GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
OXFORD, Mississippi – Garrett Nussmeier had averaged 300.5 yards passing a game in his 18 starts as LSU’s starting quarterback since the Reliaquest Bowl in the 2023 season … up until Saturday.
Seven times he had thrown for more than 300 yards. Twice he had passed for more than 400 yards. All nine of those happened last year.
The fifth-year senior has not thrown for 300 yards yet this season. His high was 273 last week against Southeastern Louisiana.
LSU falls at Ole Miss, 24-19, and Garrett Nussmeier still looks hurt:https://t.co/f84PNsedy6
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 27, 2025
In No. 4 LSU’s 24-19 loss at No. 13 Ole Miss Saturday, Nussmeier threw for a career-low 197 yards on 21-of-34 passing with a bad interception after LSU had a first down on the Ole Miss 39 while leading 7-3 in the second quarter. His two previous career lows were also this season – 230 against Clemson and 220 against Florida.
He is obviously still bothered by the abdomen injury he suffered last August as he continues to miss open receivers by a lot or underthrow open receivers deep, even though all appeared to be well just a week ago.
Those in the know close to the LSU football program know Nussmeier is hurt, but no one is saying it publicly, including coach Brian Kelly and Nussmeier. Maybe it’s because of the NFL Draft next April, which doesn’t make a lot of sense. Because they always find out anyway.
Regardless, praise to Nussmeier for trying to play with what is at the worst a painful injury and at best an uncomfortable one. In either case, the injury impacts how he throws the ball. And the zip and arm strength are not there as they were last year, regardless of what Kelly said after the game Saturday.
“All I can tell you is he’s healthy,” Kelly said.
Kelly was honest enough to say at a press conference two weeks ago that Nussmeier was injured when a question was asked about Nussmeier’s frequent lost zip and accuracy. But he’s not being very honest now.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier “has been slowed a little bit with a torso (abdomen) injury.” … Brian Kelly:https://t.co/qtEguLJwLe
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 15, 2025
Just watch some of LSU’s games from last season and compare it to this year.
Perhaps Nussmeier’s strategy his and the philosophy of his father – Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier – is the less the abdomen injury is discussed the better. Can’t blame them. But he’s not the same, regardless of what he says or doesn’t say.
“I’m not going to answer any questions about my health right now,” Nussmeier said when asked point blank after the game if he was healthy. “Right now I’m just frustrated about the loss. We’re going to get back, watch the tape, find ways to get better. It’s frustrating.”
That interception early in the second quarter by Ole Miss cornerback Wydett Williams from a first down at the Rebels’ 29 blew a chance for the Tigers to go up 10-3 or 14-3 with their defense playing well. On first down from the Rebels’ 29, wide receiver Zavion Thomas was open near the goal line for a possible touchdown again, but Nussmeier threw more shallow to wide receiver Barion Brown, who was well covered at the 12.
Or maybe he was throwing for Thomas and underthrew and only looked like he was throwing to Brown.
LSU had a 1st down at Ole Miss’ 39 with a chance to go up 14-0 before this Garrett Nussmeier pick.https://t.co/HqlJTHkMgg
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 28, 2025
“Nussmeier on first and ten – up for grabs and it’s intercepted! Terrible decision. He threw it into traffic, and it got picked off,” ABC’s Sean McDonough said live.
“I missed a guy,” Nussmeier said. “It was a good coverage by them. He kind of hid behind the other backer. So, it’s a tough one. I’m going to bang my head on the wall about it for a while. But as I said, we’ve got to move on.”
Asked again about his injury, he said, “I’m not going to answer anything involving my health. Sorry.”
Had Nussmeier been completely healthy, there are still other issues.
LSU’s much-praised defense folded on Ole Miss’ last possession of the game that covered 56 yards in 11 plays and took up the final 5:04 after LSU drew within 24-19. Ole Miss even did not score on purpose on that drive after converting a 4th-and-3 with 1:22 to play on a 20-yard completion from quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to tight end Dae’Quan Wright. He was so open, it looked like he came off the sideline. With a clear 15 yards ahead of him for a TD and 31-19 lead, he just took a knee. And Ole Miss ran out the rest of the game.
That’s a subtle in your face that cuts deeper than the wildest, choreographed end zone celebration with flags flying. Ole Miss playing “Callin’ Baton Rouge” just after the game also showed devilish touch.
LSU’s defense played very well in the first half with a pair of three-and-outs to start the game and kept a sorry offense in the game as Ole Miss ran 50 plays in the first half to 24 by LSU. But coordinator Blake Baker’s unit wilted in the second half and ended up allowing 480 yards.
The Tigers were unable to run the ball well enough – 57 yards on 22 carries – to take some pressure off their defense and Nussmeier. He was sacked only once, but hurried seven times.
“We struggle with completing deep balls,” Kelly said.
That’s the key. The deep seam Nussmeier was so dangerous with last year is not in this offense. It takes a strong arm and good protection. On Saturday and at times throughout the season, LSU has had neither.
Kelly at least admitted that.
Asked what the major problem is with the offense this season, he said, “The inability to hit the big play down the field. You’ve got to hit some of those plays. And we didn’t hit any of them.”
LSU has an open date this week just in time. But if Nussmeier’s injury and/or performance doesn’t get better quick, Kelly is going to have to consider playing backup quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. here and there.
Be the first to comment