The USC Trojans and the Washington Huskies play each other in Week 10 of the college football season. This game not only has true Pac-12 implications, but it’ll also pit two top 2024 NFL Draft QB prospects against one another in Caleb Williams and Michael Penix Jr.
Caleb Williams and Michael Penix Jr. Go Head-to-Head in Week 10
The Pac-12 is truly a hotbed of 2024 NFL Draft quarterback talent. Even if you assume that passers like Shedeur Sanders, Cameron Ward, and DJ Uiagalelei return to school, you still have three potential first-round signal-callers in the conference.
Williams, the defending Heisman winner, is not only a top QB prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft but also a frontrunner to go No. 1 overall, along with North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Meanwhile, veterans Bo Nix and Penix Jr. each have very real first-round aspirations as they continue to produce at hyper-efficient levels.
Penix and Nix battled one another in a classic, down-to-the-wire matchup a few weeks ago. And this week, Penix and Williams will do battle in Pasadena, California, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Coming into this game, Williams has completed 189 of 277 attempts (68.2%) for 2,646 yards, 25 touchdowns, and four interceptions while also adding nine touchdowns on the ground.
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Penix, meanwhile, has completed 203 of 294 passes (69%) for 2,945 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
The two passers are clustered together at the very top of the pecking order on the college football stage. And while Penix has more to play for this week, both will be looking to leave a lasting impression on NFL scouts.
Lot of NFL eyes on USC vs Washington tonight to see Caleb Williams and Michael Penix in person. There’s 21 scouts from 15 teams credentialed, including the GMs from Broncos and Giants.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 4, 2023
What Do Williams and Penix Need To Show in Week 10?
For Penix, this game is about proving what he’s already proven, but to a greater degree — that he can carry his team in the clutch against top-level competition and protect their undefeated record.
The Huskies are in the driver’s seat in the Pac-12, and they have Penix to thank for that. Penix gutted through injuries to give Washington a statement win over Oregon, and he did so by hitting tight windows left and right and perfectly layering passes to Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk.
The USC defense isn’t nearly as formidable as Oregon’s, so Penix should be able to produce. But with Williams on the other sideline, the margin for error may be slim as Penix looks to stay ahead.
Penix’s decision-making has largely been superb in 2023. But there have been a few lapses where arm arrogance has forced the ball into ill-advised windows. Penix has the toughness and the arm talent to go Round 1, so this week will be all about maintaining consistency and leading his team to a win.
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On the other side, the Trojans are 7-2. They’re already out of the playoffs, and they’re behind in the Pac-12 race with a loss to Utah. And Williams, though he’s played well, is largely out of the Heisman race.
Williams has less to play for cosmetically, and he’s already done more than enough to prove to NFL evaluators that he’s a game-changing talent at QB. But that doesn’t mean this game doesn’t matter.
No one will penalize Williams for losing to Penix. Washington is the better football team. But Williams could make a statement with a win today. His standing as a QB1 candidate isn’t as strong as it was three months ago, with Maye excelling at North Carolina.
It’s unfair of Williams to be asked to carry USC to victory each week, but that’s the situation he’s in with his one-dimensional offensive scheme and porous defense. And impressively enough, Williams, more often than not, comes through for the Trojans with his hyper-elite creation capacity.
This week, against Washington, we’ll get to see Williams in action in a game where he’ll absolutely need to put up points. That situation will invite variance, but it’s also where Williams’ best traits as a 2024 NFL Draft prospect come alive.