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Paolo Ugetti, ESPN
LAS VEGAS — Oregon State quarterback Bo Nix knew the question was coming, but he didn’t allow himself a chance to think about the response. He was still processing a game, perhaps a season and a five-year college football career that had come to an abrupt end in a 34-31 loss to Washington in the Pac-12 Championship.
He will have to wait for a decision on whether he will play in the Ducks’ next game.
“Can we enjoy the moment now and enjoy our season?” Nyx asked. “That’s not today’s decision. I have no idea.”
Nix, a 23-year-old fifth-year senior, has made 60 career college football starts — 34 at Auburn and 26 at Oregon. His career stats are straight out of a video game — 14,989 yards and 108 touchdowns — but he hasn’t had a better season than this one, totaling 4,145 yards on a 77.2% completion percentage with 40 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Oregon State, led by the Knicks, has done almost everything right this season to give itself a chance to win the Pac-12 and have a shot at the College Football Playoff. However, it was unable to do something decisive twice: beat Washington.
“We didn’t play well enough to win that game,” coach Dan Lanning said. “We didn’t have their numbers, they had our numbers.”
After trailing 20-3 at one point in the first half, the Knicks and Oregon’s offense woke up and put the Ducks back, scoring 21 unanswered points to take the lead into the second half. But after Washington responded with 14 points in the fourth quarter, Oregon couldn’t answer.
After the game, questions about the Nix’s bowl game status began to surface. However, Nicks said he is still coming to terms with the end of it all. Before Friday night’s loss, there was always a next game to look forward to, or a season ahead.
“I’m just trying to get over this loss. I’m not thinking about anything else,” Nicks said. “I think that’s why I was bummed because I’m anticipating next week’s game and I’m anticipating another opponent. It’s tough when you’re used to going, going, going, and then when it’s over, it just happens in a big way.” quickly.”
Oregon State will likely play in the New Year’s Six bowl. As linebacker Jeff Basa said after the game, the team might look completely different in that game.
“Obviously there will be people who will make the decisions to leave and join the NFL,” Basa said. “And then there will be people who will leave and head to the gate.”
While Nicks was noncommittal about his ballpark status ahead of what is expected to be a move to the NFL Draft, his answers hinted at what that decision might be. He spoke at length about how he experienced everything possible in this sport, how his dream was to play college football and how he experienced everything from conference realignment to the transfer portal popping up to nothing to the pandemic.
“Every year was something different, and every year was something new,” Nicks said. “I’m going to miss college football.”
Nix then walked out of the room where Washington coach Calen DeBoer greeted him for the first time before congratulating quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on the win. The Huskies’ quarterback was entering the press room as conference champion in the final great quarterback duel for the now-defunct Pac-12. There was at least one more meaningful game in his future.
Whether or not Nix makes a bowl game, there are no more competitive college games left in his long career. When he jumped on the golf cart and headed into the Allegiant Stadium tunnel alongside his father, he had already found something else to look forward to.
“There’s way more to life than college football,” Nicks said. “As crazy as it sounds, I’m going to enjoy this plane ride home.”
