College Football HQ

Jordan Rodgers names the best quarterback in college football

LSU takes on Florida and Nussmeier's Heisman campaign could start then.
Patrick Previty|
SEC Nation analyst Jordan Rodgers
SEC Nation analyst Jordan Rodgers | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Analyst Jordan Rodgers didn’t hesitate to call LSU's Garrett Nussmeier "the best quarterback in the country" and a likely Heisman winner. "[Garrett Nussmeier] is the best QB in college football," Rodgers said. "I still believe he'll be holding the Heisman trophy when it's all said and done."

Rodgers pointed to Nussmeier’s work under pressure in Death Valley — 5-of-6 for 52 yards, four first downs and just one sack — as proof that his command is legit.

"He's so good off-platform. He's so good when pressure's on. You saw him rise to the biggest occasions against Clemson in Week 1."

LSU takes on Florida at 7:30 PM EST on Sept. 13 and Rodgers believes this could be the start of something special for Nussmeier.

"You know what I love about rivalries? There's always a superstar waiting to breakout... These are the games. The rivalry games — where stars are stars. They start their Heisman campaigns and they break out and I think that's what's going to happen."

In his first season as LSU’s starter, Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, the No. 2 single-season yardage total in program history and top-10 all time in the SEC. He started all 13 games of a 9–4 campaign and capped it with the Texas Bowl. In the bowl game he had 304 yards and three touchdowns in a 44–31 win over Baylor.

In the previous January, he got his first start in a 35–31 comeback win over Wisconsin in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl. In that game he threw for 395 yards and three scores. That finish, followed by a 4,000-yard debut season, explains why so many came into 2025 expecting a leap.

Garrett Nussmeier
Louisiana State University quarterback Garrett Nussmeier | Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Nussmeier opened the season on multiple watch lists including the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award and Manning Award. He also landed in the O’Brien’s “Great 8” for Week 1. SEC coaches named him First-Team All-SEC in their preseason selections and he's been a name attached to the Heisman race.

Nussmeier opened this season by going 28-of-38 for 232 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT in a 17–10 win at No. 4 Clemson. He was named Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week and SEC Offensive Player of the Week for the performance. He followed with 237 yards and a touchdown in a 23–7 win over Louisiana Tech. LSU's offense didn't really have it going in that game either but the defense was able to step up and hold LA Tech to only 154 total yards.

If the interceptions that marred 2024 (SEC-high 12) stay in check, and the Nussmeier breaks out further, Rodgers might just be onto something.

Published
Patrick Previty
PATRICK PREVITY

In addition to writing for On SI, Patrick is also a site expert for Canes Warning and has previously written for outlets such as Betsided, Orlando Magic Daily and Southbound and Down. He serves as a sideline reporter for ESPN+, covering UCF athletics and the Big 12 Conference. In 2024, he hosted a live, on-site UCF football pregame show that aired on ESPN+. Patrick has interviewed numerous figures in the college sports world, ranging from players to UCF’s athletic director. Recently, he traveled to Mobile, Ala., to cover the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he spoke with multiple NFL Draft prospects. Patrick also hosts coverage of the Orlando Magic for Digest Media on YouTube and has become one of the leading voices on the team in the region. Patrick also helps run the social media department for The Voice of College Football Network, focusing on breaking news and digital storytelling. Patrick previously spent time at CNN in the sports department, where he assisted with CNN’s World Sport show and Bleacher Report updates for morning programming. Hailing from the Tampa Bay Area, Patrick is a lifelong fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Lightning, Orlando Magic and UCF Knights.

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