Eli Manning discusses relationship with Nick Saban, LSU memories

In town for his jersey retirement at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday when Ole Miss hosts LSU, Eli Manning spoke with the media about his memories playing the Tigers and his relationship with Nick Saban, who coached LSU during Manning’s college days.

“Got to sit down with Coach Saban this summer for a little bit,” Manning said. “Went to Tuscaloosa and sat down with him and talked a little about that game, my sophomore year in Baton Rouge. He didn’t like talking about that one all that much. He kind of liked talking about the one my senior year they came here beat us and so close, winning that game and going to the SEC Championship. It was a great season.

“Coach Saban, have so much respect for him and what he’s been able to do and we had fun having him on the show and for me getting to hang out with him for a little bit.

Manning spent time with Saban in Tuscaloosa for his ESPN+ show Eli’s Places over the summer, and Peyton and Eli Manning had Saban on as a guest for Monday Night Football With Peyton and Eli, during the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys matchup.

Eli Manning faced off against Saban three times in college, going 1-2 against the legendary head coach. In 2001, Manning’s sophomore season, Ole Miss defeated LSU. In the 35-24 win, Manning threw for 249 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Ole Miss lost to LSU the following two seasons. In the two losses, Manning threw for 418 combined yards, two touchdowns and three interception.

Manning’s senior year, LSU marched into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium ranked No. 3 against the No. 15 Rebels. The Tigers held Manning and the Rebels in check for three quarters, then withstood a fourth-quarter rally to earn a 17-14 victory, that kept Ole Miss from clinching its first SEC West title, and kept LSU in the national title hunt. LSU went on to win the national championship that season, Saban’s first.

Eli Manning finished his career at Ole Miss with 10,119 passing yards, 86 total touchdowns and 35 interceptions in 43 games. He won the Maxwell Award and was first-team All-SEC and SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2003. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy race that season.

Eli Manning’s jersey ceremony on Saturday will be complete with an amazing end zone design at Vaught-Hemingway which says “Manning” in Eli’s honor. Of course, his father, Archie, is also of Rebels lore.

The Manning name in the end zone could also serve as a recruiting effort for Eli’s nephew, Arch Manning, the top recruit in the 2023 recruiting class, who will be in attendance for his uncle’s ceremony. The younger Manning is a high priority target for Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and is likely the most talked about recruit in the country, despite still being a junior in high school.