LSU soldiered on against the Gamecocks last Saturday with a 20-10 win, coming off a bye week. Garrett Nussmeier didn’t quite look his best that night but still pitched in important plays to help the Tigers climb to the win. This last dance in college football isn’t quite going ahead as planned for the star QB. But a former LSU star has high hopes for Nussmeier and the team’s future.

Garrett Nussmeier was once in competition to be the top pick in the 2026 draft. 7 weeks into the season, Nussmeier isn’t quite meeting the mark. We haven’t seen the full power of that arm since he is still dealing with a torso injury. But the QB still tries his best to lead a struggling offense in every game. With that spirit in mind, former LSU OT Will Campbell had a feeling that Nussmeier is slated to bring greatness to Baton Rouge. “He’s a warrior. He wants to bring a championship to LSU so badly,” he told WAFB’s Jacques Doucet. Campbell’s words come with a lot of truth, considering the close relationship the two share.

“He’ll walk out there on one leg to play for that, you know, purple and gold. He’s always been like that because that’s all he’s ever wanted. [To] win a championship at LSU,” Campbell added.

Campbell and Nussmeier have played for three seasons together, one with the QB starting. The two are practically brothers-in-law (Campbell is dating Nussmeier’s sister, Ashlynn). Campbell played at LT for LSU, becoming one of the most crucial men in those trenches, protecting Nussmeier. The OT, earning consensus All-American at Baton Rouge, went on to be picked 4th overall in the 2025 draft by the Patriots. “They got a Hall of Famer,” Nussmeier told Campbell after he got drafted. Game recognizes game.

Campbell has bid LSU goodbye, building himself a brilliant resume in just 3 seasons. But the battle is still on for Garrett Nussmeier. LSU is still very much in contention to advance to the playoffs, having stumbled just once in the season. The problem is, the road ahead is not easy. The Tigers have to face a surprisingly strong Vanderbilt before playing Texas A&M, Alabama, and Oklahoma.

The LSU offense is yet to be at 100% and looked somewhat better than usual against South Carolina. Nussmeier needed this chance badly to show that he can still be more than just useful. He was picked twice in the game, but he rallied for the win till the end. LSU went up in place in the AP poll after Week 7 and is now at No. 10. But Garrett Nussmeier continues to deliver a rocky performance.

Garrett Nussmeier still making critical mistakes

Nussmeier’s injury and the offense’s downfield problems have affected LSU’s prowess big time this season. Brian Kelly has some tough competition lined up for him next, and he’ll need a better Garrett Nussmeier for success. He used the bye week to allow him to rest, cutting him out of passing reps for a good part of it. The QB could still land only 20 of his 33 passes but brought in 254 yards and 2 scores. It was just enough, but not enough for fans to let go of their worries. “We had some really good moments there offensively, but not consistent enough,” Kelly said after the game.

Nussmeier’s best moment in the game was promptly followed by his worst. He ran for a career-high 21-yard run, which was followed by Ju’Juan Johnson rushing for 56 yards. And then, from South Carolina’s 9-yard mark, Nussmeier threw an interception. This was caught right at the Gamecocks’ 1-yard line, which shows how badly this moment was judged by the QB. There’s still room for work, with the pace now needing some gains in the season. LSU doesn’t have much time on hand. Neither does Nussmeier, to show what he’s worth to NFL scouts.

It’s been a constant up-and-down for Garrett Nussmeier this whole season, but he still lines up on the field every week. The fight gets serious for him and the Tigers as they prepare to meet with the more troublesome opponents of the season. The hopes for Nussmeier bringing the Natty continue to remain alive, one game at a time.