Tigers aren’t roaring out here. They purring. Brian Kelly and LSU probably had one of the biggest falloffs this season. While you can say that LSU didn’t start the year off well with that one loss to USC, they did recover quite well. Kelly and Co. went on a 6-win streak. LSU also managed to win over Ole Miss. The same team against who Georgia couldn’t get past the 10-point mark. So yeah, they do have talent, but when your quarterback becomes a turnover machine for your team, can you still rely on him in the future? Garrett Nussmeier is a great guy, but he has around 23 TDs with 11 interceptions. This 2:1 ratio ain’t that great when you start comparing it with other QBs this season.
So it does raise the question: Is Kelly going to rely on Nussmeier for the 2025 season? OL Miles Frazier has a simple explanation. Back during an interview, Frazier pointed out, “As far as his growth specifically, I feel like it’s been, it’s been getting a lot better… I just think, like, his confidence level, like, every week, it’s growing…. Coach Kelly, like everyone, they’re trying to emphasize for us to be a player-run team. And I feel like specifically Nuss is taking that role over like very well.” Okay, so we do agree with one thing; Nussmeier is a solid guy. He was behind the massive wins against the Hogs, or even South Carolina.
While it is true that his turnovers have cost the team a lot you cannot put all the blame on the quarterback. Take the Bama game as an example. LSU’s run game was nonexistent, and their D-line was disappointing.
“I don’t think we give him enough balance within the offense,” this was something even Kelly admitted to during an interview. With the presence of proper rushers or anyone to run the football, it makes it hard for Nussmeier to land proper throws.
They had the same problem against the Gators as well. How you let a freshman QB do better than you is beyond us. Billy Napier and Co. have had a dysfunctional run, and this was probably Kelly’s final shot at locking in and possibly ending the season with 9-3 to their name. But here we are. What’s left to see is if the Tigers can roar through Oklahoma or will this be another Bama disaster?
