This is not how it was supposed to end for LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
In today’s world of college football, where players leave after a year or two to chase the NIL dollar or that opportunity to play elsewhere, Nussmeier stuck it out for five years at LSU.
The Lake Charles native could have left after Brian Kelly got Jayden Daniels out of the transfer portal. When Daniels returned for his fifth year, Nussmeier could have bolted; instead, he had a front row seat for Daniels' Heisman Trophy season.
Nussmeier finally got his chance in 2024 and outperformed statistically what Daniels and Joe Burrow did in their first seasons as starters.
Nussmeier started 13 games and threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The 4,052 yards are the second most in LSU history, only topped by Burrow’s 2019 Heisman Trophy season.
But in 2025, Nussmeier has yet to crack 2,000 passing yards, and he is now fighting for playing time with Michael Van Buren. He also has a new head coach and a play caller.
Where did it go wrong? An ab injury in preseason slowed down the Nuss Bus, and a poor offensive line drove the Nuss Bus into a ditch.
However, his teammates continue to believe in him. Sixth-year defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory has been teammates with Nussmeier for the last five years.
“That guy is a hell of a leader, he’s hell of a person, I bled with him, and I cried with him, so regardless of what anybody or what anybody thinks, that’s still my quarterback,” Guillory said.
“That’s my brother, outside of football, checking on me, I’m checking on him, when I’m down he’s by my side, when he’s down I’m by his side, that’s how close we are, how much we care and love each other,” wide receiver Zavion Thomas said.
Despite all the goodwill Nussmeier has built, this is still a results-based business.
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After three trips into the red zone and only six points against Alabama last Saturday, interim head coach Frank Wilson decided to park the Nuss bus and let Michael Van Buren drive the offense.
The results were not much better, but Wilson is now committed to playing both quarterbacks this Saturday against Arkansas.
The Hollywood ending that had Nussmeier winning a Heisman Trophy and winning a national championship will not happen, but maybe Nussmeier can put together his best games of the season and finish his LSU career knowing he gave it all he got and established relationships that will last a lifetime.