Bo Nix vs. Justin Herbert: Broncos-Chargers is elite college QB rematch

ENGLEWOOD — Bo Nix and Justin Herbert made college football magic long before their NFL rematch.

The Broncos host the Chargers on Sunday at Empower Field. Nix is 3-0 over his last three starts for Denver. Herbert has at least one touchdown pass in all four L.A. games this season. The NFL rookie and fifth-year pro met once before.

In 2019, No. 11 Oregon faced No. 16 Auburn in a primetime Week 1 game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Nix made his first career start as a true freshman for the Tigers. Herbert began the final season of a decorated college career.

The result? Nix came out on top.

Auburn upset Oregon, 27-21, after Nix completed a long touchdown pass with just nine seconds left in the game. The Tigers were trailing 21-6 late in the third quarter.

“It was a great head-to-head battle,” Nix said this week after practice at Broncos Park. “They had a really good football team. I still remember them being one of the best defenses that I played. Justin had a great game himself. It came down to the wire, and it was just a really good college football game that day.”

Nix has plenty of respect for Herbert.

Nix, the one-time Auburn quarterback, finished his college career with two seasons at Oregon — where Herbert went 29-13 over 42 career starts over four years with the Ducks.

“(Herbert) would be back every once in a while. He came to a game or two, and I was just able to be around him, talk and just kind of get to know him,” Nix said. “Obviously, it’s not a super close (relationship) because we didn’t have a whole lot of time (together), but I do appreciate him coming before me. … He’s been doing great things. So, it’ll be fun watching him live and fun seeing him again.”

Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi was the Chargers OC for two seasons developing Herbert as a young quarterback. Herbert made the Pro Bowl in 2021 with 5,014 yards passing and 38 touchdowns.

“Obviously, there is an incredible skillset there,” Lombardi said. “His size. You really don’t appreciate how big he is (6-6, 236) until you’re standing next to him. He’s strong. Obviously, his arm talent is off the charts. He’s an incredibly hard worker. Very smart. Football is very important to him. He’s a little bit of a perfectionist.

“You just add all those things up and you end up with a great player.”

Herbert is adjusting to a different scheme under new Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman. He’s also dealt with a foot injury since Week 3, with limited practice participation this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. Herbert has still thrown five touchdowns to just one interception entering Week 6.

“(Herbert) is the same player,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “He’s a big guy. Athletic. He can make every single throw. He can scramble. … But it’s a different system. It’s a run-first system. It’s a two-back system. … It allows (Herbert) to get a clean picture in the pass game, because to stop this unit, it’s got to be a heavy box and single-high (safety) coverages. It cleans the quarterbacks reads.”