Garrett Nussmeier’s start to the season hasn’t matched the hype. The LSU QB, pegged as a Heisman hopeful, has struggled through 3 games. Although he’s completed 69 of 106 passes, with three TDs, but far from dominant. “Clicking on all cylinders is our biggest goal,” said Nussmeier. “Lining up right, running the right plays, me being better with my feet and my eyes… We haven’t shown what we can be yet. It’s frustrating.” And part of the reason: a torso injury he suffered in Fall Camp, revealed by Brian Kelly on Monday. Although LSU’s defense has carried the team so far, the offense and Nussmeier will need to step up if the Tigers want to keep their undefeated streak alive. Here’s the latest on Garrett’s health.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly provided an update on Nussmeier ahead of Week 4 against Southeastern Louisiana. Kelly said the QB is finally feeling good in practice and getting into a rhythm. “This was his best week of practice. We want him to play at a level where he’s comfortable. To hold him back now wouldn’t be right,” mentioned Kelly. But that’s not all; he also added that Nussmeier is excited to get on the field and “doing things and throwing the football the way he feels comfortable.” But now, a concerning update on Nussmeier has surfaced.

On September 20, The Advocate’s Wilson Alexander shared a new development on LSU’s QB situation. Aaron Rodgers’ brother, Jordan Rodgers, offered insight during the broadcast: Nussmeier injured his abdominal muscle in fall camp, and the injury resurfaced against Clemson. And that’s why what seems minor on paper has had a major impact on the Tigers’ offense. Now, all eyes are on Nussmeier to see if he can recover and lead the offense back to form. He possibly can. Looks like even with the injury, he stayed in the fight.

LSU’s offense found a spark with Garrett Nussmeier back on the field against Southeastern Louisiana. The QB showed the agility and poise that had been missing while recovering from a preseason injury. He scored the game’s first TD on a sneak, putting the Tigers up 7-0, and later broke a critical third-and-long run that set up Ju’Juan Johnson’s second score. Safe to say, Nussmeier’s presence helped the offense move efficiently, converting key downs and sustaining drives that kept LSU in control, giving the Tigers the momentum to dominate early. Still, the struggles are undeniable.

Surely, Garrett Nussmeier struggled against Clemson to start the season. Although he completed 28 of 38 passes for 232 yards. But inconsistency plagued him. He was sacked for a 12-yard loss and faced a crucial 4th-and-2, where a screen pass to Chris Hilton gained just one yard. Fast forward to now, LSU beats Southeastern Louisiana 56-10, showing a much smoother offensive rhythm, and Nussmeier looks more comfortable in the pocket. Despite that, the rival’s QB outperformed Nussmeier.

Garrett Nussmeier takes a hit

The 2025 CFB season is shaping up as a QB showcase. Although there’s no clear-cut QB1 for next year’s NFL draft. But South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers has taken a slight edge. In a recent ESPN poll, Sellers got eight votes from 25 NFL scouts and executives, edging out LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, who got seven. But where do the other elite QBs fit in?

Behind Sellers and Nussmeier, the QB race is wide open. Oklahoma’s John Mateer and Miami’s Carson Beck each received three votes. And most interestingly, Texas’ Arch Manning and Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt grabbed one vote apiece, while Penn State’s Drew Allar earned two. Now, the wide distribution of votes underscores the position’s unpredictability, as scouts hold off judgment until the full season reveals the true contenders. But this early volatility isn’t new.

Back in last year’s NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders led early polls but slipped later, while Cam Ward jumped from one vote to a first-round pick. So, early rankings are just a snapshot, but the full story comes by season’s end. Let’s see what transpires.