Auburn Football: 3 takeaways from thrilling win over Oregon

1. Bo Nix looked like a freshman, except when it counted

Arguably the biggest storyline coming into this game was Gus Malzahn’s decision to go with true freshman Bo Nix as the starter at quarterback. There were positives and negatives, but the final drive overshadowed everything else.

For Nix, the talent is obviously there. He displayed his ability to move and scramble. He’s a more natural fit for the Malzahn offense, and read option is once again a major threat on the plains.

There was some struggle, which came through the air. On the game, Nix went 13-for-31 with 177 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. For most of the game, he was stifled through the air.

That was, until it came down to crunch time. Nix found his rhythm in the fourth quarter, and on the final drive of the game, he looked like a veteran. He went 4-of06 for 53 yards, and delivered the decisive strike of the game. With nine seconds remaining, Nix threw a 26-yard touchdown to Seth Williams, giving the Tigers the victory.

This was an uniquely freshman performance. He made plenty of mistakes and mental errors, but he also showed why he’s been trusted to start as a true freshman.

Auburn fans couldn’t have asked for a better finish, and the excitement is high on the plains after the victory over Oregon on Saturday night.