LSU pushed all its chips in on Garrett Nussmeier, but the deck looks stacked against him. His return was supposed to anchor Brian Kelly’s title-contending squad, but hype won’t move the chains—execution will. Well, insiders think Garrett struggles with consistency. And honestly, LSU’s weak rushing attack didn’t help him either. All of this has thrown a wrench into analysts’ predictions for LSU. Nussmeier is currently in charge, but if he continues to struggle, LSU’s hopes of winning the title may be dashed before they even get started.

Well, no matter what the insider says, Josh Pete is confident in the LSU Tigers’ chances of making it to the playoffs, showing his full support for Garrett and Brian Kelly’s team, saying, “I mean it when I say I bet LSU doesn’t stay at plus 1000. LSU is a lot better team than that. They got the experience coming back to quarterback. I thought they did a great job in the portal. This is year two, with a very, very good defensive staff having been brought in there. I’m telling you, man, there are some worlds, there are some paths where LSU wins this thing.”

Now, it’s not just Josh Pate who is buying into the belief that Garrett Nussmeier can be the one to change Brian Kelly’s fate. Some fans even go as far as comparing him to Joe Burrow. There’s no denying his talent. Nussmeier has accumulated an impressive 4,052 passing yards, ranking second in LSU history, surpassing Jayden Daniels’ record of 3,812 yards. However, his performance has been inconsistent. He tends to struggle under pressure, resulting in high turnover numbers.

However, here’s the kicker. LSU’s insider Blake Ruffino thinks Brian Kelly’s quarterback needs to pull up his socks and make some major improvements in his game, saying, “He’s got a lot to overcome. He better stop turning the ball over if he wants to be there. I mean, look, you can have him on top of your odds, and LSU fans get pissed off at me, and I don’t give two Rudy Poos. You turn the ball over 20 times again and see what happens—you’re going to get your a– whooped. There’s a lot they have to overcome. I don’t want to hear any preseason hype about bull. You better go out there and start performing now.”

You can’t totally ignore what Blake is saying. Nussmeier’s mistakes were evident in the game against Bama, where he completed only 27 of his 42 passes and threw two costly interceptions, both leading to easy points for the opposing team. Throughout his 27 games, he has lost possession of the ball 20 times.

Although he started in nine games, in the remaining 18, he either came in as a substitute or replaced an injured player. His touchdown-to-interception ratio of 21-to-11 is concerning. LSU cannot afford a quarterback who constantly gives away opportunities, especially when a team is already dealing with inconsistencies.

Brian Kelly faces another big blow by Bill Belichick’s UNC

One side Josh Pete is praising LSU’s defensive unit. On the other side, Bob Diaco, former Broyles Award winner, now heads to Chapel Hill. He has previously worked alongside Brian Kelly, moving from Central Michigan to Cincinnati and then to Notre Dame. Their paths crossed again at LSU, ten years after Notre Dame’s title game run in 2012. However, just as Brian Kelly thought he had Diaco secured, Bill Belichick came calling, and Diaco decided to move on.

But Brian Kelly has come up with a solution. He has hired Lance Guidry, who recently had a stint at Miami where his defense struggled against the run. Miami allowed an average of 112 rushing yards per game, conceded 25 points per night, and missed out on the playoffs as a result. Now, Guidry has a chance to prove himself in Baton Rouge.

However, Kelly’s decision is not just about hiring a coach; it’s also a gamble on rebuilding the team. This gamble may have short-term consequences for LSU. Diaco’s departure not only took away experience but also disrupted the chemistry within the coaching staff. While Guidry may bring fresh ideas, it takes time for familiarity and cohesion to develop.

Meanwhile, Diaco is honing his defensive skills under the guidance of football’s greatest mastermind, while LSU scrambles to adjust. Kelly may have filled a gap, but the question remains: has he strengthened the foundation or introduced a weak link? Only time will tell.