Garrett Nussmeier compliments fellow offensive players for final drive

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier turned heads in his first career start. In the Tigers’ 35-31 win over Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl, Nussmeier exceeded expectations time and time again, including on the team’s game-winning drive.

With six minutes left in the fourth quarter and down 31-28, Nussmeier led LSU on a 98-yard march to the end zone. He completed the offensive clinic with a four-yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr. While Nussmeier received mass praise for his clutch performance, he wasn’t willing to add to the narrative.

“I’m really proud of us as an offense. That doesn’t just speak to me. That speaks to our entire group,” Nussmeier said. “I can’t do it by myself. To go 98 yards with the game on the line, that means a lot to me. To be the leader of the offense, that matters more than about myself.”

Nussmeier’s words are humble, but his statistics are plenty loud. The redshirt sophomore completed 31-of-his-45 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns while only throwing one interception in the victory. Despite his standout performance, Nussmeier refused to take credit.

“I didn’t carry the team on my back. We did it together,” Nussmeier said. “It started two weeks ago in bowl prep. First, I’d like to say God is good. His timing is always right. I feel really good right now and I feel really bless and that’s all because of Him.

“The O-line did a great job giving me time. Like I said earlier this week, we’ve got guys that can make plays and it’s just giving them an opportunity to do so. The coach has put us in the right position to make the plays.”

Garrett Nussmeier is the future

Nussmeier’s performance is a promising sign for LSU, who will lose Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels to the 2024 NFL Draft. LSU was not aggressively hunting a quarterback in the portal, only adding Vanderbilt’s AJ Swann. Instead, the team has laid its chips on Nussmeier.

After Nussmeier’s performance in the ReliaQuest Bowl, it looks like LSU made a smart bet. Last week, head coach Brian Kelly confirmed Nussmeier is LSU’s quarterback of the future.

“He’s got the keys to the car going forward in ’24,” Kelly said. “The offense, he knows it well. He’ll be able to do the things that we need to do offensively, run it, throw it, do the things that are necessary to be a championship football team.”