“He didn’t look like himself out there,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said after the game, following their tough 24-19 loss to Ole Miss. All eyes turned to Garrett Nussmeier, whose game clearly had holes when he struggled, throwing just 197 yards with one touchdown and an interception. The doubts clearly turned towards a possible injury report that actually was true.

Nussmeier has been managing an abdominal strain that slowed him down through the season’s first five games. Brian Kelly’s take? “Yeah, early on, he had an AB strain, not a core injury, in terms of a core injury that we deal with,” Kelly said on October 7. “And it’s been slow to heal, but as I had mentioned, he’s on the backside of that, and he’s getting rest this week.”

Moreover, Kelly is not ready to hit the injury brakes on Nussmeier yet, especially with a big SEC showdown against South Carolina looming this weekend. Despite the injury, Kelly insists Nussmeier continues to recover and is prepared to lead the Tigers through the tough stretch ahead. Yet, the biggest surprise came during the Thursday injury reports of both teams – Nussmeir’s name wasn’t on it.

Kelly remained unusually favorable, saying, “He’s feeling better and better. We didn’t do a lot with him last week. We wanted to use that as a recovery week for him.” He even called out misinformation suggesting Nussmeier might need surgery, clarifying it was a slow-healing abdominal strain but not a core injury. Plus, Nussmeier is working to keep his edge with all the virtual reality training LSU has arranged for him under director Jack Marrucci. “Obviously, he did a lot with VR, stayed involved in everything that we’re doing, ran game checks, splits checks, things of that nature,” Kelly said.

“But we just cut him down from the throwing. And obviously, we’re gonna go out today. We’ll get a bonus day in terms of being able to practice today.” But all of this for what? As of now, Nussmeier’s season stats tell the tale. He racked up 1159 yards with 7 TDs, exceeding 200 passing yards per game this season. But against the Rebels, he could just manage 197 yards and no more.

However, his Gunslinger mentality and clutch expertise are significant weapons for the Tigers. Remember last year’s matchup against the Gamecocks? Trailing 17-0 early, Nussmeier orchestrated an epic comeback. During the final drive, he delivered a crucial 29-yard pass to Kyren Lacy, setting up the game-winning touchdown with just over a minute left.

Even the game against Clemson is a recent example of Nussmeier’s clutch expertise. Nussmeier took charge in the fourth quarter, completing all nine passes for 39 yards and an 8-yard touchdown to Trey’Dez Green that put LSU ahead 17-10. So, based on all this, Nussmeier’s requirement against the Gamecocks is very much necessary, but the injury concerns remain.

Greg McElroy’s verdict on LSU vs South Carolina

With a bold prediction, ESPN’s Greg McElroy has thrown a curveball at LSU fans. LSU enters the game with a 33-12 record under Brian Kelly and 18-8 in SEC games. But their glaring offensive weaknesses force McElroy to take his time. “Can LSU’s offensive line take the necessary step? Greg asked. They have not been great this year. As a result, they’ve struggled to create the desired balance.”

McElroy’s most significant red flag for LSU is its offensive line, which has been a headache all season. The Tigers simply haven’t been able to create any running game push. Against Ole Miss, LSU managed a paltry 2.8 yards per rush, stalling drives and putting an extra load on Garrett Nussmeier. This lack of balance means Nussmeier is walking a tightrope.

The reality is that the running game’s struggles keep the offense one-dimensional. That makes it easier for defenses like South Carolina’s to zero in on Nussmeier’s passing game. On the other hand, South Carolina’s defense, while not flawless, has adequate talent and tenacity. “I think South Carolina will play well on defense, Greg added. And I do think they can move the ball with some of their quarterback run.”

Plus, the QB battle is a must-watch thing this weekend. LaNorris Sellers is cruising with a stat line of 886 yards with 4 TDs and will probably make a difference. It’s a light menace compared to Garrett Nussmeier, but Sellers’ dual-threat abilities can sincerely tear the Tigers’ defense.