COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Kyle Field held 101,681 screaming maroon and white-clad fans Saturday, a stadium that physically shakes when the fans cheer and blazing hot temperatures that sink those who play inside it.
Factor in that the SEC opener for Auburn was on the road and televised on CBS at the 2:30 p.m. CST time slot with even more fans watching at home.
All of these things combined make up a typical SEC Saturday.
These factors alone should spell disaster for any team starting a true freshman QB. For Auburn, this will be the challenge they face from here on out.
For Bo Nix, it was business as usual as No. 8 Auburn (4-0, 1-0 SEC) defeated No. 17 Texas A&M (2-2, 0-1 SEC) by a score of 28-20.
Nix finished the day going 12-for-20 for 100 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, he rushed 12 times for 38 yards including the game-clinching six-yard rush on a 3rd-and-5 to give the Tigers the win.
In a season of firsts, Bo Nix has had his first win, first win at home and now his first SEC win.
As Gus Malzahn put it, the young quarterback is "growing up before our eyes."
The offense wasn't perfect by any means though. The second quarter saw Auburn gain 14 total yards and was 0-for-4 on pass attempts on a total of five minutes and 29 seconds for the time of possession.
A struggling quarter like the second would usually be cause for concern for a QB, especially a 19-year old freshman.
A noisy crowd and a sweltering heat with the fact that Nix went 0-for-4 in the second quarter could have been what spelled Auburn's doom.
Even though he's just a freshman, Nix is aware of atmospheres like this and doesn't shy away from the big moments, in fact, its what he wants.
"Just being around the game of football and going to a lot of games", Nix said. "I've never been here, but atmosphere's like this, I've been to games and sat in the stands. I knew that one day I would hopefully be playing in front of one when the time came. I knew it was just a football game. 11 on each side, and you just do what you're supposed to do and do what you've been doing your whole life."
Nix regrouped after the shaky second quarter and did what he's been doing his whole life. He went on to go 8-for-11 and a touchdown in the second half.
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