It’s not likely Bo Nix would ever admit to it, but come Monday morning in Glendale, Arizona when he puts on his Oregon uniform for the final time, it’s possible he’ll feel a huge rush of emotion wash over him like none other in his college football career.
And it’s certainly understandable if he does.
Nix has one of the more storied careers at the quarterback position in college football and not only has the opportunity to put a stamp on one of the greatest seasons in Oregon program history but he also has the opportunity to set the single-season passing percentage record which currently sits at 77.4% set by Mac Jones.
Nix is currently completing 77.2% of his passes.
Nix can also lead the Ducks to their 12th win of the season which has only been done six times in program history.
Besides his many accolades that included winning the William V. Campbell Trophy and becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist, Nix is having the time of his life playing football in Eugene.
His feelings about Eugene and being part of this Oregon football program are well-documented telling reporters throughout the season that being in Eugene re-energized his career and brought back the love of the game.
“This school has changed my life,” said Nix in an interview earlier this season with Yogi Roth .
“This school just gave me an opportunity to be myself again and get out of the spotlight of, ‘you’re playing because your dad played here,’ or ‘you are only doing it because you are an Auburn fan’ or this and that. But now I can just go do it because I love playing quarterback.”
It’s been an incredible season for Nix who is also on the verge of setting the all-time single-season record for touchdowns thrown. Nix currently sits at 40 and with two in the Fiesta Bowl he can tie Marcus Mariota at 42.
Yes, Nix has put together a special season when it comes to simple numbers, but it’s also been special to have the opportunity to team up with his brother, receiver Tez Johnson.
“It’s meant everything to play with him,” explained Nix when asked this week what its been like to play with Johnson.
“In high school, I never thought I would be able to have this opportunity again. I think that it’s important to make the moment count, make it last, because I don’t
know if I’ll get to play with him ever again now. Having a year like we had and playing with each other — and he went over 1,000 yards for the first time. I mean, it’s just been awesome to have a front row seat and to challenge him and help him grow over the last year.
“Seeing it through my eyes, it’s been just an awesome experience and I’ve really just been excited to see him and watch him play. Not only watch him play, but to play with him and be his quarterback. It’s been an honor, and just extremely thankful for him. I don’t even think words can describe the season that we’ve had and the amount of memories that we’ve been able to make. You know, we’ll both remember it for the rest of our lives.”
His quarterback play has been exceptional and he could have easily opted out of this game to prepare for his next step, but Nix is a competitor through and through, and having one more opportunity to make lifelong memories with his teammates is what’s driving him in this final week of Oregon football.
“You know, it means the world. As much for me as it is for them,” said Oregon head coach Dan Lanning when asked about Nix and others returning to play in this game.
“Like, anybody who is a competitor wants that opportunity to go out there and compete. I think a lot of people will sit here and say what are you playing for? An opportunity to go play with your brothers one last time. An opportunity to win 12 games for the fifth time in Oregon history. There’s a lot of reasons to get to do that.”
There’s one last memory to make for Nix and it’s holding the Fiesta Bowl winners trophy on New Year’s Day.
FIESTA BOWL VIDEO; QB Bo Nix, TE Terrance Ferguson, LB Jeffrey Bassa, and safety Steve Stephens IV Discuss Playing in the Fiesta Bowl