Lane Kiffin Reacts to Garrett Nussmeier’s Gesture on Sunday

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Lane Kiffin Reacts to Garrett Nussmeier’s Gesture on Sunday

The LSU Tigers faced an unexpected 2025 college football season. LSU entered the year with national championship aspirations, while quarterback Garrett Nussmeier had hopes of winning the Heisman Trophy.

The Tigers started the year strong with a 4-0 record and were ranked No. 3 in the country. However, the season took a turn for the worse, leading to the firing of head coach Brian Kelly in October. LSU finished the season with a disappointing 7-6 record.

Nussmeier also struggled this season. After a successful previous year, in which he threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, his performance declined significantly. This season, in just nine games, he managed only 1,927 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.

LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Despite having a challenging season, Nussmeier chose to attend the bowl game against the No. 21 Houston Cougars (10-3). Although he wasn’t playing due to an injury that shortened his season, he was there to support his teammates. This gesture impressed newly hired head coach Lane Kiffin, who simply tweeted, “Love this!!!”

Nussmeier’s presence at the bowl game sent an early message about leadership and buy-in during a transitional moment for LSU. After a season that fell far short of expectations and ended with Kelly’s dismissal, the Tigers are searching for stability and a cultural reset under Kiffin. For a quarterback coming off a statistically sharp decline and an injury-shortened year, simply showing up resonated with both the fan base and the new coaching staff.

Looking ahead, LSU’s quarterback situation will be one of the most closely watched storylines of the offseason as Kiffin installs his system. With Nussmeier off to the NFL, and being replaced by an incoming transfer, or an incoming freshman will help define LSU’s direction entering spring practice and ultimately shape expectations for the 2026 season.

Related: Lane Kiffin Faces Unexpected Moment in His First Days as LSU Tigers Head Coach

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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