Video: Garrett Nussmeier Will Return to Brian Kelly, LSU; QB to Forego 2025 NFL Draft

LSU head coach Brian Kelly knows who will be under center for his team during the 2025 season.

"I feel like my time at LSU is not over," quarterback Garrett Nussmeier announced Wednesday. "I'm officially announcing that I'm returning for my final year of eligibility, and I am fully committed to bringing this university a championship. My teammates, coaches and fans will get the absolute best out of me every single day."

This decision is surely a welcome one for the Tigers and will allow Nussmeier to improve his NFL stock before the 2026 draft.

After all, B/R's NFL Scouting Department did not rank him in the top 100 overall players or top eight quarterbacks in its most recent big board of prospects for the 2025 NFL draft.

In the modern-day world of college football with the transfer portal and NIL opportunities, it feels somewhat rare to see a quarterback stick with one program for so long. But Nussmeier arrived at LSU as a 4-star prospect in the recruiting class of 2021, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and is staying put for another season.

While he sat behind Heisman winner Jayden Daniels during the 2023 campaign, Nussmeier earned the starting role heading into the 2024 season.

He completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 3,739 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 games while leading the Tigers to an 8-4 record that included victories over South Carolina and Ole Miss.

Nussmeier dealt with some turnover issues, including when he threw for a combined four touchdowns to five interceptions during three straight losses to Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida, and whether he can avoid those troubles next year could determine LSU's ceiling in the SEC.

Still, he will provide a veteran presence for the Tigers as they look to compete for a conference crown and spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff field.

And then the 2026 NFL draft may be waiting after that.