The 2025 season is shaping up to be a blockbuster, and the Tigers are the main characters in this action-packed college football script. After missing the playoffs for the third straight year, Brian Kelly and his squad aren’t just knocking on the door—they’re about to kick it down. With the transfer portal stocked and the offseason hype boiling over, LSU is looking like a team with something to prove. And leading the charge? Garrett Nussmeier, a QB who’s been through the fire, taken the heat, and come out looking like one of the top quarterbacks in the country. But what’s the secret sauce that makes Nussmeier better than Arch Manning?

On February 3rd, SEC Mike went live with Steven Lassen on “The SEC Football Podcast” and dropped a take that sent shockwaves through the college football world. “The guy [Garrett Nussmeier] can take to coaching,” SEC Mike said. “Brian Kelly screaming his head off, you know what I mean? Like, I feel like that should not be taken for granted in today’s day and age because a lot of these guys, you know, I’m not, I don’t sit here and call them out because it just kind of is what it is, but a lot of these guys can’t take coaching. And I think Nussmeier clearly can do that.” Translation? In an era where quarterbacks transfer at the first sign of adversity, Nussmeier’s literally built different. He doesn’t just tolerate Brian Kelly’s sideline theatrics—he thrives on them.

This isn’t just talk. We’ve seen Kelly go full drill sergeant mode on Nussmeier in real-time, and the kid just eats it up. Remember Week 1? Kelly indirectly threw Nuss under the bus, hyping up USC’s Miller Moss by saying, “Played well tonight. He [Moss] outplayed our quarterback. He made the plays when he needed to.” That could’ve sent a lesser QB into a spiral, but not Nussmeier. Instead, he responded by balling out for over 4,000 yards and putting himself in the Heisman conversation.

SEC Mike doubled down, saying, “I think he’ll have a monster year. I really do. I think Nussmeier, as long as LSU does what they’re capable of doing, he may very well win the Heisman Trophy.” And Vegas agrees. Nussmeier currently leads the Heisman odds race at +900, sitting just ahead of Texas’ golden boy, Arch Manning (+950). LSU fans? They’re loving every second of this.

Garrett Nussmeier’s 2025: Heisman season?

So, what’s standing between Nussmeier and a trip to New York? Simple—turnovers. The man’s got an absolute cannon for an arm, but sometimes he trusts it a little too much. LSU finished 9-4 last season, and you can bet that some of those losses came from costly mistakes. If he tightens up his decision-making, there’s no ceiling for what he can accomplish. And let’s not forget—he’s working with a serious arsenal. Barion Brown from Kentucky, Donovan Green from A&M, Aaron Anderson, Trey’Dez Green, Harlem Berry, and so on. LSU’s receiving corps is looking like an Avengers lineup.

But this ain’t a Disney movie where the good guys just waltz into the playoffs. The Tigers’ 2025 schedule is more like a valley of death. They open against Clemson, travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama, and have to deal with Ole Miss and Florida along the way. If Nussmeier wants to take home the Heisman, he’s gotta earn it. Every week will be a battle, and there’s no room for slip-ups and turnovers. America is watching, and every snap counts.

LSU fans know the deal. The Tigers don’t do “average.” If they’re not competing for a natty, it’s automatically a letdown. Brian Kelly’s got the talent. He’s got the experience; he’s been doing this forever. And with Nussmeier under center, he might just have the quarterback to take them all the way. But make no mistake—this is a high-risk, high-reward season. If LSU takes another early L, the pressure cooker in Baton Rouge is gonna hit max heat. And if Nussmeier falters, those +900 Heisman odds will start looking like nothing more than a preseason fantasy.

One thing’s for sure, though—whether it’s Brian Kelly screaming on the sidelines or Garrett Nussmeier throwing bombs under the Saturday night lights, LSU football is about to be a must-see on TV. And for Arch Manning? Consider this your official notice. The Heisman race is on, and Nussmeier isn’t backing down from anybody.