LSU football down to one scholarship quarterback after Hurley exits

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LSU football is down to one scholarship quarterback. On Wednesday, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that LSU QB Colin Hurley was expected to enter the transfer portal.

Hurley was one of three scholarship quarterbacks on LSU’s roster to begin the year. Senior Garrett Nussmeier, Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren, and Hurley.

Nussmeier missed the final three games of the regular season with an injury and is off to try his hand at the NFL level. Hurley has been away from the team for a few weeks, too. So this isn’t anything new for an LSU program that navigated the final stretch with a depleted quarterback room.

But Hurley’s choice to enter the portal makes quarterback depth an even bigger need for Lane Kiffin’s staff ahead of 2026. Van Buren, only a sophomore, has two more years of eligibility left. But his status remains unclear with a new staff taking over.

Van Buren made three starts in November — there were struggles. Van Buren’s inconsistency could leave Kiffin and Co. to move in another direction, and then Van Buren would be back in the portal and LSU would have to build a quarterback room from scratch.

LSU is expected to be involved with the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal, but the Tigers will need to add depth, too. Kiffin will look for quarterbacks with several years of eligibility remaining to help fill out the room. If LSU takes a one-year veteran transfer, LSU’s staff can sell a younger passer on the chance to compete for the job in 2027 after developing a year in the system.

Van Buren is expected to play in the bowl game. Ju’Juan Johnson will serve as LSU’s emergency quarterback. Johnson is also expected to enter the transfer portal, but he’ll suit up in the Texas Bowl.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football down to one scholarship quarterback after Hurley exits

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