AUBURN, Ala. – Bo Nix has thrown for more yards in a game. He's accounted for as many touchdowns. He's beaten better teams. But a strong case can be made that Saturday's victory over LSU was the best performance he's has had in his first year-and-a-half as the Auburn quarterback.
No, LSU is not the same team it was a year ago. But they are still the defending national champions, and Nix was near perfect against them.
In the second quarter alone, the sophomore signal caller completed 8 of his 9 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. It was more of the same in the third quarter as he orchestrated three consecutive scoring drives, making plays with both his arm and his feet. He was 6 of 8 passing for 70 yards in the quarter and rushed for another 44 yards and a touchdown.
Nix only had one play in the fourth quarter, but he made the most of it, connecting with Anthony Schwartz on a 91-yard touchdown pass, his third passing touchdown of the game. After making the throw, he sprinted the length of the field to celebrate with his teammates.
"We had a blast out there," Nix said after the game. "This is why you come to Auburn to play in games like this. It's just really exciting when you put something like that out on display, when you play like that, and after you know that you've worked and worked and worked and to finally put it together, it's just a rewarding feeling. Not only for our players and coaches, but I think it's huge for Auburn to have a big win like that."
Nix finished 18 of 24 with 300 yards and three touchdowns passing. It was his third career game with 300 or more passing yards and the third time he's thrown three touchdowns. His pass efficiency rating of 221.3 was the second-best game rating of his career. He also rushed for a career-high 81 yards, adding a fourth touchdown on the ground.
"I saw a poised and calm quarterback who was just trying to make the best plays for the team and even putting his body on the line for Auburn," Schwartz said. "It was just great to see him play like that, and I think he still has a lot more to grow and more to show out."
This was the same quarterback who threw three interceptions two weeks ago at South Carolina in arguably his worst game at Auburn. But nobody on the team lost confidence in him.
Not his teammates who have vowed to stick by Nix through the ups and downs.
"Up, down, sideways – I'll always ride with Bo," Auburn cornerback Christian Tutt said. "Any time he throws a pick, pick-six, I don't care what is, I'm going to him, picking him up and getting his confidence back up. Because when Bo is on point, nobody can stop that man."
Not the coaching staff either. Head coach Gus Malzahn handed Nix the keys to the Auburn offense at the start of last season and has stuck by him ever since.
"You saw our quarterback. He got beat up pretty bad two weeks ago. Today, he played extremely well and led us to a victory," Malzahn said. "He's establishing himself as one of the best in our league, and I think it's about time people start recognizing that."
"It means a lot for him to say that," Nix said. "I just try to continue to play my best for Auburn. Whatever I have to do for Auburn to win the game, I'm willing to do. The last few games, I've just felt calm and confident and tried not to press too much and let the game come to me. I feel like players around me are making plays, and that makes it a lot easier."
Nix did more than enough to help Auburn win Saturday. And afterwards, he made sure to go snag the game ball. It wasn't for him, though, despite having a career day. It was for his head coach.
"That was for Coach Malzahn," Nix said. "Obviously, it was a big birthday week this week, and so we just thought that would be good for him."
Game Ball ➡️ @CoachGusMalzahn
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 1, 2020
Nothing but 🧡, Coach! pic.twitter.com/Fo5IBd5qcK