Top College QB Credits God

Bo Nix: "My goal ultimately for our team is to win a championship."

He’s one of the nation’s best quarterbacks, leading one of the top programs in college football: Bo Nix.

Nix: "If we have that goal as a team, if we have that mindset going in and, you know, we can win as many games as possible to give us a chance to win a championship, that's ultimately what I want."

He wasn’t born with a football in his hand; however, it didn’t take him long to find one. As a boy, Bo had a blossoming love for football and for God.

Nix: "When I was about seven years old, that's when I kind of learned what it meant to have a personal relationship. And so when I was seven, we lived in Atlanta. I asked Jesus into my heart and since then it’s been a relatively steady relationship."

His father, Patrick, was the quarterback at Auburn from 1992-1995. Naturally, Bo wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. However, there was the added pressure of being a top prospect.

Nix: "Growing up, mom and dad, you know, with dad being a coach, mom, being an Auburn grad herself, we always watched Auburn and then Dad's team on Saturday. So, it was something a part of our life and a part of our family."

Will Dawson: "Did you find it hard as a high school athlete, as a five-star recruit, to live out your faith?"

Nix: "It was a daily challenge. But, you know, growing up, I give great credit to my parents. They really taught me the path and you had to learn how to say no before you were put in those situations. And it was difficult to kind of be that person to stand out for it and take a stand for it. But at the end of the day I understood why I was doing it and wasn't really something I was doing for other people. I was really strong in myself and I felt like that was the right thing to do."

Dawson: "The day you committed to Auburn, you probably had to feel like you were living out a dream." 

Nix: "Yes. And you know, it was a dream come true and a moment that I always look forward, look forward to. And I just remember it being a very special time in my life because it was something that I worked very hard for. And I felt like the Lord had put it right in front of me and gave me the...the opportunity to go chase my dreams."

Bo excelled his freshman year at Auburn, leading the Tigers to a 9-win season. However, the next two seasons, he battled injuries and the Tigers struggled to reach 6 wins. The negativity spilled over on social media.

Nix: "Yeah, that was tough. I think what hurt the most is that, I was such a huge Auburn fan and wanted Auburn to win every Saturday. And when I couldn't get that done on Saturdays, I felt a bigger burden than I probably should have carried. But I learned a lot about myself through that time, resiliency and toughness and grit. And so, it's just each Saturday, you just, you strap it back up and you went out there to do something special. And, you know, that's what I did. And then eventually it was just time to kind of let go of that."

Bo graduated early from Auburn leaving him with an opportunity to transfer and two years eligibility. In 2022, the Oregon Ducks came calling. Turns out all he needed was a fresh start.

Dawson: "Did you feel like you were following God's direction?"

Nix: "You know, I did, because I never felt anything but peace about my decision. He kind of just made all roads lead to Oregon and ever since, just been able to play free and just go out there and have fun on Saturdays. And then, as you're doing that, you can have influence on other people."

Dawson: "You talked about having an impact on people. What does that look like for you on and off the field?"

Nix: "Ultimately, I believe in Matthew, which says, 'You're the light of the world.' And I think that our main goal on earth is to go and influence others and to point them towards the Lord."

Josh Bidwell, Ducks Chaplain: "He stands firm in who he is in Christ. It’s not a battle for him to watch his language. It’s part of who he is. It’s not a battle for him to be motivated by his walk with Christ, to honor God like it tells us in Colossians 3:23. He just does everything for God’s glory and he actually coaches guys, sometimes character-wise on the field. He’s just a confident, quietly strong man of God who is going to trust God’s lead wherever he goes."

Last year, Bo married Izzy and together they desire to make ministry their life.

Nix: "She reminds me about the important things in life. And she doesn't really get caught up in the X's and O's and the football plays and all that kind of stuff. Our goal as a married couple, we just want to influence other people and influence people with our walk. Hopefully I'm playing in the NFL and just continue to use my talents for other people and at the same time, I would say just as far as ministry goes, Izzy and I are just able to continue to do what we love doing around the people. We love making an impact and pointing people towards what's biblical and what's right and the truth of the Lord."

He is a projected 1st round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Regardless of his prospects, Bo hopes to glorify God, no matter the circumstances.

Nix: "I think my story is a lot like everybody else is. You know, we go through life. We want to succeed. We want to have a lot of pride in what we do. And we want to do well with our life that we've been given. And at times we're going to be knocked down and we're going to be, you know, at our lowest point. I think it's because God has designed us to follow Him and to be where we are. And if that's not what we necessarily think is not because the Lord doesn't have a plan for us because He does. And I believe that He never wavers, He never shakes, and He's just always going to be there for us. And He's always going to put us exactly where we need to be."