Nix psychological after loss, ‘no concept’ on bowl status
-
Paolo Uggetti, ESPNDec 2, 2023, 02:06 AM ET
LAS VEGAS– Oregon quarterback Bo Nix understood the concern was coming, however he had not allowed himself a possibility to think about a reaction. He was still processing a game and possibly a season and five-year college football profession pertaining to an abrupt end with a 34-31 loss to Washington in the Pac-12 championship.A choice on whether
he would play in the Ducks’ upcoming championship game would have to wait.
“Can we simply delight in the minute today and enjoy our season?” Nix asked. “That’s not today’s decision. I have no idea.”
Nix, a 23-year-old fifth-year senior, has made 60 career begins in college football– 34 at Auburn and 26 at Oregon. His career statistics are straight out of a game– 14,989 passing backyards and 108 goals– but he never had a season much better than this one, amounting to 4,145 passing lawns on a 77.2% completion portion with 40 goals and just 3 interceptions.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Oregon, led by Nix, had done nearly
everything right this season to give itself an opportunity to win the Pac-12 and have a shot at the College Football Playoff. It could not, however, do one essential thing two times: beat Washington.”We didn’t play well enough to win this game, “coach Dan Lanning stated.” We didn’t have their number; they had ours. “After being down 20-3 at one point in the first half,
Nix and the Oregon offense awakened and brought the Ducks all the method back, scoring 21 unanswered points to take the lead in the second half. However after Washington counterpunched with 14 points in the fourth quarter, Oregon couldn’t respond.Following the game, questions about Nix’s championship game status started to emerge. Nix, however, stated he was still concerning terms with the finality of all of it. Before Friday night’s loss, there had always been a next game to anticipate, or a next season.”I’m just attempting to get over that loss.
I’m not thinking about anything else,”Nix said.”I think that’s why I’m in shock because I’m anticipating a game next week and I’m expecting another opponent. It’s tough when you’re used to go, go, go, and after that when it ends, it happens really quickly. “Oregon is likely to play in a New Year’s
6 bowl. As linebacker Jeff Bassa said postgame, the group may look extremely various for that matchup.” Clearly, there’s going to be guys that make choices to leave and enter into the NFL,”Bassa said.”And after that there’s going to be guys that are going to leave and head into the website.” While Nix was noncommittal about his bowl game status ahead of what
is expected to be a transfer to the NFL draft, his answers meant what that choice might be. He spoke at length about how he has been through every possible up and down in the sport, how it was his dream to play college football and how he has actually experienced everything from conference adjustment to the development of the transfer website and NIL to a pandemic.” Each year was something various, each year was something new, “Nix stated.”I’m going to miss college
football.” Nix then left the room where he was first greeted by Washington coach Kalen DeBoer before congratulating quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on the win. The Huskies quarterback was going into the press space as a conference champ in the final terrific quarterback battle of a now-defunct Pac-12. A minimum of one more meaningful game was in his future.Whether or not Nix plays in the championship game, there disappear competitive college games left in his long career. As he got on a golf cart and rode off into the Allegiant Stadium tunnel together with his papa, however, he had already discovered something else to eagerly anticipate. “There’s way more to life than college football,”Nix stated.”As insane as it sounds, I’m going to enjoy this aircraft trip home.”