With Oregon’s sixth Pac-12 Championship appearance and a potential College Football Playoff berth on the line, Bo Nix stepped up in subtle moments that mattered most.

Thanks to the quarterback keeper.

The QB keeper is something that Nix doesn’t do often, as he likes to spread the ball around.  But in moments that quietly mattered, he took the ball himself in No. 6 Oregon’s (11-1, 8-1 Pac-12) 31-7 win against in-state rival, No. 16 Oregon State (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12).

It all started with the first drive of the game. After running for no gain on 3rd down, Nix kept the ball and pushed for a one-yard gain that would result in a first down and, later, the first touchdown of the game.

To start the second quarter, Nix ran for 16 yards to extend Oregon’s lead to 14 without any response from Oregon State.

Once the Beavers found a way to score, Nix showed who was in control by running the ball for 11 yards for a first down, and four plays later, the score would become 21-7.

“It just kind of happened,” Nix said of the run game against Oregon State. “When you get in that situation, we kept getting first downs but we kept getting tackled. All that matters is that we move the chains, but we did what we had to do to stay on the field.”

While these plays typically wouldn’t make the highlight reel of the game, especially when he threw for 367 yards — including a 41-yard touchdown pass to Troy Franklin — with an 83% completion rate, those moments are important to the bigger conversation that’s being had right now: the Heisman.

Heading into Saturday’s game, Nix ranked within the top-five in the nation in eight different quarterback statistical categories — all related to passing. To start the season, Nix was relatively quiet on the ground after finishing the 2022 season with 510 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, but has recently started to establish his run game as a threat.

Nix ran for a touchdown in three-straight games against Washington State, Utah and California. He currently leads all active FBS quarterbacks with 38 rushing touchdowns and his 20 as a Duck ranks third all-time amongst Oregon quarterbacks.

In the last Pac-12 in-state rivalry game and Nix’s last game in Autzen Stadium, he added another reason to why he’s headlining the Heisman conversation by showcasing his rushing game. His six carries for 31 yards were his highest this season against conference opponents.

Even though on paper it’s not a lot, 28 out of those 31 yards came in the first half and set the tone of the game.

“I think sometimes, I don’t necessarily shock myself, but I prove to myself over and over that I can get out of situations to make us right and I think that’s just the competitiveness of my game,” Nix said. “It’s the refusal and denial of being stopped.”

As these conversations about the Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff spots are starting to reach their peak, it’s important to think about how players get such high numbers and what discreet things that aren’t being talked about as much that led to those leaderboards.

“Bo will be his hardest critic and that is what makes Bo special,” head coach Dan Lanning said after the game. “He is going to go back and look at all those plays he could have had or should have had and fight to find a way to make sure that it happens. That’s why he’s playing at such a high level right now and he’s a coach out there on the field. When you have that mindset of how can I get better, that’s how you improve.”

The qualifications for the Heisman state that it is “the most outstanding college football player in the United States whose performance epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance and hard work.” While those plays were not Nix’s viral moments, they led to big things –– and that wouldn’t have happened without the characteristics to be a Heisman winner. And why not do it on a big stage like the last conference, in-state rivalry game against a ranked opponent?

“This was a great game and I think it’s a great rivalry for the state of Oregon and would love to keep it going,” Lanning said. “If we have to put the ball out in the parking lot, that’s fine with me.”