Five years after they faced off at the college level, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is now set to take on the Los Angeles Chargers and quarterback Justin Herbert in the NFL.
“My freshman year in 2019, we played him,” Nix recalled earlier this week. “It was a great head-to-head battle. They had a really good football team. I still remember them being one of the best defenses that I played. Justin had a great game himself. It came down to the wire, and it was just a really good college football game that day.”
Nix led a game-winning drive to help the Auburn Tigers defeat Herbert and the Oregon Ducks 27-21 in a game played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas to open the 2019 season.
Nix was clutch when it mattered most, but his overall numbers were underwhelming as the freshman went 13-of-31 passing for 177 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Herbert went 28-of-37 for 242 yards and one touchdown with no turnovers.
Three years after Herbert graduated, Nix transferred to Oregon and played with Herbert’s younger brother, tight end Patrick Herbert.
“He would be back every once in a while,” Nix said of Herbert returning to Oregon. “He came to a game or two, and I was just able to be around him, talk and just kind of get to know him. Obviously it’s not a super close [relationship] because we didn’t have a whole lot of time [together], but I do appreciate him coming before me.
“He played for a while at Oregon, went through some tough times, and battled through it. He won a Pac-12 Championship and a Rose Bowl. So he’s one of those guys you look up to playing at Oregon, and now he’s been in the league for several years. I’ve been watching him and he’s been doing great things. So it’ll be fun watching him live and fun seeing him again.”
Herbert was picked by the Chargers in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. He won the NFL’s Rookie of the Year award that season and made the Pro Bowl in his second season. Herbert is now in his fifth season in LA.
Nix was picked by the Broncos in the first round of this year’s draft. He’s 3-2 as a starter this fall and he’ll look to stay above .500 when Herbert and the Chargers visit Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday.
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