Auburn football: The Bo Nix ‘dark horse’ meme has resurfaced

Remember it, Auburn football fans? The Bo Nix ‘dark horse’ meme that dominated Twitter during the 2021 A-Day spring game?

We all do.

“This is the year. Bo Nix has improved so much under this new offense. He’s focused. He’s having fun. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a dark horse for the Heisman.”

Well, in the wake of footage of Bo Nix at Oregon spring practice surfacing, it has returned in all its meme glory:

Of course, many did not get the joke, as the Nix meme was more regional than the national takeover of the Auburn basketball team memes of the 2021-22 season.

Still, Nix will always draw attention from those that followed his Auburn football journey because of how many twists and turns there ended up being. Following a wildly successful freshman season under Kenny Dillingham, Nix struggled mightily in 2020 before a comeback campaign in 2021 was cut short by a broken ankle.

As Nix prepares for life in the Pac-12, he brings with him a complicated legacy from his time on the Plains. He did beat Alabama at Jordan-Hare Stadium back in November 2019, but he almost lost to Georgia State at home this past September and had a sophomore slump that turned many sour on the idea that he’d ever be an NFL caliber QB.

Part of the baggage that stayed with Nix in this cross-country move to Eugene, Oregon is the unfair expectations born out of his name being linked with the Heisman trophy.

But at least he won’t be in the Auburn spotlight any longer. That seemed to weigh on the second generation Tiger more than most realized.