It is not often that two quarterbacks from the same college are on the same NFL team. The odds get even crazier if you could predict that the starter would get injured in the playoff and the other Auburn QB can now take the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl.

Bo Nix (injured starter) and Jarrett Stidham (replacement) have a long history dating back to their days on the Auburn football team. Nix's winning ways have been a featured story this year in the NFL until his recent season ending injury at the end of the last playoff game. Now steps in Stidham to attempt guiding the Broncos all the way to the NFL Super Bowl.

Following a season-ending ankle injury to Nix in the playoffs, Stidham is stepping in as the starter for the AFC Championship game. The two are close, with Stidham acting as a mentor and close friend to Nix during his debut season. 

Stidham may not have quite the resume of Nix, but he’s no slouch, said Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

“He’s in the NFL for a reason,” Gonzalez said. “They believe in him, they brought him up, so we’ve got to prepare and be ready for him. They’re in this game for a reason, too. They’ve got a lot of weapons on the offensive side.”

Stidham steps in today when the Broncos (15-3) host Drake Maye and the Patriots (16-3) in the AFC Championship Game.

The Denver Broncos play the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. CT). The game will be broadcast on CBS and can be streamed on Paramount+, NFL+, or via Fubo, DirectTV, and other live TV streaming services.