Alabama Football: Looking like no Bo Nix in Iron Bowl

As every Alabama football fan knows, looking past the next opponent is an offense bordering on heresy. On top of that Arkansas is worthy of all the attention and focus the game against the Razorbacks will receive.

While Alabama Football players may not look ahead, Crimson Tide fans can jump forward to the Iron Bowl, the SEC Championship, and beyond. Since Saturday night a lot of Crimson Tide fans have been talking about the Iron Bowl. More specifically, rumor has moved into sound speculation that Bo Nix will watch the Iron Bowl from the sideline.

Reporting for Saturday Down South, Keith Farner stated Bo Nix broke an ankle in the Mississippi State game. The primary source of the information is a sports reporter from Columbia, SC. The Auburn Tigers play at South Carolina this coming Saturday.

Is the information solid? There has been no official word from Auburn and likely there will not be until Monday or even later.

UPDATED: Sunday night Nix confirmed the injury.

If Nix is out through the Iron Bowl, he will be replaced by TJ Finley, the former LSU quarterback. TJ Finley was the LSU quarterback for five games in the 2020 season. Overall he completed 57.1 percent of his passes, for 941 yards. He threw five touchdown passes for the Bengal Tigers, but also had five interceptions.

Finley against Alabama Football

Against the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2020, Finley was 14-for-28, for 144 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. His Passing Efficiency Rating in 2020 was 118.2, but only 105 against the Crimson Tide.

Finley has been the backup to Bo Nix this season. His performance against Georgia State convinced some pundits Auburn would be better with Finley as the starter. Bryan Harsin stuck with Nix, so Finley has thrown just 33 passes this season. He completed 17 for 275 yards and two touchdowns.

Potentially Finley is a better runner than Nix, but his college, rushing stats are inconclusive. During the 2021 season, Finley’s Passing Efficiency Rating has edged up to 141.5.

Losing Nix for the Iron Bowl would not be a disaster for the Tigers. He is mobile and sometimes invents positive plays. His passing accuracy has improved in 2021 to a 61 percent, completion average. He remains somewhat prone to errant throws and suspect reads.

Nix’s history against Alabama Football is 38-for-68 for 400 yards, with one touchdown toss and two interceptions. In the 2019 game, Nix also ran for 44 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground.

Note: Player stats in this post were provided by sports-reference.com.

The Aubies will wail and whine that with Nix, the Tigers would upset the Crimson Tide. They also have a convenient excuse for a loss.