Bryan Harsin addresses starting quarterback situation vs. LSU

Bryan Harsin remains coy about who will start at quarterback for Auburn on Saturday against LSU.

In last week’s victory over Georgia State, Harsin decided to bench starting quarterback Bo Nix. Sophomore transfer T.J. Finley took over at quarterback for Auburn, and he helped the Tigers secure the comeback victory.

Harsin has not yet decided on his starting quarterback for Saturday’s game against LSU.

“That has not been decided yet,” Harsin said to reporters on Monday. “I know depth charts come out – depth charts are a little bit old school. So many things change during the week… We’re going to get our QBs prepared today and tomorrow morning.”

Nix was 13 of 27 passing the ball with 156 yards against Georgia State before being pulled. When Finley took over, he completed nine of his 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. Finley’s touchdown was Auburn’s only offensive touchdown of the game.

Reactions from Auburn benching Nix, switching to Finley at quarterback

Nix was the SEC’s Freshman of the Year in 2019, throwing for 2,542 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also had 313 yards and seven scores rushing. Last season, Nix threw for 2,415 yards and 12 touchdowns with seven interceptions. This season, Nix has completed 63 of his 103 passes for 724 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Nix spoke about his benching on Monday for the first time. He was definitely frustrated, but he said that he was also happy for Finley.

“I was extremely frustrated when they took me out of the game,” Nix said. “I thought I was healthy enough to play, I felt like I did the best I could and unfortunately it wasn’t my decision. I’m a competitive guy and no matter what, I want to be in the game. That’s me.

“I was shocked, I knew that the camera finds you, so I didn’t want to draw attention away from our team. I wasn’t trying to insert myself and have the attention on me. T.J. did a good job when he went in. He made plays to win the game. I’m happy for him. T.J. and I are getting closer the more we’re around each other.”

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, though, was not surprised that Nix was benched. Finebaum went as far to say that the benching was inevitable.

“From a distance, I like the fact that he’s willing to move forward, not remain status quo,” Finebaum said of Harsin on Monday. “I think everyone connected to that program knew at some point this season, Bo Nix would be coming out. It was inevitable. I didn’t think it would be this past weekend, but nobody could have predicted that.”