Keeping with our theme of Pac-12 quarterbacks -- and numbers donated to the Pac-12 blog by the Arizona State sports information department -- Jeremy Hawkes and Jordan Parry compiled a list of returning starts behind center by conference. Not surprisingly the Pac-12, with 10 returning starting QBs, is tied with the Big Ten for the most returning starters, and the Pac-12 leads the nation in total starts.

Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country. Russ Isabella/USA TODAY Sports

Hawkes wrote: "The logic we used was based around the quarterback who would be considered the 'primary' quarterback by season's end last season. Quarterbacks who were injured early in the season when they were considered the primary quarterback and return this year are also counted on the list (like David Ash at Texas)."

The Pac-12 not only welcomes back 10 starting QBs, it welcomes back 198 total starts, topped by 31 from Oregon State's Sean Mannion. Seven of the returning Pac-12 QBs have more than one season's worth of starting experience, too.

The Big Ten features 10 returning QBs and a cumulative 139 starts. The 14-team SEC only welcomes back five starting QBs with a combined 68 starts. Ohio State's Braxton Miller has the most career starts among returning quarterbacks with 32.

Further, notes Hawkes, "Also notable is that aside from Rutgers' Gary Nova (28 starts), Mannion (31), Taylor Kelly (27), Brett Hundley (27) and Marcus Mariota (26) are the four most seasoned QBs among all BCS teams (along with Bo Wallace at 26 starts at Ole Miss)."

Here's the list.

Pac-12 (10)

Sean Mannion, Oregon State: 31

Taylor Kelly, Arizona State: 27

Brett Hundley, UCLA: 27

Marcus Mariota, Oregon: 26

Kevin Hogan, Stanford: 19

Connor Halliday, Washington State: 19

Travis Wilson, Utah: 16

Cody Kessler, USC: 14

Jared Goff, Cal: 12

Sefo Liufau, Colorado: 7

Total: 198 starts

Big Ten (10)

Braxton Miller, Ohio State: 32

Gary Nova, Rutgers: 28

Devin Gardner, Michigan: 21

Joel Stave, Wisconsin: 19

Connor Cook, Michigan State: 13

Jake Rudock, Iowa: 13

Christian Hackenberg, Penn State: 12

Nate Sudfeld, Indiana: 8

Danny Etling, Purdue: 8

Mitch Leidner, Minnesota: 4

Total: 139 starts

Big 12 (8)

David Ash, Texas: 21

Bryce Petty, Baylor: 13

Jake Waters, Kansas State: 13

Jake Heaps, Kansas: 9

Sam Richardson, Iowa State: 8

Clint Trickett, West Virginia: 7

Davis Webb, Texas Tech: 6

Trevor Knight, Oklahoma: 5

Total: 82 starts

American Athletic (5)

Paxton Lynch, Memphis: 12

John O'Korn, Houston: 11

P.J. Walker, Temple: 7

Mike White, South Florida: 5

Casey Cochran, Connecticut: 4

Total: 39 starts

ACC (5)

Anthony Boone, Duke: 15

Jameis Winston, Florida State: 14

David Watford, Virginia: 12

Terrel Hunt, Syracuse: 10

Total: 54 starts

SEC (5)

Bo Wallace, Ole Miss: 26

Nick Marshall, Auburn: 14

Brandon Allen, Arkansas: 12

Justin Worley, Tennessee: 10

Dak Prescott, Mississippi State: 6

Total: 68 starts