[jwplayer sSpPH7QS-er0jUifI]
In his two seasons as quarterback for Auburn, Bo Nix has had his ups and downs including continued struggles on the road.
He has also had some memorable moments, including in his collegiate debut against Oregon when he hit Seth Williams for the game-winning touchdown with just seconds left. In a piece listing the Tigers’ matchup against rival Georgia as one of the most intriguing in the SEC in 2021, 247Sports states that win against the Pac-12 Ducks was Nix’s last (and figuring it was his first ever college game), only signature win.
We tend to disagree big time on this one. Are they ignoring the 2019 Iron Bowl, the game that kept arch-rival Alabama out of the College Football Playoff and helped the Tigers finish the regular season off on a high note? Isn’t leading Auburn to an Iron Bowl victory as a freshman quite a signature to put on your first season?
Now, it isn’t like Nix lit it up against the Tide in the 48-45 wild victory. He finished 15-of-30 for 173 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 44 yards and a score. Those are pedestrian numbers. Yet here is the one thing he did that future star Mac Jones couldn’t: not turn the ball over.
Despite facing pressure from the Tide defensive front the entire game, Nix stayed calm and didn’t force any passes. His touchdown pass to Sal Cannella at the end of the first half was one of his best, finding the tall wide receiver along the sidelines in the end zone.
With a one-point lead after Shaun Shivers’ touchdown run that knocked Xavier McKinney’s helmet into another zip code, Nix came through huge with a two-point conversion when he found Shedrick Jackson after rolling to his right.
Oh, and that seven-yard touchdown run in the first quarter? That looked pretty Nick Marshall-esque if I do say so myself.
After saying the Oregon win was his last signature win, 247Sports goes on to say that a win against Georgia could be a big moment in Bryan Harsin’s first season on the Plains.
“Insert new coach Bryan Harsin into the equation and perhaps Auburn surprises those expecting a lopsided game in this matchup. The Tigers have lost seven of their last eight contests in the rivalry series and could use a victory in this spot to produce an early eyebrow-raiser under Harsin’s regime.”
A victory against the Bulldogs would, in fact, be huge for the Tigers as they try to get some momentum going in the Harsin era. Georgia, as it was pointed out, has controlled the series lately and was one of the biggest complaints about former coach Gus Malzahn.
Yet we shouldn’t forget about the way Nix played in his first Iron Bowl, a game that you just know he grew up dreaming of playing in. Facing one of the top defenses in the country, the quarterback held steady and put together a game where he helped the Tigers win and did nothing to possibly help Auburn lose.
A win against the arch-rival powerhouse to keep them out of the playoff and send Nick Saban to the SEC office whining? Yeah, I would call that signature.