The fact that Arch Manning, a quarterback who has barely started two games in his collegiate career, is the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, per bookies, has to be one of the weirdest facts about the 2025 preseason.
However, not every analyst agrees with the assessment, and more than one believes that he’s not even the best quarterback in the SEC coming into 2025. Rusty Mansell is one such expert. If he had to bet on a quarterback to win the Heisman, it would be South Carolina Gamecocks’ LaNorris Sellers, not Arch Manning.
“He looked very uncomfortable to me against Georgia. I’m not saying this guy can’t be that, because he’s super talented, I know he’s, but he’s going to face a lot that he has never seen. He’s got a lot of weapons, he’s got a great offensive coach there, but there’s a lot on him. I see people saying he’s the Heisman favorite. That’s unrealistic. Right now, if you had to bet your mortgage payment and you had to take Arch Manning or LaNorris Sellers for the year, I’d take Sellers,” Mansell said (via SEC Mike’s X handle).
“Right now, if you had to bet your mortgage payment and you had to take Arch Manning or LaNorris Sellers for the year, I’d take Sellers.”
Full show: https://t.co/QYyGfmaWwQ pic.twitter.com/vAM0sAhmjR
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) July 20, 2025
LaNorris has a huge upper hand over Manning, just by having been a starter for a full year with South Carolina already. In 2024, Sellers threw for 2534 yards, had 18 touchdowns, and had seven interceptions. In the process, he led the Gamecocks to an 8-4 record and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year, a Freshman All-American, a Third Team All-SEC selection, and an SEC All-Freshman Team selection.
In contrast, Manning only started in two games last year and recorded 939 passing yards, with nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
Sellers’ success has also translated into profit in the form of NIL deals. According to On3, he currently has an NIL valuation of $3.7 million, which is the sixth best among all student athletes and the fifth best among college football players.
Arch Manning knows he shouldn’t be considered the favorite to win the Heisman
The first person to tell you that he shouldn’t be considered the favorite to win the Heisman is Arch Manning himself.
He spoke about this unusual recognition during the SEC media days last week, telling the press:
“I’m not really sure how they get these opinions. Cuz I’ve only played, what? Two games? But I guess it’s nice of them to say, but it doesn’t mean anything. Talk is cheap, I gotta go prove it.”
Arch Manning on the Heisman hype and championship talk around him:
“It’s nice of them to say, but it doesn’t mean anything. Talk is cheap, I gotta go prove it”
(via @TreyWallace_) pic.twitter.com/V2ALtIj1zt
— Arch Manning Highlights (@ArchHighlights) July 15, 2025
According to BetMGM, Manning is the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in 2025. They give him odds of +600, while his closest rival is LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, who has odds of +850.
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