Bo Nix leads No. 8 Auburn into SEC opener, seeks 'perfect game'

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After engineering a game-winning drive in No. 8 Auburn's season opener, Bo Nix returns to Texas

AUBURN, Ala. – Saturday will bring a few firsts for Auburn freshman quarterback Bo Nix. His first SEC game, his first true college road game and his first visit to College Station, Texas.

But it won't be his first big game in Texas. That came three weeks ago at AT&T Stadium in Texas when Nix engineered a game-winning drive culminating with a 26-yard touchdown pass with 9 seconds remaining in Auburn's 27-21 victory vs. Oregon.

"The fact that we had the first game on the road -- although we had more fans than Oregon, it was still an exciting atmosphere and a big game -- he has that in his back pocket as far as experience on the road," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said.

To prepare for the decibel level, the Tigers are cranking the crowd noise during practice.

"He is a great competitor," Malzahn said. "I have said before that the moment will not be too big, so we will have to handle the noise."

"It's going to be tough," Nix said. "I'm going to have to do my very best to prepare and do my job so that I can help the team as much as I can come Saturday. They're one of the top teams in the SEC West."

Bo Nix (208 yards/game) ranks No. 8 in the SEC in total offense, including 79 rushing yards 

Nix ranks No. 8 in the SEC in total offense, averaging 208 yards per game. His 79 rushing yards are the most among the conference's top 10 yardage producers.

"I just try to get as much as I can and just be smart in the situation that I'm in, and if I have to go down I'll go down," Nix said of his running mentality. "If it's a type of situation where I need to get as much as I can, I'll do that. It's a feel thing. The more I play and the more I get comfortable, I think I'll be more efficient of a runner."

Nix's completion percentage has increased each game, including a 75-percent performance last Saturday in Auburn's 55-16 win over Kent State.

"I was just trying to go out there and be as sharp as I could," Nix said. "My mentality going into every game is to try to be perfect and try to hit every pass.

"I have improved. I think you can see it on film. I'm just a little bit more calm. I know where to look. I know where to get my eyes, pre-snap, post-snap. I'm more comfortable with the offense, I'm more comfortable with how Coach Malzahn likes to call plays. Three games in, I feel like I'm in a good spot and I'm looking forward to the next few weeks and keep getting better."

Of Nix's four incompletions against Kent State, two were dropped. Displaying leadership beyond his experience, Nix took responsibility for miscues that weren't his.

"You can call them two drops but I feel like those were on me," he said. "I could have located the ball a little bit better. I can really help out the receivers and hopefully down the road we can have a perfect game."

Making his fourth collegiate start, Nix will lead No. 8 Auburn into Kyle Field Saturday against the No. 17 Aggies at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.

"I am very confident in his abilities," Malzahn said. "You have to keep in mind that was his third game to play college football as a true freshman. He will keep improving and he is going to be an outstanding quarterback in this league, I can tell you that."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer