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LSU Announces Garrett Nussmeier News on Tuesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Kevin Matthew Borba | Last updated Dec 9, 2025 1:45 PM ET

For just about everyone involved with the LSU Tigers (7-5) football program, the 2025 college football season was nothing short of a colossal disappointment.

Led by senior quarterback and projected top pick Garrett Nussmeier, the Tigers opened the year as the No. 9 team in the country and were ranked as high as No. 3 in college football. However, the team's 4-0 start to the season turned out to be fool's gold as they ended up losing four out of its next five games, eventually leading to the firing of Brian Kelly.

With the Tigers out of the College Football Playoff race by early October, Nussmeier was playing to salvage his draft stock. Unfortunately for him, he was benched in the team's 20-9 loss to Alabama, and then suffered an abdominal injury in practice which has kept him on the sidelines since.

With the Tigers preparing to take on the No. 21 Houston Cougars in the Texas Bowl, Nussmeier's status for the game was revealed on Tuesday, and it appears he has played his final down of college football.

Nussmeier, Weeks, Delane among notable LSU absences for Texas Bowl

More Here https://t.co/CaSAdbWm9N pic.twitter.com/mJhaHkabXr
— 104.5 ESPN (@1045espn) December 9, 2025

With Nussmeier sidelined, Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren Jr., who has taken over in his absence, will have one final game to use as an audition for new head coach Lane Kiffin.

On the season, Van Buren has thrown for 743 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions, leading the Tigers to a 2-1 record in games he has started.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (18) throws a pass.© Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

While the Tigers are certainly playing for pride at this point, much of the excitement around the program centers around Kiffin taking over as the head coach.

Kiffin left Ole Miss despite its 11-1 record and surefire lock into the College Football Playoff. With the transfer portal not opening until January, it's unclear how different this LSU roster will look, but needless to say, this bowl game will be heavily evaluated by Kiffin.

The Tigers and Cougars will face off on Dec. 27 at 9:15 p.m. ET in a game that will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston, and air on ESPN.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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