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Bo Nix achieved ‘ultimate goal’ in his freshman season with Auburn

By Andrew Hughes

Bo Nix revealed his ultimate college football goal -- and it was something the quarterback achieved during his first season with Auburn football Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Bo Nix revealed his ultimate college football goal -- and it was something the quarterback achieved during his first season with Auburn football Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bo Nix revealed what his ultimate goal was in college football — and as it turns out, that goal was something he had achieved by the end of his freshman season with the Auburn football program in 2019.

“One of my ultimate goals was to play football at Auburn and beat Alabama,” Nix told On3’s Griffin McVeigh before saying, “I did that.”

Nix went 15/30 with 173 passing yards and a touchdown while adding 44 yards on the ground, during the 2019 Iron Bowl. Auburn bested Alabama 48-45 following a go-ahead touchdown by Shaun Shivers in the fourth quarter; followed up by a two-point conversion from Nix to Shedrick Jackson.

Bo Nix’s injury in 2021 arguably cost Auburn football that year’s Iron Bowl

While Nix was able to run the show in the Iron Bowl in a winning effort his freshman season on the Plains, it turned out to be his only attempt on his home field. During the program’s largest-ever collapse, a 28-10 lead that turned into a 43-34 loss to Mississippi State on November 13, 2021, Nix was lost for the season with an ankle injury.

Had No. 10 not gone down in what would turn out to be his final game with the Tigers before a shocking transfer to Oregon ahead of the 2022 season, could Auburn have won the 2021 Iron Bowl to the eventual SEC champion Crimson Tide?

That’s a question that’s incredibly tough to give an answer to.

One could look at the shutout the Tigers were pitching through three quarters under the lights of Jordan-Hare Stadium and infer that Nix being in TJ Finley’s stead creates a situation that generates a winning outcome.

It’s not that simple, though. Does Owen Pappoe’s injury get erased as well? How about left guard Brandon Council and left tackle Austin Troxell? Do they return? How about Jalyn Armour-Davis, Jase McClellan, and Roydell Williams for the Tide?

Those are too many hypotheticals to answer. At this point, with Bryan Harsin fired in disgrace, the 2021 Iron Bowl is simply the one that got away.

But not because Nix, or anyone else missing back on November 27, 2021, wasn’t playing.

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