When Brian Kelly was fired back in October, sophomore QB Michael Van Buren initially said that he wished to stay with the LSU Football program through the coaching change. That was a sentiment he repeated following the Texas Bowl on December 27.
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However, Van Buren chose to enter the transfer portal last week on January 3. Now, he has found his new team. According to Hayes Fawcett of On3, Van Buren has committed to play for USF next season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
BREAKING: LSU transfer QB Michael Van Buren has Committed to USF, he tells @On3Sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 7, 2026
Van Buren has thrown for 2,896 yards and 19 TD in his college career thus far
He started his career at Mississippi Statehttps://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/k06nai5FIq
Michael Van Buren heads to USF after one season at LSU
Van Buren started his collegiate career with Mississippi State in 2024. As a true freshman, he threw for 1,886 yards and 11 touchdowns with 7 interceptions while serving as the Bulldogs' QB1 for most of the season.
He then chose to come to Baton Rouge, where he started the 2025 season backing up veteran QB Garrett Nussmeier. Nussmeier battled an abdominal injury throughout the season, and Van Buren over as LSU's starting QB on November 15 against Arkansas. His best statistical game as a Tiger came in the Texas Bowl, where he threw for a season-high 267 yards to go along with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. He ended the 2025 season with 1,010 passing yards and 8 touchdowns with 2 interceptions to go along with 129 yards and 2.7 yards per carry with a touchdown on the ground.
Van Buren heads to a USF team that is among the best Group of 5 programs in the country. The Bulls are entering Year 1 of the Brian Hartline era, and Van Buren will compete for the QB1 job. Former Florida State and Mississippi State QB Luke Kromenhoek also transferred to USF this week, so it will be interesting to see how the QB competition plays out in Tampa.
Van Buren leaving means that LSU currently has zero scholarship quarterbacks on the roster for 2026. Lane Kiffin is still trying to find his starting QB in the portal, with Sam Leavitt taking a visit to LSU earlier this week. He has yet to make a decision, and Tiger fans are eager to find out who LSU's QB1 will be on September 5 when Kiffin and company welcome the Clemson Tigers to Tiger Stadium.