The college football world is buzzing. Conference championship games took place last weekend, the transfer portal opened on Monday, the coaching carousel has begun to whirl, and another busy offseason is up ahead.
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, LSU received some promising news on Wednesday as quarterback Garrett Nussmeier announced that he’s returning to the Tigers for his redshirt senior season.
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“I feel like my time at LSU is not over,” Nussmeier said in a video posted on social media. “I am officially announcing that I am returning for my final year of eligibility, and I am fully committed to bringing this university a championship. My teammates, coaches and the fans will get the absolute best out of me every single day until we complete that goal. Go Tigers!”
Jeremiah 29:11 ☧ pic.twitter.com/rS9WwfUyl5
— Garrett Nussmeier (@Garrettnuss13) December 11, 2024
The 22-year-old, Lake Charles, Louisiana, native’s video was littered with references to the Bible and his faith. His post was captioned with the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11 and the video began with him quoting another verse, Proverbs 30:5.
“[God] has blessed me with an amazing family, circle of support, and the ability to allow me to live out my dream,” Nussmeier said, while wearing a cross necklace. “The fact that I am even in a position to make this type of announcement is truly a testament to His true glory and love.”
After quoting Philippians 4:13, Nussmeier said, “When you put your mind, body and soul into Him, the sky is the limit for anyone. No dream is impossible with Him on your side.”
And after quoting Proverbs 16:9, he said, “Since a young kid, all I ever wanted was to grow up and play in the NFL. God brought me to LSU for a reason. I had to observe and trust in His timing and His plan for me time and time again.”
After redshirting in 2021 and making spot appearances backing up 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels the following two seasons, Nussmeier was finally handed the reins in 2024. The Tigers went 8-4 with Nussmeier at the helm, losing their opener to USC but then reeling off six straight wins and climbing as high as No. 8 in the country. LSU fell out of the rankings after losing three straight, but righted the ship with two wins to end the season and earn a selection to the Kinder’s Texas Bowl. There, the Tigers will take on Baylor (8-4).
Nussmeier’s first season as a full-time starter saw him complete 63.7% of his passes for 3,739 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Six of those touchdowns came in one game — a 44-21 victory against Nicholls — and twice he threw for more than 400 yards in a single contest. His performance this fall garnered him some attention from pro scouts, and NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. listed him as the No. 7-ranked draft-eligible quarterback and a potential first-round pick.
Nussmeier, however, knows God wants him at LSU.
“When I was making my decision out of high school of where to go to school, I felt like there was a lot of prayer involved, and God brought me to LSU for a reason,” Nussmeier said at SEC Media Days in July. “I did not feel like it was my time to just pack up and leave. I felt like it was my duty to just keep my head down and trust in His timing and just work. I know God’s timing is always right.”
Nussmeier only started one game before the 2024 season, a ReliaQuest Bowl victory against Wisconsin to conclude the 2023 campaign, but he never considered transferring as so many others do.
“I’ve been trusting in God and trusting in God’s plan for me,” Nussmeier told Fan Nation before the ReliaQuest Bowl. “Sometimes you want things and it may not come when you want it, but God has the right timing, so it’s about trusting in Him and letting it happen when it was supposed to happen.”
Nussmeier wears eye black under both eyes in the shape of a cross on game days, and he often cites some of his favorite Bible verses on his Instagram account.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
“I’ve grown a lot closer to God and got to experience different things through my relationship with Him too,” he told reporters at the Manning Passing Academy in June. “I had to learn to put a lot more trust in Him, and I think everything happens for a reason. God’s timing is always right, so it was learning to accept that and put all my trust and all my faith in Him.”
"I've grown a lot closer to God. And got to experience different things through my relationship with him too. I had to learn to put a lot more trust in him."@LSUfootball @Garrettnuss13 at Manning Passing Academy. #LSU pic.twitter.com/GTuXeqq5Au
— . (@PromotesPrimesX) June 28, 2024
LSU’s campus has been a place of immense growth for Nussmeier, as a quarterback and more importantly as a believer, and now he trusts God will continue to work in and through him with the Tigers in 2025.
Nussmeier will play in LSU’s matchup with Baylor in the Texas Bowl, scheduled for Dec. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET in Houston.
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