Auburn beat reporter’s strong message on Bo Nix’s Heisman loss

Opelika-Auburn News editor Justin Lee sent a strong message on Bo Nix’s Heisman loss; calling his Auburn football career’s ending imperfect, and ultimately forgiving the Pinson product for having an imperfectly human collegiate run between his three years with the Tigers and two years at Oregon.

“My Heisman vote this year was: 1. Jayden Daniels 2. Michael Penix 3. Bo Nix,” Lee prefaced before saying, “No, Bo didn’t win. His Auburn career didn’t end the way he wanted, either. His legacy isn’t picture perfect. It’s human.”

Nix proved to be human during his Ducks’ two losses to Washington — once in Seattle during the regular season’s most impactful conference matchup and again in the final Pac-12 Championship game — but even in those matchups, he went for multiple touchdowns and even went for 339 passing yards during the regular season loss. Washington proved to be his Achilles heel during his two years in Eugene, with a critical injury during the 2022 matchup at Autzen, but Nix still got himself to New York in 2023 for the Heisman Trophy award ceremony off the strength of 11 wins against every non-UW opponent on the schedule.

Jayden Daniels won Heisman once former Auburn football QB Bo Nix lost Pac-12 Championship game

Once Nix’s Ducks lost the Pac-12 Championship, Jayden Daniels’ Heisman Trophy campaign was wrapped up with a bow — because the only chance Nix had to win the award by season’s end was with the College Football Playoff narrative in tow. Only Washington’s Michael Penix brought that to New York, but neither he nor Nix was able to match Daniels’ gaudy passing and rushing totals. Or come anywhere close.

Daniels’ 418 all-purpose yards against Auburn on October 14 during a 48-18 blowout certainly helped the LSU quarterback’s Heisman case. That now marks four Heisman winners in the last five years who played (and beat) Auburn.