Garrett Nussmeier finds new consensus spot in latest 2026 NFL Draft rankings after LSU outlasted Clemson

The LSU Tigers have all the buzz in the world after beating Clemson on the road in Week 1. Not only has talk increased about whether they're legit national title contenders, the top overall team, and the SEC favorite, but individuals are getting love, too. That has mainly featured star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.

Nussmeier, projected to be a Day 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, returned to campus to take another leap in his development this fall before graduating from LSU. While it's only been one game, mock draft users across the world have already given him a massive boost. That follows the media, as Joel Klatt said Nussmeier needs to be atop the Heisman Trophy rankings at this extremely early junction.

But how high has Nussmeier climbed? Let's take a look.

Garrett Nussmeier Sees Massive 2026 NFL Draft Jump

The LSU passer totaled 232 yards and one touchdown on 28 completions and 38 attempts against an excellent Clemson defense. Most importantly, Nussmeier avoided the costly mistakes that often coincided with his big plays in 2024. The key to his growth is settling down and finding the right balance between being a gunslinger and a game manager.

He found that balance at the right time in Week 1. While Arch Manning slipped, Nussmeier rose to the occasion. And mock drafts have spoken loudly, moving Nussmeier to the top overall pick in 2026. Five mocks being tracked weekly by NFLmockdraftdatabase.com have Arch Manning below Nussmeier.

His average draft position has risen from seventh just two weeks ago to third. It's not hard to believe that upcoming matchups against Florida and Ole Miss could easily vault him to the consensus top choice.