The Auburn football quarterback controversy as CFB heads into week five. After LSU transfer TJ Finley led the Tigers to victory versus Georgia State last weekend, many were left wondering who would be named QB1 going into Death Valley.
First-year head coach Bryan Harsin made no changes to the official depth chart, leaving Bo Nix as the listed QB1, but he also told the media on Monday that the final decision has not been made. Though Nix has not been historically great on the road, starting Finley would mean putting him on the spot in a night game in Baton Rouge versus his former teammates.
The Jboy Show’s Jake Crain discussed the upcoming game and believes that Bo Nix should start for Auburn football this Saturday:
"“Why not start Bo Nix, who we know has had success… he’s struggled on the road and we get that and that continued, you know, against Penn State… but if he goes out there and he doesn’t look good the first two drives or it’s the same old, same old, then you put TJ Finley in."
Crain pointed to the fact that Nix’s only road game this season was littered with offensive issues, and the problem was not solely the fault of the quarterback. However, if Finley goes in and looks good and makes plays, then he needs to be the starter.
The fact that this weekend’s matchup is against Finley’s former teammates is a huge part of the hesitancy to name him QB1. The atmosphere will be a lot more emotional for Finley and LSU will know more about him than Bo, obviously, but by refusing to name a starter ahead of time Bryan Harsin is forcing the Bayou Bengals to prepare for both Nix and their former quarterback.
When your options are a veteran guy who knows the atmosphere and has had success and then the guy who used to play for your opponent and has not yet shouldered this type of responsibility for Auburn football, it makes sense that Harsin would give Nix another shot before benching him.