6 completion percentage is currently ahead of former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones’ NCAA single-season record of 77.4, set in 2020. Nix enters the Pac-12 title game coming off impressive performances in Oregon’s four victories in November, leading the nation with 16 passing touchdowns and notching a pair of single-game outings with six total touchdowns (Nov. 4 vs. Cal; Nov. 18 at Arizona State).

In order to be eligible for the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must be a senior (in athletics eligibility), on track to receive a degree, have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, participate in at least 50 percent of the scheduled contests in the sport and have a minimum one year in residence at the institution. Each Pac-12 institution may nominate one individual per sport, and the winners are selected by a committee of Pac-12 staff members at the conclusion of each sport’s regular season. The athletics accomplishments of the nominees are a consideration in voting for the award.

A Scholar-Athlete of the Year is named in each of the Pac-12’s 24 sponsored sports: baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, beach volleyball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, football, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s gymnastics, women’s lacrosse, men’s rowing, women’s rowing, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, softball, men’s swimming & diving, women’s swimming & diving, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s track & field, women’s track & field, women’s volleyball, and wrestling. The award was first established during the 2008-09 academic year.

ALSO NOMINATED: Kyle Ostendorp, ARIZ; Craig Woodson, CAL; Riley Sharp, OSU; Spencer Jorgenson, STAN; Alex Johnson, UCLA; Austin Jones, USC; Edefuan Ulofoshio, WASH; Brennan Jackson, WSU