Pac-12 Performance Awards, presented by Nextiva – Football Week 8

SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 today announced its 2022 football season’s eighth weekly performance awards, presented by Nextiva. See below for Week 8’s recognitions across the Conference and keep track of the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year watchlist here:

OFFENSE:  Bo Nix, Sr., QB, Oregon (Pinson, Ala.)

• Led Oregon to a huge 45-30 win over No. 9 UCLA with a stellar performance.  Completed 22-of-28 passes for 283 yards and 5 touchdowns while rushing 8 times for 51 yards.
• Matched his career-high with 5 touchdown passes, his second 5-TD game of the season.  Just the 3rd Oregon QB since at least 1996 to throw 5-plus touchdowns multiple times in the same season, joining Justin Herbert (2019) and Marcus Mariota (2014).  1 of 5 FBS quarterbacks this season to throw 5 TD multiple times.
• Perfect 11-of-11 for 151 yards and 3 touchdowns in the second quarter.  Connected on a 49-yard touchdown, his 7th completion of 40-plus yards this season.  Completed 15 straight passes from the 1st quarter to the 3rd.
• Earned a terrific 90.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, tied for 8th among all FBS quarterbacks in Week 8.
• 1st time winning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, won the SEC Offensive Player of the Week last season with Auburn in Week 5.  First Oregon player to take home this honor since Anthony Brown won in the final week of the regular season last year.

Also nominated for Offense:  Damien Martinez, RB, Oregon State; Michael Penix, Jr., QB, Washington; Jake Bobo, WR, UCLA; Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford; Elijhah Badger, WR, Arizona State

Check out the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year Watchlist, presented by Nextiva, to learn more. 

DEFENSE:  Alex Austin, RS So., DB, Oregon State (Long Beach, Calif.)

• Became the 1st Oregon State player with a Pick 6 when he returned an INT 42 yards in Saturday’s win over Colorado. The victory pushed the Beavers to bowl eligibility.
• The Pick 6 came in the third quarter and sent OSU to a 35-3 lead.  Austin is one of just six defensive backs in the Pac-12 to record at least one touchdown this season. He’s the first since October 8.
• Also recorded 3 tackles and a pass breakup.
• The INT was the 2nd of the season for Austin and the 4th of his career.
• 1st time winning this award but the 3rd different Oregon State defensive back to win this season (Jaydon Grant – Week 1, Kitan Oladipo – Week 2).  First school to have 3 different players win Defensive Player of the Week in the same season since Oregon last year and first time…