Even though HC Lane Kiffin signed a massive 7-year, $91 million contract, he won’t coach in the bowl game. Interim coach Frank Wilson will finish the 2025 season, as his future is still undecided. Similarly, even senior players’ futures are up in the air with the transfer portal coming out. While the locker room is also suffering from injury concerns, including the QB Garrett Nussmeier.

Ahead of the Texas Bowl on Dec. 27 against Houston, the Interim coach addressed the media about the players’ availability status.

“From an injured standpoint, Mansoor is out, Garrett is out, Aaron Anderson is not likely, Braelin Moore has a chance, and Whit Weeks will be out,” said Wilson. “We were in discussion with some of those veteran players who may opt out in the case of Jack Pyburn and a couple of more guys. But we haven’t finalized that just yet. We’re anticipating having the lion’s share of our team in quantity and in quality, to be able to participate.”

LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson has made it clear that fifth-year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, senior cornerback Mansoor Delane, redshirt junior wide receiver Aaron Anderson, and junior linebacker Whit Weeks will not play in the Texas Bowl due to injury. There is another issue: players are also opting out to be safe themselves from further injury before the NFL draft, and senior defensive end Jack Pyburn is one of them.

Pyburn transferred from the Gators to the Tigers this offseason in search of a more suitable role for himself. Despite the 2024 performance, where he posted 60 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and one interception, he was not happy with his role of being dropped into coverage. This year for the Tigers, he played in 12 games, being a critical piece for LSU, and finished the season with 15 solo tackles and 51 total tackles.

The interim coach, Frank Wilson, then made it clear that they’re likely to play the Texas Bowl this postseason with the players who finished the regular season, except for those who have entered the transfer portal. But injuries to major players could end Wilson’s final game in charge in a loss.

Garrett Nussmeier & Mansoor Delane’s injuries

Garrett Nussmeier has not played since the Alabama game on Nov. 8, after being benched in the second half. He missed the final three games of the regular season for LSU. Nussmeier has been dealing with abdominal strain since the preseason practice and managed to play throughout the regular season.

But the re-aggravated strain took him out of the final stretch, and Nussmeier ended his LSU career with 7,699 passing yards and 52 touchdowns to his name. He was replaced by sophomore Michael Van Buren in the last three games, clinching two wins in the three games he started. With Nussmeier injured, Van Buren is expected to start his fourth straight game for the Tigers at the Texas Bowl against Houston.

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Mansoor Delane has been dealing with a core injury since Week 4, but has managed to play throughout the season. Despite missing against Western Kentucky, Delane bounced back against Oklahoma and recorded four tackles. The 21-year-old is expected to be an early first-rounder for the 2026 NFL Draft. ESPN predicted him #21 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With still months out, this can change. But it’s clear that LSU will have to make do with limited players.