Auburn football is back everyone! Following an exciting week zero, week one of the 2021 season entailed more than a few upsets. UCLA beat LSU, Georgia overtook Clemson, Virginia Tech beat #10 UNC, and more.
The Tigers expected a win out of the first game all along, and admittedly Akron turned out to be one of the worst teams Auburn football has played in years, but first-year head coach Bryan Harsin had a solid debut on the Plains. The team looked put together for the whole 60 minutes, with never any confusion and hardly any penalties. The Tigers didn’t even punt until the second half.
One thing that Auburn football fans were so excited to see was the development of Bo Nix under Harsin’s coaching. This season, more than ever, it seems like it’s do or die for Bo–if he can’t progress there are options to replace him. But Nix showed no sign of mediocrity last night, and according to PFF he was the fifth highest-graded Power 5 quarterback after week one:
Highest-graded Power Five QBs in Week 1:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 5, 2021
1. Cade McNamara, Michigan - 93.0
2. Adrian Martinez, Nebraska - 92.3
3. Will Levis, Kentucky - 92.0
4. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh - 91.2
5. Bo Nix, Auburn - 90.1 pic.twitter.com/eeOKvTI1lq
Nix completed 20 of 22 passes on Saturday night, racking up 275 passing yards for three touchdowns. His longest pass was for 42 yards. Nix only reached 270 or more passing yards in two games last season, versus LSU and South Carolina. He also rushed for 32 yards on only three attempts.
Of course, this was game one versus Akron, but Auburn football looked cleaner and more solid than it has in a while. Glimmers of the long-lost 5-star recruit that was high school Bo Nix showed on Saturday night.
yes, it's Akron
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) September 4, 2021
but Bo Nix has now thrown for more yards in four drives than he had in *11* of his 24 games as Auburn's starting quarterback
10-10 for 183 and 3 TD
Bo Nix has a lot to prove before we all stop worrying, but he started off strong, and according to Coach Harsin he’s having fun. Anticipation is already building for game two.