LSU coach Brian Kelly saw what a Heisman winner looks like two years ago with Jayden Daniels and has another prime candidate in Garrett Nussmeier ahead of the 2025 season. So his opinion to scale back the hype train on Texas quarterback Arch Manning is predictable, if not, expected.
After all, Manning’s lone collegiate starts came against ULM and Mississippi State last fall.
“Look, we hear it every day because [Manning is] from Louisiana. … And listen, there’s another guy that hears it all the time and that’s Garrett Nussmeier,” Kelly said during an appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay Podcast. “He’s committed, and more than anything else, he’s experienced. And in this league, you need to see the bullets flying.”
Manning (+700) and Nussmeier (+800) are the Heisman frontrunners this season at FanDuel Sportsbook for similar reasons — both are front-facing talents within top-15 programs expected to compete for spots in the national title conversation.
The two signal-callers seize the spotlight during opening weekend as Nussmeier and the Tigers have a marquee opener at Clemson, while Manning’s Longhorns battle defending national champion Ohio State on the road.
“Now, Manning is extremely talented, but he’s got to go do it,” Kelly said. “And there’s going to be a couple of days where it doesn’t come out the way it’s supposed to. How do you bounce back, how do you come back from that? How does it work the next week in your gameplan? So there’s a lot out there.
“I can see the assessment of Manning, he’s an outstanding player. But I’ll take the guy that’s been in the SEC and seen what it looks like.”
It’s hard to argue with Kelly’s point, and there are facts behind his reasoning.
Nussmeier led a pair of second-half comebacks to…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/why-lsus-brian-kelly-is-tapping-the-brakes-on-arch-manning-hype-ahead-of-texas-qbs-first-season-as-starter/
Author : Brad Crawford
Publish date : 2025-06-11 15:15:00
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