QB1 in waiting? Assessing the LSU debut of Michael Van Buren Jr

LSU Football fans were pumped up when Garrett Nussmeier decided to come back to LSU for one more season. The veteran QB chose to forgo the 2025 NFL Draft for another chance to win an SEC title and lead LSU to a College Football Playoff appearance. So far so good, as LSU is 4-0 and has a huge opportunity to pickup a big win at No. 13 Ole Miss this Saturday.

But fans were curious as to who Nussmeier's backup would be. Along with Nussmeier, Rickie Collins and AJ Swann both attempted passes for the Tigers last season. Both Collins and Swann left via the transfer portal, with Collins going to Syracuse and Swann heading to Appalachian State. In search of a backup QB, Brian Kelly dipped into the portal to bring in Michael Van Buren Jr from Mississippi State.

Van Buren was QB1 for the Bulldogs for most of last season as a freshman, and Tiger fans got their first glimpse at the dynamic signal-caller in Week 4 against Southeastern Louisiana. Here's how he did.

Michael Van Buren Jr puts together strong LSU debut

Van Buren entered the game with 5:49 to go in the third quarter and LSU holding a 42-7 lead over the Lions. With the result of the game not in question, Van Buren was tasked with managing the game down the stretch while taking care of the ball. He did exactly that.

In his first drive as a Tiger, Van Buren led LSU on a 16-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that chewed up over seven minutes of game time. The drive culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run from Van Buren himself, which marked his first touchdown as a Tiger.

On the lengthy drive, the Mississippi State transfer QB completed four of his six pass attempts for 57 yards, which included a 25-yard completion to Donovan Green. Van Buren also showcased his elusiveness and strong running ability.

Two of the three drives led by Van Buren resulted in touchdowns. On his second drive, Van Buren went a perfect 5-for-5 for 63 yards with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Parker.

In total, Van Buren completed 10 of his 12 pass attempts for 122 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed four times for 16 yards with a touchdown. He did exactly what he was asked to do, and looked very comfortable running the LSU offense. That certainly gives LSU fans piece of mind knowing that Van Buren can step in if his name is called. He also has plenty of SEC experience, as he started eight games for Mississippi State as a freshman last season. He completed 54.7% of his passes for 1,886 yards and 11 touchdowns with seven interceptions, while also rushing for five touchdowns for the Bulldogs.

With Garrett Nussmeier set to exit the program after this season, LSU fans are wondering who will take over as QB1 for the Tigers in 2026. Brian Kelly may still choose to explore the transfer portal, but Van Buren's strong performance in his LSU debut certainly bodes well for his case. Brian Kelly and his staff do not have a QB commit in their 2026 recruiting class, which is ranked as the No. 11 recruiting class in the country.