College football certainly isn’t the most popular product in New England. For Patriots fans though there’s one game this weekend they should make a point of watching. After all, their favorite team will be.
Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET, No. 8 Oregon takes on No. 7 Washington in Seattle. This battle of unbeaten teams has significant Pac-12 Conference and College Football Playoff implications. Not only is it a big game on the college football stage though, but the NFL stage as well. Both Oregon and Washington are loaded with NFL talent, and many NFL teams will be on-hand to see those players up close.
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According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel (who is basically the college football version of Adam Schefter), 32 NFL scouts from 20 teams will be at Husky Stadium on Saturday for the game. That includes ‘multiple scouts’ from the Patriots, who are one of eight teams sending more than one evaluator.
The headliners in this game are, of course, the quarterbacks. Michael Penix of Washington and Bo Nix of Oregon are both potential first-round picks, and among the top contenders for this year’s Heisman.
Beyond the quarterbacks though, there are eight projected top-100 picks playing in this game, mostly on offense. Here are the names to look for when sitting down to watch this game Saturday afternoon (I’m looking at you, Matt McCarthy).
QB Michael Penix, Washington
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 19: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Washington Huskies passes during the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Husky Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Penix, a redshirt senior who will turn 24 the week after this year’s NFL Draft, simply slings the ball around for the Huskies. Not only does he have a big arm but he’s accurate throwing the ball down the field, reads defenses well, and is a good decision maker. In five games this season, he’s thrown for 1,999 yards and 16 touchdowns with just two interceptions while completing 74.7 percent of his passes. His 196.5 passer rating is the third-best in college football to this point.
There are some concerns about Penix’s durability – he suffered two torn ACLs in 2018 and 2020 while at Indiana prior to transferring. He’s listed at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds so his size isn’t a strength or a weakness. The game can be said about his mobility. He’s certainly not immobile and can maneuver around a pass rush when he needs to, but he wins with his arm and isn’t a player that would have designed runs called for him.
In terms of a pure passer though, there may not be a better option in this draft than Penix. This will be his toughest test of the season this week. Oregon’s defensive ranks fifth nationally in both scoring (11.8 points per game) and passing yards allowed (153.6 points per game).
QB Bo Nix, Oregon
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesSTANFORD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Bo Nix #10 of the Oregon Ducks throws a pass against the Stanford Cardinal during the second quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 30, 2023 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Nix, like Penix, has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation this year. His 188.53 passer rating ranks just behind Penix. He’s completed an eye-popping 80.3 percent of his passes for 1,459 yards with 15 touchdowns and one interception.
For Nix, the stakes in this game are a bit higher than for Penix. Yes, he’s going against one of the best defenses in the nation (Washington is allowing 18.4 points per game this year) but it runs deeper than that. To understand why, we need to lay out Nix’s football journey to this point.
Coming out of high school, Nix was the top-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2019. The hype didn’t end here though. His dad Patrick played for Auburn in the mid-90s, and is one of the greatest quarterbacks in program history. Starting as a freshman the expectations for Nix were high, with many counting on him to bring the program back to the level it was in the days of Cam Newton.
That never happened. After a 9-4 freshman campaign the Tigers went 12-12 in Nix’s next two seasons, with both ending in bowl losses. Inconsistent play and poor ball security were among the biggest knocks on Nix at Auburn.
Following the 2021 season Nix did what would have been unthinkable just a few years earlier, and transferred out of Auburn. Not really considered an NFL prospect at that point he ended up going to Oregon to replace Justin Herbert (Herbert’s original replacement, Robby Ashford, ironically ended up transferring to Auburn).
Since arriving in Eugene, Nix has looked like a completely different quarterback. His touchdown-to-interception ratio has gone from 2.4 at Auburn to 5.5 at Orgon, and after tacking 50 sacks in 34 games with the Tigers he’s had just eight in 18 games with the Ducks.
In total Nix has now made 52 starts in college, the most of any active quarterback. That experience is showing up in his game, which is now much more controlled and poised.
