Garrett Nussmeier On How He Got Through LSU Tigers’ Up-And-Down Season: ‘My Faith’

LSU star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has high expectations entering the 2025 season.

The senior quarterback is on the verge of entering his second season as the LSU Tigers’ starting quarterbak after showing promise in his first full season starting. Nussmeier posted 29 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, 337 pass completions and over 4,000 passing yards last season. The 23-year-old quarterback led the SEC in pass completions, and ranked in the top 10 across all major passing categories, including completions, yards and touchdowns.

While the stats are impressive, the Tigers’ season was filled with up-and-downs, including Nussmeier’s play. He led the Tigers to a six-game winning streak early in the season, but LSU suffered three consecutive losses shortly after, including 42-13 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Nussmeier threw two interceptions in that loss a game after throwing three interceptions in a defeat against the Texas A&M Aggies.

With that being said, Nussmeier and the Tigers bounced back to finish the season strong, with a three-game winning streak culminating in a Texas Bowl win over Baylor that included a three-touchdown performance by the quarterback.

“Definitely just having a foundation,” says Nussmeier in a one-on-one interview as far what helped him battle through adversity. “For me, very open about mine and that is my faith. I’ve gone through the tough times. I’ve kind of been through adversity throughout college and my faith has helped me through those so applying those same methods and applying that same structure in my faith to the season, it was something that allowed me to be able to get out of that slump there and we finished strong.”

Nussmeier comes from a football family, with his dad Doug Nussmeier having played quarterback in the NFL for five seasons. The elder Nussmeier has also served as a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator in the college and NFL ranks for over two decades, currently serving in the latter position for the New Orleans Saints.

“Absolutely, that’s something that is applied to being a quarterback in general,” says Nussmeier about being even-keeled in your emotions. “That’s one of the first things and advice that my dad gave me when I got to LSU was to not get too, not get too low.”

As mentioned before, things weren’t perfect for the 9-4 Tigers. They started out the year ranked No. 13, but lost a tough season opener against the No. 23-ranked USC Trojans. They were ranked as high as No. 8 after their win over the Arkansas Razorbacks, but dropped out of the top 25 after their loss to the Florida Gators.

“Things were going to go great at times, things were going bad at other times,” says Nussmeier. “We know he gave me that advice that didn’t help so much, because not only did it translate to how my career has gone at LSU, but it also translated to – if you look at a nutshell – the season last year. It was definitely something that I learned a lot last year and something that will help me towards next year.”

Garrett Nussmeier On Being Named Cover Athlete For EA Sports’ College Football 26: ‘It’s A Blessing’

Nussmeier’s productive season led to his name being called as one of the cover athletes for the deluxe edition of EA Sports’ College Football 26. The fifth-year quarterback calls it a “blessing” to be one of the cover athletes of the deluxe edition of EA Sports’ College Football 26.

“It’s a blessing to be able to be on a cover of a game that I’ve played since I was a young kid,” says Nussmeier. “It was my favorite game growing up, I was always on it. To be able to use myself in the game last year was an unbelievable feeling, and then now to be on the cover, it’s kind of insanity.”

The cover features a number of prominent players and coaches, including past cover athletes such as Reggie Bush and Tim Tebow.

“I’m very blessed, I’m very grateful,” says Nussmeier. “Very thankful to EA for selecting me. It was a really cool opportunity for me to also be able to represent LSU.”

Nussmeier says his favorite game modes growing up were mascot mode and Road to Glory. NCAA Football’s last game – before making a return last year – was NCAA Football 14.

“As a kid, I was playing mascot mode and Road to Glory,” says Nussmeier. “I was always making Garrett Nussmeier, playing out my dreams. This year, I played a lot of Ultimate Team. That’s definitely my favorite game mode and that’s the main game I play. My boys all hop on it. It’s kind of funny, using myself on that as well, throwing interceptions, my boys start losing their mind at me, saying ‘You suck.’ All that good stuff.”

Although Nussmeier is obviously concentrated on bringing a championship to Baton Rouge during his final season – he says that’s objective entering his final season in college – he’ll still be paying EA’s College Football 26 throughout the season.

“There’s not a lot of time going around, hanging out and doing this, especially as a quarterback,” says Nussmeier. “It’s football and film all day and then my way to kind of reset around night time for maybe an hour or so is the game. So I’ll be on it for a long time.”