If Garrett Nussmeier was born earlier, he could’ve been a Gators player under his dad Doug, who was the offensive coordinator and QBs coach during the 2015–16 stretch. It is ironic now for a former Florida coach’s son to deliver a shot aimed directly at Gainesville. Coach Brian Kelly, out of all the major characters in this rivalry, is likely the happiest one about it. And after two weeks of football, the natural question to ask is: how good is Garrett Nussmeier and can he back up his words?

The sophomore QB1 didn’t leave much to the imagination when asked what stands out about LSU’s rivalry with Florida. “Yeah. I’m not a big fan of the Florida Gator. I think I’ve made that pretty evident throughout my time here. So it’s an awesome opportunity. You know, it’s a great team, obviously, a great program, very storied rivalry, very storied team that we’re playing. And so, I just can’t wait to get in Death Valley and feel that environment. It’s going to be pretty exciting.” That’s a declaration. One sharpened by the backdrop of Saturday night lights, national TV, and LSU’s gold game pageantry.

What makes this entire subplot richer is the contrast between the two head coaches. Ironically, LSU’s Brian Kelly and UF’s Billy Napier share more than just five-letter first names. Both carry burdens that twist from opposite ends. Kelly is steering a playoff contender, burdened by the weight of high expectations and needing to polish every edge to meet them. Napier, on the other hand, is fending off critics after Florida’s embarrassing stumble against South Florida, needing to prove last year wasn’t his ceiling while his seat grows hotter by the week. Two different pressures, bound by a common thread of urgency.

Kelly, who rarely tosses out high praise, made it clear where his eyes are focused when discussing Florida. “It starts with their quarterback. DJ’s (Lagway) talent is off the charts,” Kelly said. “He can throw the football. He’s a guy that when you look at quarterbacks in this league, he has elite talent.” LSU’s staff has surely circled DJ Lagway as the lynchpin, because when he’s rolling, the Gators are balanced. Lagway’s already thrown for 342 yards and four touchdowns in just two weeks, proving that his arm can stretch defenses. But Kelly understands the chess game here. What happens when LSU takes away the deep pass? Suddenly the underneath throws and the grind-it-out run game must shoulder the weight.

“I mean, they have a nice balance of running the football,” Kelly added. “And certainly the quarterback position and some skill guys on the offensive side of the ball. I love the center, Slaughter.” That last detail is telling. Coaches rarely highlight centers unless they truly anchor the line. Kelly sees it, and in some ways he’s handing Napier the blueprint: lean on Slaughter, mix the run and pass, and take advantage of measured drives. It’s a strategy that can wear down LSU’s relentless pass rush, especially when those edge defenders are gasping for air by the third quarter.

On one sideline, there is Garrett Nussmeier. Already near 500 passing yards with a win over Clemson in the bag. He steps into Death Valley with swagger to spare, feeding off the rivalry’s emotion. On the other side, Lagway, the young gun with raw talent and four scores is trying to prove Florida’s offense can hang with the best of the SEC.

Garrett Nussmeier at No. 6?

Can he really talk that talk? That’s the question circling Garrett Nussmeier this week after ESPN’s Bill Connelly updated his full SEC QB rankings. The list is filled with eyebrow-raising placements. Manning tumbling all the way down to 7 will definitely grab the headlines. But it’s where Garrett landed that makes you pause. Sixth. Right in the middle of the pack. For LSU’s QB1, that feels off.

After all, this is a quarterback fresh off a strong 2024 campaign and already a headline-making start to 2025. Beating Clemson on the road in Death Valley East is no small thing, especially for a player now carrying legitimate Heisman buzz. And yet, Connelly isn’t ready to push him toward the top tier just yet.

“He was solid against a good Clemson defense and wholly mediocre, with an interception and three sacks, in a 23-7 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday,” Connelly wrote. “He gets the benefit of the doubt because he has a stronger track record than most on this list, but it’s time to pick it up.”  Nussmeier has the résumé, the numbers, and the swagger to justify the hype. But he must deliver when he faces off against the Gators.