Pac-12 Football: Power Ranking the Conference's Quarterbacks

If you wish to find the best quarterbacks in the nation then look west my friends to the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 conference has long had a storied history of producing NFL talent under center, and they have continued to keep that tradition alive in 2012.

But where does your favorite Pac-12 tosser rank at the end of the regular season? Click the arrow to find out.

Note: I chose to do the primary quarterback for each team, not the one that played in the last game. No one wants to see Max Wittek on this list.

12. Jordan Webb

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone at all.

The Colorado Buffaloes were absolutely awful this season, and their quarterback play reflects that statement.

Jordan Webb started 10 games for the Buffaloes this season, and he managed to only throw eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Webb couldn't even get past the 1,500 yard passing mark this season, falling just short at 1,434.

11. Connor Halliday/Jeff Tuel

Jeff Tuel and Connor Halliday split time the entire season so they are combined here at the No. 11 spot.

In my mind, Washington State was the most disappointing team this season not named USC.

I had high hopes of Mike Leach's offense catching on quickly with Tuel at quarterback and Marquess Wilson at receiver.

Instead the entire season crashed and burned and the Washington Cougars finished last in the Pac-12 North.

Tuel and Halliday had nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns this season, (23 TD's to 21 INTS,) and looked extremely bad all season long.

There is an argument for why they could be higher, but the disappointment factor puts them at No. 11.

10. Zach Maynard

Zach Maynard was unable to break the curse at quarterback at Cal.

Maynard missed the last two games of the California Golden Bear's season with an injury, but he still played like a below average player all season long.

2,214 yards and 12 touchdowns aren't terrible stats, but they're nothing to be proud of. 

Neither is the 10 interceptions Maynard tossed this year.

Maynard's inability to progress as a quarterback is what ultimately cost Jeff Tedford his job.

9. Travis Wilson

The University of Utah was yet another team that was an utter disappointment this season, but you can't pin it all on Travis Wilson.

Wilson is after all a freshmen and was the Ute's third string quarterback at the start of the season. Injuries to Jordan Wynn and Jon Hays however thrust Wilson into earlier action.

A 3-4 record is nothing for Wilson to be ashamed of, neither is his 7:6 TD-Interception ratio, but there still isn't enough here to move Wilson up the list.

Utah can rest easy, however, with a solid future under center.

8. Keith Price

Here is a tragic example of a quarterback regressing after an extremely impressive sophomore season.

Keith Price threw for over 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns last season, but he failed to reach the same level of production this season.

Price managed to only throw for 2,486 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, far below his numbers from last season.

Even more embarrassing however is leading his team to a loss against rival Washington State in the Apple Cup. 

7. Sean Mannion/Cody Vaz

Here is our final case of dual quarterbacks making the list.

Sean Mannion and Cody Vaz split playing time pretty evenly this season because of both injuries and poor play.

Mannion started the season out incredibly well before needing knee surgery after four games.

After that, Vaz stepped in for two games and played extremely well, leading the Oregon Beavers to two more wins.

Vaz's career as a starter would be brief with Mannion coming back.

Mannion, however, would have three multiple interception games leading to Vaz and Mannion splitting time the rest of the season.

Mike Reilly is going to have a hard decision coming his way next fall when he's forced to decide on his quarterback.

6. Taylor Kelly

Taylor Kelly was one of the nice surprises at quarterback this season doing a great job at leading an over-achieving Arizona State team.

Todd Graham was extremely fortunate to have an efficient passer like Kelly starting this season.

Kelly had a passer rating of 153.3 and tossed 25 touchdowns to only nine interceptions, and led the Arizona State Sun Devils to wins over Utah and rival Arizona, a team that found itself in and out of the rankings.

If not for the depth at quarterback this season because of seniors Matt Scott and Matt Barkley, Kelly would see himself higher up this list.

Be expecting a lot more from this kid in the future.

5. Matt Barkley

One word can describe USC this season: Disappointing.

Leading that disappointment was Matt Barkley.

Not that it was entirely Barkley's fault for the USC Trojans struggle this season, but he definitely did nothing to help that wonderful situation at USC.

Barkley was a consensus pick for Heisman, but wasn't even an All Pac-12 selection this season after tossing 15 interceptions, and having five losses on the season.

4. Kevin Hogan

Before Stanford fans descend upon me like a pack of rabid dogs let me explain why Kevin Hogan is only No. 4 on our list.

Hogan was a great quarterback for the Stanford Cardinals, and he is picking up right where Andrew Luck left off, but he only started four games this season.

Granted he did a lot in those four games, but those four games are not enough to allow him to move up past No. 4 on this list.

Could you imagine Stanford's record if Hogan had started the entire season? 

3. Matt Scott

Rich Rodriguez should consider himself very lucky that Matt Scott chose to red shirt last season or else Arizona might not have been a bowl eligible team.

Scott totaled 3,600 yards of total offense and racked up 29 total touchdowns this season, making him one of the Pac-12's best dual-threat quarterbacks.

Scott led the Arizona Wildcats to upset victories over USC, Oklahoma State, and Washington, and even got Arizona to break into the Top 25 three times this season.

2. Brett Hundley

Did anyone else foresee UCLA being 9-4 this season and playing for their second consecutive Pac-12 title?

Brett Hundley sure did.

The red shirt freshmen from Chadler, AZ tossed 26 touchdowns this season, a UCLA freshmen record, and was also the UCLA Bruins second leading rusher with 365 yards and nine touchdowns.

Hundley's efforts earned him Second Team All Pac-12 this season.

1. Marcus Mariota

Only fitting that the First Team All Pac-12 selection at quarterback comes in at No. 1 in our rankings.

Marcus Mariota took the Pac-12, and the nation, by storm this season, leading the Oregon Ducks to an 11-1 record with 30 touchdowns through the air.

Those 30 touchdowns are good for second in the school records behind Darron Thomas' 33.

Mariota was the ultimate dual-threat quarterback with 690 yards rushing, second behind Jeremiah Masoli for rushing yards by a quarterback in a season.

The future is very bright for this red shirt freshmen.