Long after most of the backdrops had been torn down and players had departed to the next portion of their day, one current quarterback was still answering questions at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodeaux, Louisiana.
That quarterback was Garrett Nussmeier.
The senior signal-caller was the most popular counselor this year, perhaps even surpassing Arch Manning.
After all, Nussmeier is entering a season where expectations could not be much higher. LSU went out in the transfer portal and assembled one of the top-ranked classes in the country. Coach Brian Kelly is beginning to feel some pressure to win, and the Tigers return perhaps the most productive quarterback in the conference in Nussmeier. That being said, Garrett and the Tigers understand that plenty will be expected of them.
“It’s definitely the most talented roster that I’ve been a part of at LSU… There are a lot of expectations for us, and we accept those… Not only is there an expectation for us from the outside, but there’s also (an expectation) for us from within.”
Those words from Nussmeier seem to accept the pressure that this team has felt and will feel throughout the 2025-26 season. After back-to-back 10-win seasons and an appearance in the SEC Championship Game, the Tigers went 9-4 last year despite big preseason expectations. That marked a departure from Kelly’s previous stops, where year three was always a big step forward.
The numbers speak for themselves for Nussmeier. Over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns made quite an impression. He did have 12 interceptions, a trait that has always been a concern. If that number gets cleaned up, it feels like the LSU passer has all the makings of a breakout season.
Look at two recent quarterbacks at LSU. Joe Burrow took massive leaps from year one to year two, winning the Heisman Trophy and a National Championship in the ultimate season. Jayden Daniels took to that blueprint as well, also securing the Heisman in his second season as the Tigers’ starter.
While those goals are certainly lofty, they play into the concept that Nussmeier is well aware of: expectations are here.
How will Nuss and the Tigers handle them? We will find out soon enough.