Led by veteran quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, the LSU offense has serious potential for the upcoming season. Nussmeier threw for over 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns last season, and has his sights set on even bigger numbers this season.
Now that Nussmeier has a full season of starting experience under his belt, he enters 2025 as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. After deciding to forgo the NFL Draft for one more season in Baton Rouge, the senior signal-caller is firmly in the Heisman conversation for the upcoming season.
Not surprisingly, Nuessmeier has been named to the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award for the nation's best college quarterback. In total, 36 quarterbacks are named to the watch list, with six hailing from the SEC.
The Davey O'Brien Award @Garrettnuss13 is on the watch list for the nation's best college quarterback pic.twitter.com/VNePRoy4oL
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) August 7, 2025
Nussmeier looking to join elite LSU company
Nussmeier has been in Baton Rouge for four seasons, and knows the quarterback pedigree he is following. He is looking to become the third LSU quarterback to earn the the honor of being the nation's top gunslinger. Joe Burrow was the first LSU Tiger to win the Davey O'Brien Award in 2019, followed by Jayden Daniels in 2023. Miami's Cam Ward took home the award last season.
Nussmeier has an embarrassment of riches in his receiving room this season, which gives opposing defenses plenty to worry about. His top returning pass-catcher from last season, Aaron Anderson, was named to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to college football's most outstanding receiver. Anderson led LSU with 61 catches for 884 yards and was second on the team with five touchdowns in 2024.
The Tigers also received high praise in the preseason coaches poll, coming in at No. 9. LSU has not qualified for the College Football Playoff under Brian Kelly, and while Kelly has three consecutive bowl wins, Tiger fans are looking for more than Citrus, ReliaQuest, and Texas Bowl victories. Kelly needs to show he can lead LSU to the College Football Playoff and compete for a National Championship in 2025.