Brian Kelly provides big update on LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers have to feel like they're right in the thick of the College Football Playoff race at 4-1 and ranked No. 11 in the country.

This is even though the last time we saw them play, before the bye week, they lost to the then-No. 13 Ole Miss Rebels, 24-19. This is also considering the health of quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, which was questionable heading into that Ole Miss game.

Nussmeier has been dealing with an abdominal/torso issue that has plagued him since before the start of the season. It was recently revealed that Nussmeier threw too much over the summer, which was the cause of the injury. 

There was a time earlier in the season when Nussmeier was limited in practice because of this, especially when it came to deep throws.

Now, after a week off specifically dedicated to giving Nussmeier some rest while keeping his mind engaged, it sounds like Kelly is confident in the health status of his quarterback.

“He’s feeling better and better,” Kelly said in a Monday news conference (h/t On3). “We didn’t do a lot with him last week. We wanted to use that as a recovery week for him. Obviously, did a lot with VR, stayed involved in everything that we’re doing — run game checks, splits checks, things of that nature. But we just cut him down from the throwing… Our expectations after talking to him is that he feels good and he’s ready to go.”

LSU Tigers heading into vital stretch of games

The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Tigers, because having Nussmeier as healthy as possible is going to be vital for Kelly's team during this stretch.

Directly out of the bye, LSU plays host to the 3-2 South Carolina Gamecocks, who can be incredibly chippy, led by quarterback LaNorris Sellers. A few weeks ago, the Gamecocks played then-No. 23 Missouri close in a 29-20 loss.

After South Carolina is a three-game stretch that sees LSU play No. 20 Vanderbilt, No. 5 Texas A&M and No. 8 Alabama, with the games against Vandy and Alabama coming on the road.

If the Tigers escape that stretch 4-0 or even 3-1, there's a great chance they'll be the favorites to win the CFP this season. They'll need Nussmeier at full strength, or as close to it as possible, though, so the fact that he's "ready to go" is a huge deal for LSU as the season rolls on.

Nussmeier has thrown for 1,159 yards and seven touchdowns this season with three interceptions.