As kick-off for the Texas Bowl between LSU and Houston draws nearer, Tigers QB Michael Van Buren is preparing for a pivotal game in terms of his future. Van Buren entered the 2025 season as Garrett Nussmeier's backup, but injuries to Nussmeier thrust Van Buren into LSU's QB1 role. He's seen action in 6 games this season, and is set to start his 4th consecutive game on Saturday night in the Texas Bowl.
LSU's offensive line suffers yet another loss with latest portal update
Looking to show that he can be a key piece for the Tigers in 2026, Saturday's matchup presents plenty of opportunity for Van Buren. But he has plenty to prove to Lane Kiffin and LSU's new coaching staff.
LSU fans eager to see what Michael Van Buren showcases in the Texas Bowl
Back when Brian Kelly was fired at the end of October, Van Buren stated that he intended to stay with the LSU program amid the coaching change. But now that Lane Kiffin has taken over, Van Buren's situation is worth monitoring over the next few weeks. As it stands, Van Buren is the only scholarship quarterback slated to be on the 2026 LSU Football roster. With that in mind, Kiffin will undoubtedly be shopping for a quarterback or two in the portal in January.
He has plenty of playmakers to choose from, as the QB market features lots of elite talent. According to Saturday Blitz, the top available QBs in the portal include Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby, Arizona State's Sam Leavitt, North Texas' Drew Mestemaker, Florida's DJ Lagway, and Nebraska's Dylan Raiola.
On the season, Van Buren has completed 62.4% of his passes for 743 yards to go along with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He's also added 105 rushing yards and 2.8 yards per carry with 1 touchdown on the ground. He's a dynamic athlete who brings a solid dual-threat ability to the LSU offense, which has proven to be a great fit for Kiffin's high-flying offenses at Ole Miss.
However, Van Buren has showed plenty of inconsistencies and the LSU offense hasn't exactly thrived with him at the helm. The Tigers averaged just 16.3 points per game in Van Buren's 3 starts down the stretch. That means Van Buren faces a pivotal game against Houston in the Texas Bowl. It serves as a bit of an audition for 2026, and Tiger fans are eager to see what he can do.