BALTIMORE, Md. — Oregon quarterback Bo Nix was announced as a top-five finalist for the 2023 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award on Wednesday by the Golden Arm Award Selection Committee.
Nix is a finalist for the second year in a row, and it marks the eighth time a Duck has been selected as a finalist. Marcus Mariota became the lone Duck to win the award during his 2014 Heisman Trophy season.
Candidates for the Golden Arm Award must be a top senior or upperclassman quarterback on schedule to graduate with their class. Nix is joined by fellow finalists Jayden Daniels (LSU), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) and Caleb Williams (USC).
The 2023 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., as well as other notable attendees at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday, December 7, 2023.
Earlier this week, Nix was announced as a semifinalist for both the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, and he earned Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors for the third time this season and sixth time in his career.
Nix continued to strengthen his Heisman Trophy resume last week while outdueling Williams – the reigning Heisman winner – in a 36-27 Oregon win over USC. The fifth-year senior completed 23-of-31 passes for a season-high 412 yards and four touchdowns, his second straight game with four TD passes.
The Pinson, Ala., native has led the No. 6 Ducks to a 9-1 record entering this Saturday’s game at Arizona State (1 p.m. PT, FOX), and he leads the nation with a 77.7 completion percentage that is on pace to break the NCAA single-season record (77.4, Mac Jones). Nix is tied for second nationally in passing touchdowns (29) while ranking third in passer rating (184.66), fifth in passing yards per game (313.5), fifth in total touchdowns (34) and fifth in total yards per play (8.80).