Two quarterbacks. Two legendary bloodlines. One season that will define their legacies. Garrett Nussmeier and Arch Manning carry names that echo through college football history, but only one has an NFL analyst convinced he’s the real deal right now.
Why Is Dan Orlovsky Backing Garrett Nussmeier Over Arch Manning?
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky took to X and delivered a bold statement about the Nussmeier versus Manning debate. The former NFL QB wrote, “Right now, Nuss is the best QB in college football.” That’s a massive claim in a season packed with talent, but Orlovsky backed it up with hard numbers.
Nussmeier isn’t just throwing pretty passes. He’s dismantling defenses with surgical precision. Orlovsky pointed to two stats that sealed his argument: “Outstanding pocket management — 9% pressure-to-sack rate (lowest in SEC)” and “Wins when hardest to win — obvious pass: LSU 42% on 3rd & 9+ (highest in FBS)”. While the real figure for the 3DWN% in 2024 for LSU is 49.2, it just adds to Orlovsky’s deduction!
Right now—Nuss is the best QB in college football @LSUfootball
2 things I LOVE about Nuss…
Outstanding pocket management — 9% pressure-to-sack rate (lowest in SEC)
Wins when hardest to win — obvious pass: LSU 42% on 3rd & 9+ (highest in FBS)@PaulHembo 🫡
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) July 17, 2025
The LSU quarterback’s journey tells the story of patience paying off. Nussmeier went from backup duty in 2022 to MVP of the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl, throwing for 313 yards and three touchdowns in his first-ever start. As LSU’s full-time starter, he’s already thrown for 4052 yards in the 2024 season with 29 touchdowns. He waited his turn, climbed the depth chart, and now he’s simply dominating.
Good luck to Garrett Nussmeier week one pic.twitter.com/bBbM9XRTGg
— Clemson Superfan (Mr. Summertime) (@Theholy_MACeral) July 8, 2025
How Do Manning’s Numbers Stack Up Against Nussmeier’s?
On the other side of the SEC battlefield, Arch Manning is making his own headlines. After a quiet freshman year, Manning burst onto the scene in 2024 with a 67-yard rushing touchdown, a 75-yard bomb, and five total touchdowns in a single game. Texas has officially named him their starter, and the fanbase couldn’t be more excited.
However, Manning’s playing time tells a different story from the hype. In 10 games in the 2024 season, he’s thrown for 939 yards and nine touchdowns. The numbers are good, but it is nowhere close to Nussmeier’s numbers. And that’s the core of Orlovsky’s take. Nussmeier isn’t just showing flashes; he has been consistently doing well.
Manning brings the bloodline. As the son of Cooper Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli, and grandson of Archie, he carries quarterback greatness in his DNA. Texas fans love everything about what he represents, but his limited game experience creates questions about sustained excellence.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer. While Manning is earning his stripes and growing into the quarterback Texas dreamed of, Nussmeier has already proven what he can do week after week. Nussmeier isn’t just showing flashes of brilliance; he’s been consistently excellent throughout the season.
So while Manning develops into his potential and grows comfortable in Texas’s system, Nussmeier continues to tear apart SEC defenses. If Dan Orlovsky’s evaluation proves accurate, this season won’t be remembered just for the famous names, but for the quarterback who actually delivered when it mattered most.