However, there’s still one box Nix hasn’t checked, and it was one of his biggest flaws at Auburn – winning on the road. During his time at Auburn Nix went 2-6 against ranked teams on the road, and 0-6 against teams ranked in the top 16. Not only did Nix lose those games he often played poorly, leading to the nickname ‘Road Nix.’ Last year in his first year at Oregon Nix played just one such game, and lost 38-34 to then-No. 22 Oregon State.
Now, Nix has a chance to check that box once again. Saturday is the first road game against a ranked team for Oregon this year, and they only have one more scheduled (two weeks from now against No. 16 Utah).
Given Nix will be 24 by the time the draft rolls around in the spring, his ceiling is limited. He needs to prove he can win games right now, and that means winning on the road. If Nix can go toe-to-toe with Penix and carve up the Washington defense, it’ll go a long way towards boosting his draft stock. If not, he could fall out of the first-round conversation all together.
WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesSEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 23: Rome Odunze #1 of the Washington Huskies celebrates his touchdown during the first quarter against the California Golden Bears at Husky Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
While there’s a lot of focus on the quarterbacks, Odunze might be the first player overall selected from this game in this year’s draft. At 6-foot-3, 211 pounds he has a rare combination of size, speed, and quickness that he combined with strong hands. In five games this year Odunze has caught 32 passes for 608 yards with four touchdowns.
Scouts will be looking for Odunze to be better in contested catch situations and after the catch, but he’s about as complete of a wide receiver prospect as there is in this draft. There’s a chance he’s the second receiver taken after Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State, and a big game against that Washington defense would only help his case.
WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsSep 30, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) eludes Stanford Cardinal cornerback Zahran Manley (obscured) to score a touchdown during the third quarter at Stanford Stadium. Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Franklin is a pure downfield playmaker. At 6-foot-3, 187 pounds Franklin can beat receivers down the field clean or win at the catch point. In five games this season he’s caught 32 passes for 535 yards and seven touchdowns. Franklin’s 107 yards per game are second in the Pac-12 behind only Odunze.
Beyond that, his game is still raw. His route running and release package are still developing, and he’ll need to increase his play strength at the next level. He’s currently projected to be a second-round pick.
DE Bralen Trice, Oregon
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY SportsSep 17, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies defensive lineman Bralen Trice (8) celebrates a safety against the Michigan State Spartans during the first quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The top defensive prospect in this game, Trice is a well-rounded, high-energy edge rusher. At 6-foot-4, 269 pounds Trice is a handful high his high motor and play strength. He’s still developing his toolbox as a rusher after playing just six games over this first two years, but had nine sacks and 12 tackles for a loss last year.
Trice hasn’t been as statistically productive this year as he’s seen increased focus from opposing offenses but he’s still been a factor in games. His 80.5 PFF grade ranks ninth among qualified EDGE players in the Pac-12 this year. Based on the way Oregon’s offense works, he should be in the spotlight early and often on Saturday.
DL Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY SportsSep 9, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive end Brandon Dorlus (3) reacts at the end of the game after an interception of the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
At 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, Dorlus is mainly a pass-rushing defensive tackle for the Ducks, but can play on the edge when needed. He recorded at least 40 pressures in each of the last two seasons, and already has 14 with two sacks in five games this year.
It’s tough to say exactly what his role will be in the NFL, and that will likely be dictated heavily by what team drafts him. But if the Patriots want to bring in a potential replacement for Christian Barmore, who will be entering a contract year, Dorlus would be that kind of player. He’s projected to be a third round pick.
WR Jalen McMillan, Washington
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY SportsSep 9, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Jalen McMillan (11) extends the ball out for a receiving touchdown against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane during the second quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
While Odunze is Washington’s big play receiver, McMillan is their move-the-sticks option. At 6-foot-1, 189 pounds he has significant experience lining up both out wide and in the slot. A strong route-runner with reliable hands, he’s also developed as an after the catch threat in recent years. While his pure athleticism isn’t an elite trait, he’s smart and creative enough to be a regular factor.
McMillan is the kind of receiver that has succeeded in New England in recent years, and is the kind of receiver the team is missing this year following the departure of Jakobi Meyers. He’s currently projected to be a third-round pick.
