'There's another guy who hears it all the time' – Texas QB Arch Manning is a source of motivation for another SEC QB in 2025
Texas Longhorns redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning is unintentionally providing motivation for another SEC quarterback this offseason. Manning is arguably the most hyped college football player in the nation ahead of the 2025 season, despite the fact that he has only two career starts under his belt. The hype surrounding Manning, a New Orleans native, […]
Texas Longhorns redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning is unintentionally providing motivation for another SEC quarterback this offseason.
Manning is arguably the most hyped college football player in the nation ahead of the 2025 season, despite the fact that he has only two career starts under his belt.
The hype surrounding Manning, a New Orleans native, has overshadowed other quarterbacks in the SEC — specifically a quarterback that plays college football in Louisiana.
LSU Tigers redshirt senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier could end up being the top quarterback in the SEC in 2025, but he hasn't been receiving as much attention this offseason as he probably should be. And that's in part because of Manning.
Tigers head coach Brian Kelly joined the ESPN College Football podcast this week and he made it clear that Nussmeier is hearing all the noise surrounding Manning this offseason.
"Look, we hear it every day because [Manning is] from Louisiana," said Kelly. You gotta imagine where our ears are. And listen, there’s another guy that hears it all the time, too, and that’s Garrett Nussmeier. He’s committed, and more than anything else, he’s experienced. And in this league, you need to see the bullets flying."
“All I’m saying is, Nussmeier has seen it. He knows what he’s going to get,” continued Kelly. “There’s a confidence that he’ll bring each and every game through experience, maybe even through some scar tissue, that’s going to allow him to be, I believe, the best quarterback…I can see the assessment of Manning, he’s an outstanding player. But I’ll take the guy (Nussmeier) that’s been in the SEC and seen what it looks like."
Nussmeier was the full-time starter at LSU last season for the first time in his career — and he had a monster season. Nussmeier passed for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns while also rushing for three touchdowns in 2024.
There's no doubt that Manning has immense talent, but Nussmeier has actually proved he can perform at a high level in the SEC.
Manning will always have a unique connection to Louisiana because he's from New Orleans, but Nussmeier, who is also from Louisiana (Lake Charles), is eager to prove this season that he's the best quarterback in college football in 2025 from the Boot.
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