Fans are torching Garrett Nussmeier after being benched in close game

With a 5-3 overall record, a fired head coach, a fired Athletic Director, and just two wins against conference opponents, it shouldn't be surprising that LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was benched after failing to score a touchdown through nearly three quarters against Alabama.

As the LSU Tigers struggled mightily on offense to meet the intensity of their defense, the Alabama Crimson Tide built a 17-6 lead, and just like that, interim head coach Frank Wilson made the call to bench Nussmeier.

Immediately, people flocked to social media to rip into Nussmeier, Wilson, and the entire LSU football program.

Before finding himself on the sidelines, Nussmeier had earned just 121 yards through the air, throwing zero touchdowns. He had lost 13 yards on the ground, including a resounding 140-yard sack that he pretty much ran directly into.

Last year, Nussmeier had set himself up to enter this season as the Heisman Trophy favorite. Since then, he has fallen short at nearly every turn, and Wilson wasn't waiting any longer to see just how far his quarterback could spiral downward.

On the season, Nussmeier had just 12 passing touchdowns and five interceptions, only adding one more touchdown on the ground. His average QBR had tanked from the previous season, dropping from 79.6 to 71.5 in just eight and a half games.

Wilson benched Nussmeier in favor of sophomore quarterback Michael van Buren Jr., who had appeared in just two games this season. He completed 50 percent of his passes (2-for-4) for 16 yards and earned 12 yards on the ground during his first drive in the game against Alabama.

Despite Nussmeier completing nearly 86 percent of his pass attempts, he averaged just 5.8 yards per completion, and his performance was beyond underwhelming as the Tigers failed on numerous occasions to find the end zone, despite taking the ball within the 20-yard line.

Meanwhile, Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson, who was one of the frontrunners for the Heisman heading into the rivalry matchup, had earned nearly 250 yards and one touchdown as Alabama built its lead over the Tigers.