Pressure cookers and bourbon nights. In the sweltering cauldron of Baton Rouge, where Death Valley reeks of bourbon and adrenaline on game nights, trust isn’t just earned—it’s forged. And this weekend when the chips will be down as Vanderbilt hits the road to take on LSU it leaves us buzzing over one question: When it’s crunch time and the game’s fate hangs in the balance, who do you say, “That’s my QB?” Is it the Tigers’s Garrett Nussmeier or the Commodores’ Diego Pavia?

Convey your thanks to AYS Sports podcaster who lit it up on the gram, Blake Ruffino. Ruffino projected, and he put the legacy moment of LSU QB1’s under a microscope. “When the game is on the line, and it’s late night…who do you trust the most to make the big play?” he asked. For Garett Nussmeier, his moment is a folklore that was in week 7. The clutch, game-winning fourth-down touchdown against Ole Miss that many Tigers point to as a defining moment. But Ruffino wasn’t sold, saying, “I don’t know if I can go with Garrett Nussmeier to make that play.” His reasoning? Diego Pavia has consistently shown up against top-tier teams like Texas, Alabama, and Kentucky, delivering crucial plays when the stakes are sky-high.

There’s no hiding that LSU’s #13 has been anything but comfortable with the ball. It all started in Week 10 against the Aggies, when he had three 3 picks, and hit only 50% of his passes. And the HC Brian Kelly was already seen to have a fiery talk on the field after getting slayed 27-16 by the gators. The yellow and purple are 6-4 after three back-to-back-to-back brutal losses. His decision-making in high-pressure moments remains a hot topic. LSU’s offense has struggled at times in tight situations, leading to questions about its ability to capitalize when it matters most.

Pavia, on the other hand, thrives in chaos. Against Alabama, the Vanderbilt QB made critical completions under relentless pressure, proving he’s built for those high-stakes moments. And dude from Mexico is good with his legs, a haunting flashback of Bama’s Milroe for the LSU defense. Pavia averages 3.56 yards after contact and has 24 runs that have gone for more than 10 yards.

“I think you have to have a different mindset when you go against this offense,” LSU coach in the liability list, Brian Kelly has already called it out on Monday. “This is truly assignment oriented football, and you have to be disciplined.” The numbers tell an interesting story about the former NFL player and coach Doug Nussmeier’s son.

ESPN’s QBR numbers tell a strange story about Garrett Nussmeier

Evaluating quarterbacks can feel like solving a math problem, but ESPN’s QBR and PFF’s passing grade simplify things by measuring consistent, predictive performance. For Garrett Nussmeier, the numbers are solid. His QBR sits at an impressive 77.6, ranking 16th nationally and 5th in the SEC—clearly top-tier material. Meanwhile, his PFF passing grade is 76.9, placing him 43rd nationally and 8th in the SEC. The takeaway? He’s making moves in the SEC, even if there’s still room to climb higher on the national stage.

These numbers match the eye test perfectly. A 16th-ranked QBR tells the story of Nussmeier battling through a tough schedule but shining when he’s in rhythm. On the flip side, the PFF grade highlights the occasional ups and downs.

Yet leaves plenty of room for optimism amidst all the chit chat going on about him.