Interim head coach Frank Wilson picked up his first win at LSU this past weekend in a 23-22 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks. The win was an emotional one for Wilson, who has been intertwined in football in the state of Louisiana for his entire life. The win also helped the Tigers find some much-needed positivity in a season that has gone off the rails.
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The quarterback situation surrounding the LSU Football program over the last few weeks has drawn the attention of college football fans across the country. Veteran Garrett Nussmeier entered the 2025 season among the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy, but an abdominal injury has hindered his ability on the field this season. Nussmeier was benched against Alabama two weeks ago in favor of backup Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren.
Nussmeier then aggravated his injury during practice last week, which led him to miss the Arkansas game. Van Buren impressed in his first start as a Tiger, throwing for 221 yards and a touchdown on 21-of-31 passing attempts while also adding 36 rushing yards.
Adding further complexity to the LSU QB room is the absence of Colin Hurley. Hurley didn't travel to Tuscaloosa last week and wasn't with the team on Saturday when Arkansas came to town. On Monday, Frank Wilson gave an update on Hurley's situation, saying that the QB is away from the team on a personal matter. Wilson also stated that Hurley's absence is temporary and that he is still part of the team.
Frank Wilson confirms QB Colin Hurley’s absence is a personal matter and temporary. He is still a member of the team.@1045espn @LASportsDotNet
— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) November 17, 2025
Now in his second season in Baton Rouge, Hurley has yet to see any action with the Tigers. He redshirted last year in 2024 after becoming one of the youngest players to ever enroll at LSU. Hurley was just 16 years old when he arrived on campus in January 2024.
The redshirt freshman missed most of spring practice after being involved in a single-car accident in January. He was able to make a full recovery and rejoined the team for the last week of spring drills.
Wilson did not give a specific timeline for Hurley's return to the team. With Nussmeier's status still up in the air, it seems likely that Michael Van Buren gets another look at QB this Saturday against Western Kentucky. Ju'Juan Johnson could also see some snaps if Nussmeier is unable to suit up. Kick-off between the Tigers and Hilltoppers is slated for 6:45 p.m CT.