Bo Nix aims to secure his second straight victory over Justin Herbert this Sunday. The Denver Broncos quarterback and former Oregon Ducks star will face Herbert, the Ducks’ standout and current quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Nix and Herbert previously clashed in college five years ago, when Nix, then a freshman at Auburn, threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Seth Williams with just nine seconds remaining, leading the Tigers to a 27-21 victory over Herbert and the Ducks in the 2019 season.
“It was a great head-to-head battle,” Nix remarked to reporters on Wednesday. “They had a really good football team. I remember them having one of the best defenses I played against, and Justin had a great game too. It came down to the wire, and it was just a really exciting college football game that day.”
Nix transferred to Oregon for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, three years after Herbert’s final season in Eugene. During the 2023 season, Nix set single-season program records for pass attempts (470), completions (364), completion percentage (74.9%), passing yards (4,508), and touchdowns (45). Herbert played for the Ducks from 2016 to 2019, finishing with 29 wins, which ranks second in Oregon history, along with 95 touchdown passes and 10,541 passing yards.
Nix shared that he and Herbert became friends after his transfer to Oregon. “I played with his little brother, Pat, and he would come around sometimes,” Nix said. “He attended a game or two, and I got the chance to know him a bit. We didn’t have a lot of time together, but I appreciate what he did before me. He’s been in the league for several years now, and I’ve enjoyed watching him excel. It’ll be fun to see him again in person.”
Herbert acknowledged being a fan of Nix. “I missed him by a couple of years at Oregon,” he said. “I haven’t been able to watch a ton recently, but I followed Oregon closely and it was fantastic to see their success, especially his. I have nothing but respect for him.”
The two will meet again at the NFL level, with the Broncos (3-2) riding a three-game winning streak after a 34-18 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, positioning themselves in the playoff race. Meanwhile, the Chargers (2-2) are coming off a bye week and seeking to end a two-game losing streak.
Herbert has been dealing with a right high ankle sprain from Week 2 but has not missed any games, completing 59 of 91 passes (64.8%) for 578 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception. The bye week provided him the opportunity to rest and receive treatment for his ankle, and although he was limited in practice during the week, he was not listed on Saturday’s injury report.
Leave a Reply