Former LSU quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels each won the Heisman Trophy in the last six years. That's no easy task to follow, but Garrett Nussmeier is up for it. He chose to come back to LSU for a fifth season, and leads a dynamic Tiger passing attack that has the potential to be elite.
Nussmeier saw first-hand what Daniels did in 2023, and has waited his turn for a chance to start since 2021. He ran with that opportunity last season, throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns in his first season as the full-time starter. Both Burrow and Daniels took massive leaps in their second seasons as starters at LSU, and Nussmeier is looking to do the same.
Nussmeier enters the 2025 campaign firmly in the Heisman conversation, and has a legitimate chance to become the third LSU quarterback to win the Heisman since 2019. But what does he have to do to make that a reality?
Cut down on turnovers
If there is one area that stands out in need of improvement for Nussmeier, it's turnovers. Nussmeier threw 12 interceptions last season, which was the most in the SEC and the third-most in the country. He also led the SEC in completions with 337, so some may attribute his high interception total to a high volume of passing attempts. But, Nussmeier's decision-making needs to be more consistent this season, and having last year's experience should help with that. In their Heisman seasons, Burrow threw just six interceptions and Daniels threw four. Cutting down on interceptions will be key for Nussmeier this season.
Lead LSU to the College Football Playoff
In the new 12-team playoff, leading LSU to an appearance in the CFP would do wonders for Nussmeier's Heisman case. Interestingly enough, two of the four Heisman finalists last year weren’t in the CFP, and the winner, Colorado's Travis Hunter, wasn't in. But, expectations are different for LSU this season than they were for Boise State and Colorado last season. Ranked as the No. 9 team in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll, LSU has high hopes for a championship run. The schedule is daunting, and features seven preseason Top-25 teams. If Nussmeier leads the Tigers to the CFP against that schedule and possibly an appearance in the SEC title game, his Heisman case would be greatly helped.
Beat Cade Klubnik and Clemson
Nussmeier can make a Heisman statement early on this season. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik is also a Heisman contender, and the two Tiger gunslingers are set to go head-to-head on Saturday in Week 1. According to DraftKings, Nussmeier and Klubnik both have the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy with odds of +950. Only Texas's Arch Manning is ahead of them with odds of +650. If Nussmeier goes into Memorial Stadium and beats Klubnik and a vaunted Clemson defense, Nussmeier's name would be at the top of the Heisman boards. There would be a long way to go, but out-dueling Klubnik would put the entire country on notice.
Become LSU's all-time passing yards leader
Nussmeier enters the 2025 season with 5,772 passing yards to his name during his LSU career. That places him ninth on the list of LSU's all-time passing yards leaders. Tommy Hodson claims the top spot, as he threw for 9,115 yards for the Tigers from 1986-1989. Nussmeier needs 3,344 passing yards in 2025 to become LSU's all-time passing yards leader. He totaled 4,052 yards through the air in 2024, and he is more than capable of reaching - or exceeding - that total in 2025. So, not only can Nussmeier break the record, but it's possible he does so by a wide margin.
The offensive line holds up
A lot of Nussmeier's Heisman hopes, as well as LSU's team success, depends on the performance of LSU's new-look offensive line. During the offseason, Brian Kelly and his staff had to replace four starters on the offensive line from last season, including No. 4 overall pick Will Campbell. The starting lineup up front remains unknown, and Kelly has stated that as many as eight offensive linemen could see action on Saturday against Clemson. We will find out right away how ready they are, as Clemson's pass rush is perhaps the best in the country. Nussmeier isn't very mobile, so having a clean pocket to go through his progressions is essential to his Heisman hopes. The O line has to be prepared and hold up throughout the course of the season.