LSU and Brian Kelly are heading into a compelling off-season with the lingering memory of an average season (9-4) and went down with a consoling win over Baylor in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl. 2024 was no doubt a tough nut to crack but with the massive transfer portal pull, 2025 seems to be further blossoming for the Tigers. Thanks to their offensive beating heart, Garrett Nussmeier’s return to Louisiana for another year. It kind of came as a healing air after Kelly failed to sign Bryce Underwood and lost his Heisman winner QB Jayden Daniels to the NFL draft. As long as Nussmeier is there, you don’t have to bust your dreams for a marquee year down the road.

Well, the notion can only be true provided the offensive depth serves as a safety net to the front-runner QB. Where do LSU and Kelly stand on that ground?

What is a possible doomsday scenario for LSU?

Garrett Nussmeier’s return gives LSU a strong ray of hope in the QB room, but the Tigers knew they needed to safeguard him with more responsible recruits in the offense. They already lost four starting offensive linemen and three of their top four pass catchers, leaving the room to doubt the depth chart.

”You are losing four starting offensive linemen, you are losing your number two running back in Josh Williams who is the number 18 senior. You are losing your top three pass catchers as we know with Kyren Lacy, CJ Daniels, and Mason Taylor,” LSU insider Matt Moscona said. This is just the offense. When you look at the defense, Brian Kelly has lost even more players.

“Greg Penn, Braden Swinson, Savion Jones, Ziah Alexander, Sage Ryan, Major Burns, Gio Paez, Paris Shand, you are losing a ton of defensive starters.” LSU insider Mat Moscona dished a reality check to the Tigers’ tottering strength of roster. However, is losing these players really that bad? “The question is: is this addition by subtraction? Are you better with the players you brought in even though you’re losing starters? I would argue yes.”

Some of the players that Brian Kelly lost are not his fault. For instance, Paez, Shand, Williams, Alexander, Burns, Taylor, and Lacy have all moved to the draft. To his credit, the portal additions will improve the defense, to an extent. Jack Pyburn is a good addition from Florida. Similarly for Ja’Keem Jackson, Mansoor Delane, and Patrick Payton. These are all Top-100 transfer signees. The same goes for WRs Nic Anderson and Barion Brown and O-line players like Braelin Moore and Josh Thompson.

But, what can lead to a potential doomsday scenario? Well, even if they have Nussmeier, it doesn’t guarantee a smooth ride on the Natty conversation or somewhere close to that. Sure, LSU has a well-adorned history of fifth-year quarterbacks having a blast. Both Joe Burrow and Daniels lived up to that trend, winning the Heisman trophy in their fifth. But if Nussmeier catches up an injury, it would be a far-fetched dream to pursue. Also, his absence will give the Tigers a tough time keeping up the pace as the backup line seems frail as well.

”The first and foremost scenario would be an injury to Garrett Nussmeier… Because if Garrett Nussmeier gets hurt and you are bringing in Michael Van Buren who did play for an injured Blake Shapen at Mississippi State this past season as a true freshman and boy did they struggle, they didn’t win a single conference game. So while I believe Van has the physical ability, he didn’t show that ability,’‘ Mat Moscona added to the growing nightmare.

Completing 54.7% of his throws for 1,889 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions for a 2-10 Mississippi State squad, Van Buren added enough value to his resume, but he is yet to develop into a finished product that the Tigers will need.

Can Garrett Nussmeier grow into a full-blown NFL-ready in the next year? 

As per the Heisman odds, Kelly’s quarterback seems to run the course, he just has Longhorns’ blueblood Arch Manning to compete with. But again, the same past issue gets in the way. In the past season, we have seen a vulnerable, unprotected Nussmeier thanks to the scarcity in the OT room as Will Campbell and Emery Jones left for the pro. This season, they can use this as a lesson and do what is needed. The stacking up to the O-line will be the only cure for their projected woes.

But in a hypothetical scenario, if Nussmeier gets there and bag the Heisman Trophy, he will focus next on his ultimate dream. “Since a young kid, all I have ever wanted was to grow up and play in the NFL…God brought me to the LSU for a reason,” the LSU quarterback once revealed.

Yes, the LSU Tigers would be the ideal platform for him to establish a strong resume. Given he already possesses the qualities and tools that the NFL biggies are looking for, the game won’t be very tough. His strong robust arm that can make amazing throws, the ability to get past the sacks, and the knack of seeing the field remain his huge plus for the future bombshell run. ‘It’s just a matter of a little more protection from his mates that can unlock a new chapter for LSU as well as for Nussmeier.