By Hunt Palmer
Garrett Nussmeier’s 98-yard, game-winning drive versus Wisconsin in January’s Reliaquest Bowl punctuated a strong dress rehearsal for his role as LSU’s starting quarterback.
Sure, the game and the statistics counted, but the merit of bowl games has taken a significant hit over the past decade. Sunday night was truly the opening act of the Nussmeier era, and the returns were positive. Nussmeier’s stat line read 29-for-38 for 304 yards and two touchdowns. He threw a late interception in desperation time.
“I think Garrett did some really good things,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “I think there’s probably a couple he would like back…He didn’t enough for us to win the football game. When we needed a couple of plays, there’s probably a couple of things he’d like to do better, but he’s going to be really good for us. He’ll get better from today.”
Nussmeier’s start was sizzling. He completed 12 of his first 14 passes and 19 of his first 22. His completion percentage was north of 80 percent until his last three passes of the game were incomplete or intercepted.
As expected, he worked efficiently in the short passing game. On throws at or behind the line of scrimmage he was 7-for-8 for 45 yards. Same story on throws 0-to-5 yards. He was 12-for 13 for 82 yards.
He attempted 11 passes between six and 14 yards, connecting on eight for 89 yards. And on vertical throws of more than 15 yards, his completion percentage dipped to 50 percent. He was 4-for-8 for 101 yards.
While the short passing game was efficient in terms of completion percentage, it didn’t pay dividends on third downs. Nussmeier completed 9-of-10 throws on third downs, but five of those completions did not reach the first down marker.
Early in his time at LSU, Nussmeier was considered something of a “gunslinger”. On Sunday night he showed a more cautious side, often electing for a check down or shorter throw.
The results were mixed. On one hand, LSU did come up short on some third down throws. On another, LSU stayed ahead of the chains all night and suffered only one late turnover.
The Tigers only faced third down and nine or more once in the game. Nussmeier wasn’t sacked, and the team rolled up 421 yards and held the ball for 33 minutes. Conversely, the team only produced 20 points.
Here’s a look at Nussmeier’s nine incompletions:
8:37 1st Quarter. 2nd and Goal, USC 9: Nussmeier targeted Kyren Lacy on a fade route in the end zone. The ball was perfectly delivered, and Lacy made the catch but came down a foot out of bounds. Everything was done well.
7:50 1st Quarter. 4th and Goal, USC 3: This was an aggressive decision by Kelly that didn’t pay off. USC sent a blitz through the A gap that DJ Chester and Garrett Dellinger didn’t pick up. Nussmeier was immediately under fire and basically threw the ball away. The play was doomed from the start.
9:53 2nd Quarter. 1st and 10, LSU 44: Mason Taylor ran a seam route, and Nussmeier fired on time. A leaping Trojan linebacker just tipped the ball causing Taylor to drop the pass. It was a good read. The throw was a tick low, and the SC defender made a great play.
2:00 2nd Quarter. 2nd and 10 USC 32: LSU was attempting to post a late first-half score. Zavion Thomas and Taylor both ran hitches on the offensive right side of the formation. Nussmeier fired for Thomas, but it was high and wide. It was the only real missed throw of the first half.
5:52 3rd Quarter. 1st and 10, USC 29: Following a big John Emery Jr run, USC sent a first down pressure. With a rusher coming clean, Nussmeier retreated and threw in the direction of Lacy who was double covered. The ball landed well long and out of bounds.
14:20 4th Quarter. 2nd and 6, LSU 43: This was a poor play from the Tiger quarterback. USC brought seven, but LSU’s offensive line picked it up. Nussmeier backed up and launched downfield, 10 to 15 yards over everyone’s head. There was a little more time to let the routes develop, but Nussmeier got happy feet and gave up on the play.
2:00 4th Quarter. 2nd and 8, USC 14: If Nussmeier could have one throw back, it would be this one. Coming out of the two minute warning, LSU ran a play action, half boot for Nussmeier to deliever out to Aaron Anderson. It was only a seven-yard throw in the air as Anderson ran along the line of scrimmage. He was uncovered, and Nussmeier just missed it. He misfired low and right of Anderson. If thrown properly, Anderson would have had a chance to turn the ball up field. At best, He scores the go-ahead touchdown. At worst, third down would have been very manageable.
1:56 4th Quarter. 3rd and 8, USC 14: In the game’s biggest moment, Nussmeier flinched. So did the LSU offense. Josh Williams switched sides in the backfield. Lacy motioned but was hesitant to do so. He got to the left of the formation prior to the snap but was called for an illegal shift. Still, LSU ran the play. There was no significant pressure on Nussmeier, but he still flipped the ball in Lacy’s direction on a fade. There was double coverage, and the ball fell harmlessly out of bounds. Any reception would have been negated by the penalty, but the play was poorly executed from the start.
0:08 4th Quarter 1st and 10, LSU 25: It was desperation time. LSU ran all verticals. Taylor was late looking for the football, and the Trojan defender scored an interception to seal the game. Not much to take from this one. SC was in a big prevent bubble, and Taylor never turned around.
The junior quarterback wasn’t perfect, but he was good. His accuracy was on point outside of two throws. His pocket presence was quality outside of two snaps. Pro Football focus graded Nussmeier a 73 in his 2024 debut.
He and Lacy found an early groove, connecting on nine first half passes. The duo failed to hook up in the second half.
The ball was spread around. Ten different Tigers made a catch.
The passing game was efficient if a little bit conservative. For a first outing, it was passable. Nussmeier, Joe Sloan and company will have a week to iron things out against an FCS opponent Saturday. Conference play awaits.
