After LSU’s regular season-closing win over Oklahoma, it’s time for the team to look to the future. That of course starts with the quarterback position.
Redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier had perhaps his best game of the season against Oklahoma, showcasing his grit after going down with a shoulder injury in the second quarter and coming back to lead LSU to a 20-point win.
Nussmeier had 277 passing yards and three touchdowns, including several impressive deep throws. The performance had people wondering if Nussmeier would be returning to LSU next year to potentially continue his upward trajectory.
He has the option to enter the upcoming NFL Draft but also has one more year of college eligibility.
“I have not decided about that,” Nussmeier said after the game. “I wanted to leave that out until after the season.”
“I do know that I love being here at LSU. I love this team, and I love this school, this organization.”
Nussmeier said he’d begin having conversations about whether or not he’d return early this week.
Head coach Brian Kelly has emphasized throughout the season that since it’s Nussmeier’s first year as a college starting quarterback, he’s still growing. Even through the quarterback’s struggles, Kelly has preached patience and pointed to Nussmeier’s best moments as a reminder of his ceiling.
Kelly also sounded optimistic about Nussmeier returning to LSU in 2025.
“When he hopefully comes back next year, he can take that next step,” Kelly said.
Earlier in the year, Nussmeier was mocked as high as a first round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, but a rough midseason stretch lowered his stock considerably.
In LSU’s last two games, Nussmeier was markedly more efficient and accurate. He completed over 70% of his passes in both of those games, the only times he did so this season against SEC opponents.
“I said it in September… I hope that I would be a better player now than I was in September, and I think that that is proven to be true,” Nussmeier said.
Nussmeier spent three years as a backup, including sitting behind future Heisman winner and first-round pick Jayden Daniels in 2022 and 2023.
This year, he was finally given the chance to start and finished the season with 3,735 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, which ranked No. 6 and 12 in the nation, respectively.
With the decommitment of quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 class, LSU needs an answer at signal-caller.
