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CFB

    Garrett Nussmeier Impresses CFB Fans as Brian Kelly, LSU Beat Baylor in Texas Bowl

    Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 1, 2025

    HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 31: Garrett Nussmeier #13 of the LSU Tigers passes the ball against the Baylor Bears during the first half in the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
    Alex Slitz/Getty Images

    Garrett Nussmeier will return to LSU for the 2025 season, bypassing the NFL for one more year, and Tuesday's performance in the Texas Bowl against Baylor was a reminder of why the rest of the SEC can't be happy with that decision.

    The Tigers' quarterback torched the Bears, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 44-31 victory.

    LSU Football @LSUfootball

    Nuss connects with the freshman <a href="https://twitter.com/TreyDez_Green?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TreyDez_Green</a> TOUCHDOWN <br><br>📺 ESPN <a href="https://t.co/UCOGAPz2BG">pic.twitter.com/UCOGAPz2BG</a>

    LSU Football @LSUfootball

    What a catch. Aaron Anderson with ✌️ feet in. <br><br>📺 ESPN <a href="https://t.co/ya30jFuWgC">pic.twitter.com/ya30jFuWgC</a>

    LSU Football @LSUfootball

    Nuss to the end zone. It's a TOUCHDOWN for <a href="https://twitter.com/iamchrishilton1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iamchrishilton1</a> <br><br>📺 ESPN <a href="https://t.co/Z2VJj8s2bj">pic.twitter.com/Z2VJj8s2bj</a>

    LSU Football @LSUfootball

    My Goodness <a href="https://twitter.com/Garrettnuss13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Garrettnuss13</a> just throwing it around <br><br>📺 ESPN <a href="https://t.co/nX2AruvvxH">pic.twitter.com/nX2AruvvxH</a>

    LSU Football @LSUfootball

    Someone may want to cover <a href="https://twitter.com/TreyDez_Green?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TreyDez_Green</a> <br>TOUCHDOWN TIGERS <br><br>📺 ESPN <a href="https://t.co/bkWtOw0145">pic.twitter.com/bkWtOw0145</a>

    Chris Hilton Jr. (four catches for 113 yards and a touchdown), Aaron Anderson (eight receptions for 91 yards) and Trey'Dez Green (six catches for 53 yards and two scores) were his preferred targets, pacing what proved to be an explosive LSU offense despite a number of bowl opt-outs on that side of the ball, including star left tackle Will Campbell, fellow offensive linemen Emery Jones and Garrett Dellinger, starting tight end Mason Taylor and the team's leading receiver from the regular season, Kyren Lacy.

    Nussmeier wasn't perfect, throwing an ill-advised interception in the third quarter. But he was generally very good, and social media gave him his deserved flowers for the performance:

    Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 @BarrettSallee

    Garrett Nussmeier is straight dealing. <a href="https://t.co/cv7g70ZlvK">pic.twitter.com/cv7g70ZlvK</a>

    Mason Kinnahan @Mason_Kinnahan

    Garrett Nussmeier I'm sold <br><br>The Nuss Buss is rolling <a href="https://t.co/8ct2AH1PLz">pic.twitter.com/8ct2AH1PLz</a>

    Garrett Nussmeier Impresses CFB Fans as Brian Kelly, LSU Beat Baylor in Texas Bowl
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    Cory Diaz @ByCoryDiaz

    When Garrett Nussmeier is out there slangin' that thang like Uncle Rico, you in trouble.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LSU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LSU</a> <a href="https://t.co/kq1pLgshEA">pic.twitter.com/kq1pLgshEA</a>

    Max Toscano @maxtoscano1

    Nussmeier is the best returning QB in the country

    The GOAT House @GoatHouseNFL

    Garrett Nussmeier should have declared.<br>QB1.

    megan ✨ M4X @colinblvvr

    God bless Ramos and Nussmeier we'd be lost without them

    Christopher Bannan @ulmwxr

    🐯 Anderson, Hilton Jr, &amp; Nussmeier are going to be the real deal next year. Add in Durham, Weeks, a healthy Perkins Jr &amp; fix a few things &amp; the 2025 team could be what the 2024 team was suppose to be. Nuss finally with 1 full season under his belt like Joe &amp; Jayden had. 🤞

    Unbiased Ev @DoubleVodkaDon

    Diamond hands with my Garrett Nussmeier stock. Never sold it, never will. Guy can SLING it.

    Cayden @caydenyaps

    GARRETT NUSSMEIER, I CANT BELIEVE THEY DOUBTED YOU

    LSU (9-4) looked as though it had this one in the bag when it went up 34-17 in the third quarter following Zavion Thomas' 95-yard kick-off return for a touchdown. A pair of LSU turnovers on back-to-back drives made things more interesting, however, though Baylor (8-5) mitigated the shifting momentum by failing to convert a pair of fourth-down conversions.

    LSU Football @LSUfootball

    We'll take that loss of 36 on 4th down. Our ball. <br><br>📺 ESPN <a href="https://t.co/fEBMNQsaBq">pic.twitter.com/fEBMNQsaBq</a>

    The future appears to be bright for these Tigers. Nussmeier's return—alongside some excellent additions in the transfer portal—should have fans in Baton Rouge feeling very excited about the team's prospects for the 2025 season.