Bo Nix, Team Auburn Beat Team Tigers 17-3 in 2021 Auburn Spring Game

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistApril 17, 2021

Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) passes the ball during the A-Day spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett)

Julie Bennett/Associated Press

Team Auburn defeated Team Tigers 17-3 during the school's spring game Saturday afternoon.

The program's first-team offense and defense comprised Team Auburn.

Starting quarterback Bo Nix finished 12-of-20 through the air for 112 yards and a touchdown, leading the team on three first-half scoring drives (the game was just 32 minutes long, with eight-minute quarters).

Auburn Football @AuburnFootball
.@BoNix10 ➡️ @ElijahCanion for 6️⃣! https://t.co/YWXyO1w8QT

"I thought the quarterbacks made some good decisions," new head coach Bryan Harsin said afterward on the ESPN+ broadcast. "That's something you want to see. Good in the red zone."

Josh Vitale @JoshVitale
Bryan Harsin said Auburn quarterback Bo Nix "made good decisions" today and did a good job of getting the team into the right plays and making checks when he needed to.

Josh Vitale @JoshVitale
Auburn QB Bo Nix: "The offense that we're in now allows me to be multiple, do certain things with the football and make choices. "With that, it's easier to go through progressions, make decisions and put guys in great positions."

Wideout Elijah Canion was the recipient of Nix's touchdown toss, while running back Tank Bigsby had 46-yard touchdown run (but also lost a fumble).

Auburn Football @AuburnFootball
House call! @tank_bigsby takes it 46 yards for the tuddy! 📺 https://t.co/a9DJhCKGFf https://t.co/vJvyh12T82

Josh Vitale @JoshVitale
A-Day MVPs: Offense: Tank Bigsby Defense: Trey Elston Special teams: Anders Carlson

Second-team quarterback Dematrius Davis also turned heads with his athleticism.

Josh Vitale @JoshVitale
Dematrius Davis is shifty, man.

Auburn's defense looked ready for the season, with the first-team unit stifling the second-team offense and the second-team defenders holding their own against Nix and the first-team offense.

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Josh Vitale @JoshVitale
First-half A-Day observations: The defense is farther ahead than the offense, which is not surprising. Much more depth on that side of the ball. But the Bigsby/Shivers RB duo looks strong. Bo Nix: 10-13, 89, yards TD. Have heard this is the year.

Josh Vitale @JoshVitale
Bryan Harsin said Auburn's "second offense did not move the ball very well," which is a good thing. The first-team defense was all over the place.

"They played fast; they got to the ball," Harsin noted. "We had some turnovers, which was good."

All eyes will be on Harsin and his incoming philosophy. The first-year Tigers head coach already showed a departure from the Gus Malzahn era, with more quarterback snaps under center and a greater emphasis on power football (there were even some three-tight end sets).

Tom Green @Tomas_Verde
Bryan Harsin: "There's plenty of things we did well today... and some things we didn't and need to work on." Auburn will have one more practice Monday to wrap up spring.

It's hard to truly gauge a team or its head coach in a spring game, with the regular season nearly five months away. But it's clear Auburn will have a new look on offense, with a greater emphasis on powering the ball between the tackles.

The defense should be solid. If Nix and the offense adjust to the new philosophy, Auburn could be a dangerous team yet again.