Greg McElroy identifies Oregon’s MVP entering 2023

Oregon went for double-digit wins again in ’22 in Dan Lanning’s first season in Eugene. In order to reach a similar finish, or better, in ’23, Greg McElroy says that the Ducks will need to rely once again on some magic from QB Bo Nix.

McElroy named Nix as Oregon’s MVP in 2023 in a recent episode of ‘Always College Football’. He does recognize that it’s a fairly obvious answer considering he is already regarded as the team’s best player.

“The MVP? This should not require a whole lot,” explained McElroy. “I think every person that you ask, ‘Who’s the best player on Oregon’s team? Who’s the most important player on Oregon’s team?’? It’s Bo Nix.”

It might be quite evident already but, once you dive into the numbers, Nix’s value becomes even more crucial. There was a direct correlation between his play and the play of Oregon’s offense that became even more clear after he suffered an injury toward the end of the campaign.

“All you have to do is point to last year. Think about where he was in the first eight, nine games of the season? He was in great shape,” said McElroy. “Let’s think about what he was doing through the first eight games? The fifth FBS quarterback ever to post 20+ passing touchdowns and 10+ rushing touchdowns over the first eight games. The other quarterbacks in this group? Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and D’Eriq King. That’s pretty elite company when you think about what he did in the first eight games.”

“Then he had that leg injury in November and it just wasn’t the same. So the overall performance of the offense was totally, totally reliant on what Bo Nix could create,” McElroy continued. “There’s still really good players, great weapons, great running game, great running backs, I think a quality offensive line. But the first 10 games? They were seventh in the Power Five. In the last three games when Bo Nix was not at 100%? They were 38th in the Power Five as far as their offensive efficiency is concerned.”

Even in a stacked Pac-12 when it comes to quarterbacks, Nix made his case as one of the best in the nation with the best season of his collegiate career. Now, in order to duplicate last fall’s success for the Ducks, his numbers will have to be in the same ballpark to keep Oregon’s offense humming at a Top-10 pace.

“Bo Nix, without question, is the MVP of the Oregon Ducks,” McElroy stated.