Feel like you've been watching Bo Nix for a long time? There's a reason for that.
He's one of the oldest quarterbacks in the college game right now, playing his fifth and final season — something few players of his caliber do. It may well be worth it, as Oregon is on the cusp of a fourth Pac-12 championship appearance in five years.
Although they only played one college season at the same time, Nix's name is nearly synonymous with former Ducks QB Justin Herbert due to their No. 10 jerseys, star power and a season-opening matchup many years ago.
Here's a look back at Nix's long-lasting college career and how it overlaps with Herbert's time in the NFL.
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How old is Bo Nix?
Nix is 23 years old, born on Feb. 25, 2000.
He grew up in Pinson, Alabama, graduating from Pinson Valley High School as one of the top quarterbacks in his class.
Nix chose to play for Auburn, his father Patrick Nix's alma mater. He played his first game for the Tigers on Aug. 31, 2019, beating Herbert and the Ducks 27-21 in Arlington, Texas. Auburn went on to have a 10-4 record on the season, including an Iron Bowl win over rival Alabama.
The Tigers haven't had as good of a season since, only winning six games the next two years. A coaching change in 2021 set up what would be Nix's final season on the Plains.
He decided to transfer and found home in the Pacific Northwest, finishing his college career with the team he started against. In 2022, Oregon went 10-3, including a 28-27 win over North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl for Nix's first bowl win. That season was a career-best for Nix; he threw for 3,593 yards on a 71.9% completion rate, racking up 29 touchdowns.
In his last go-around, Nix set an NCAA record, the number nearly coinciding with Herbert's NFL numbers.
What a journey it's been for Bo Nix 🙌 pic.twitter.com/f2hsXfrJbD
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 22, 2023
MORE: Why did Bo Nix transfer to Oregon from Auburn?
Bo Nix vs. Justin Herbert stats
Herbert is just two years older than Nix, despite playing in his fourth NFL season. The Chargers selected him sixth overall in the 2020 draft, and he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award that season.
In 2019, Nix was a freshman at Auburn while Herbert played his senior season.
So, how do their college careers compare overall?
| Player | Years | G | Pct. | Yards | TD | Int |
| Justin Herbert | 2016-19 | 43 | 64.0 | 10,541 | 95 | 23 |
| Bo Nix | 2019-23 | 54 | 65.0 | 12,933 | 87 | 24 |
Nix hasn't led his team to a Pac-12 Championship like Herbert did, but the Ducks still went 10-3 in 2022, winning a bowl game for the first time since Herbert's Rose Bowl victory three years prior.
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Most career starts by NCAA quarterback
| Player | School | Years played | Starts |
| Bo Nix | Oregon | 2019-23 | 54 |
| Sam Hartman | Notre Dame | 2018-23 | 53 |
| Colt McCoy | Texas | 2006-09 | 53 |
| Kellen Moore | Boise State | 2008-11 | 53 |
| Jake Browning | Washington | 2015-18 | 53 |
| Clayton Thorson | Northwestern | 2015-18 | 53 |
