With LSU entering the 2025 season under intense pressure, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is drawing increased scrutiny. Following a mixed debut campaign as the full-time starter, questions now surround both his development and the Tigers’ offensive strategy.
Offensive Line Woes Continue to Plague LSU’s Championship Hopes
Nussmeier returns for his final season with high expectations, but last year’s offensive line issues severely limited his effectiveness. The Tigers’ chances in the SEC won’t rest on raw talent alone. Without major progress up front, even a talented quarterback like Nussmeier may struggle to carry the load.
As LSU approaches the 2025 season with renewed expectations, Nussmeier is again at the center of attention. While the Tigers aim to reestablish themselves as a legitimate contender in the SEC, serious questions remain about the structure and execution of their offensive scheme.
Analyst Blake Ruffino offered a sharp critique of LSU’s approach, focusing on the system built around Nussmeier and the unit’s glaring inefficiencies from last year. Nussmeier reportedly committed during the off-season to strengthening his lower half to increase mobility and effectiveness in the run game.
That commitment might be the difference between another frustrating season and a breakthrough campaign.
Ruffino highlighted the most pressing issue facing LSU’s offense, one that has haunted the program for multiple seasons.
“The offensive line is a concern,” Ruffino said. “Garrett did talk about in the off season getting stronger in his lower half to run the ball more. He better. You’re gonna have to give them enough time to take some shots down the field and connect on them and let teams back off of you.”
Protection problems last season plagued the offense, but Ruffino believes the blame does not fall entirely on the line. The issues ran deeper than just pass protection, extending to fundamental execution problems that cost the Tigers in crucial moments.
“Not all of this last year was on the offensive line,” Ruffino said. “It wasn’t. There were multiple times last season where I would pull up still shots of running backs missing the hole.”
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier!!
This offense in Baton Rouge is gonna be HUMMIN’ this season! pic.twitter.com/FFCjjeFPR0
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) June 28, 2025
Poor decision-making in the run game and questionable play design further complicated matters. These weren’t just occasional mistakes but systematic problems that opposing defenses exploited week after week.
“You’re running to the short side of the field and the defense has more numbers on the short side than on the wide side,” he noted. “You’re running the football right at them with an open defender.”
Running Game Must Improve for Tigers to Compete in SEC
Ruffino listed several key factors for LSU offensively, including the need to address offensive line turnover while maintaining a viable run game. The statistics back up his concerns about the ground attack’s importance to championship-level success.
“If you’re not in the top 50s of rushing and running the football, you’re not going to get where you want to go. Doesn’t exist,” he said.
The numbers tell a stark story. Teams that can’t establish a consistent running game struggle to control games in the SEC, where physical play and time of possession often determine outcomes. LSU’s inability to impose their will on the ground has been a recurring theme under Brian Kelly’s tenure.
He referenced past failures, including short-yardage collapses against South Carolina and Alabama, as evidence that physicality at the line of scrimmage remains elusive. Those moments exposed fundamental weaknesses that talented skill position players couldn’t overcome.
“You just got to line up and punch somebody… and say, ‘This is ours. Come take it,'” Ruffino said.
That mentality has been missing from LSU’s offense, particularly in critical situations where games are won and lost. The Tigers have too often relied on finesse when brute force was required.
Despite the issues, LSU’s receiver room may be among the nation’s most explosive. The talent at the skill positions gives Nussmeier weapons that most quarterbacks would envy.
“Nobody has more speed than you. Nobody,” Ruffino said, listing Jelani Watkins, Chris Hilton, Barion Brown, and Aaron Anderson as game-changing threats. However, success hinges on execution in key areas where the Tigers have consistently fallen short.
The receiving corps represents LSU‘s biggest advantage heading into 2025. If the offensive line can provide adequate protection, these playmakers could turn the Tigers into one of the SEC’s most dangerous offenses. The question remains whether the supporting cast can rise to match their talent level.
“Last year LSU struggled in the red zone,” Ruffino pointed out. “Yards mean nothing when you can’t convert in the red zone and you can’t score points. Nothing else matters.”
Red zone efficiency separates good offenses from great ones, and LSU’s struggles in that area cost them multiple games last season. Moving the ball between the 20-yard lines means nothing if you can’t finish drives with touchdowns instead of field goals.
With Kelly, Joe Sloan, and new addition Alex Atkins tasked with refining the offense, the pressure on LSU’s coaching staff and their quarterback has never been greater. The 2025 season represents a crucial test for Kelly’s program and Nussmeier’s development as a leader.
The Tigers have the talent to compete with anyone in the SEC, but talent alone hasn’t been enough. Execution, physicality, and consistency in crucial moments will determine whether LSU can finally break through or face another season of unfulfilled expectations.