Auburn's desire to #EstablishIt and how that could help Bo Nix against Arkansas

The Tigers have become a pass-heavy team through the first two weeks of the season. But that's not what they want to be — and for good reason.

QB Bo Nix (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)

In Gus Malzahn’s first season as Auburn’s head coach, his starting quarterback threw the ball 18.4 times per game. The Tigers averaged 52.07 rushing attempts per game.

So far in Malzahn’s eighth season as Auburn’s head coach, his starting quarterback has thrown the ball 33.5 times per game. The Tigers are averaging 26 rushing attempts per game.

The young 2020 season has been an abnormal one for Malzahn’s program in so many ways. In pure football terms, though, the offense is shaping up to be one unlike any he’s ever had on the Plains.

Even though the march to the BCS National Championship Game in 2013 serves as the pinnacle of run-heavy football under Malzahn, the Tigers’ passing rate through two weeks is still a massive change from the norm. Auburn has averaged at least 40 rushing attempts per game in its previous seven seasons under Malzahn and the three additional ones in which he was the offensive coordinator.

Yet, according to SEC StatCat, Au…