Entering his senior year, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is laser-focused on one objective: winning it all, brushing aside talk of the Heisman Trophy and NFL Draft. After a turbulent 2024 season that ended 9-4, Nussmeier believes a refined mindset can elevate the Tigers.
Head coach Brian Kelly and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan have spent the offseason honing their consistency and decision-making, aiming to transform potential into championship-caliber execution in 2025.
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier Focused Solely on National Title in Senior Season
Garrett Nussmeier, the son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, wasn’t ready to close the book on his LSU career. In December, he confirmed his return to Baton Rouge, believing he still had more to prove.
“My time at LSU wasn’t done yet,” he told On3. “There are a lot of things and a lot of ways that I can improve as a player. And I felt like the product that I put on the field was not my best.”
Nussmeier, now entering his final collegiate season, emphasized that his focus is fixed on one thing.
“A lot of talk about the Heisman, the draft, and things like that — that’s background noise to me. My main goal is to win a national championship,” Nussmeier said.
NEW: Garrett Nussmeier tells @PeteNakos_ LSU is conscious of losing 5 straight openers:
“We’re not hiding from it. …we accept that it’s a problem. We know that we have to find a way to fix it.”
LSU at Clemson Week 1🍿
Story: https://t.co/oDrUzchVdI pic.twitter.com/WDW7dX1zrQ
— On3 (@On3sports) June 27, 2025
The Tigers, who wrapped up the 2024 season with a 9-4 record and a Texas Bowl victory over Baylor, saw Nussmeier shine in the postseason. He threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns and earned the bowl game’s MVP honors in that performance.
His season totals included 4,052 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, with a completion rate of 64.2 percent and a QBR of 80.0.
LSU’s coaching staff seized the offseason to develop its quarterback further. Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan outlined how the preparation shifted.
“This offseason has been able to be a little bit different because now he’s going back, and when he’s studying, he’s not just studying his practice tape… he’s looking at specifically some stuff that he needs to improve on,” Sloan said.
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Refinements have targeted Nussmeier’s mechanics, footwork, and pre-snap reads. Sloan praised his progress.
“No doubt… how he’s grown, how he’s matured, and just the man he’s becoming,” Sloan said.
The Tigers didn’t stop with internal development. They bolstered their roster through the portal, securing top-tier talent, including Kentucky wideout Barion Brown and Oklahoma receiver Nic Anderson. The additions complement a maturing Nussmeier and a deeper backfield, setting the stage for a high-powered offense.
LSU’s aggressive offseason moves helped land the nation’s No. 2 transfer portal class, according to On3. With a sharpened quarterback, reloaded weapons, and championship ambitions, the Tigers are building a contender around their veteran leader, now a projected top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
