LSU's Garrett Nussmeier Signs Nike NIL Contract Amid Heisman Trophy Buzz

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is chasing a national championship and Heisman Trophy this season.

And he will be representing Nike as he does so.

On Friday, Nike announced on Instagram it signed Nussmeier to a name, image and likeness contract. It posted an image of Nussmeier and the words "Bayou Built" to go with a caption that says, "Born in the Bayou. Built for the big stage. Welcome to the family."

According to On 3's NIL valuations, Nussmeier has the fourth-highest valuation in all of college football at $4 million. Only Texas' Arch Manning, Miami's Carson Beck and Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith are ranked higher.

The ability to make money on NIL deals like this was surely a factor when the LSU quarterback decided to return to the Tigers for the 2025 campaign. No longer do elite athletes have to turn to the NFL to make money as they continue their football careers, and returning to school gave him an opportunity to perhaps bolster his NFL draft outlook.

The latest mock draft from B/R's NFL Scouting Department projected Nussmeier to go No. 5 overall to the Indianapolis Colts.

He was the third quarterback selected in the mock with South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers going No. 1 and Manning going No. 3. However, Manning could return to school in 2026, which would open up an opportunity for Nussmeier to go even higher in the upcoming draft.

First, though, he is pursuing a Heisman Trophy and national title for the Tigers after leading them to a 2-0 start with victories over Clemson and Louisiana Tech. He has completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 469 yards, two touchdowns and one interception through the two games and has LSU at No. 3 in the country.

He also has the second-best Heisman odds on DraftKings Sportsbook at +900 (bet $100 to win $900) behind only Oklahoma's John Mateer (+850), as of Friday at 12 p.m. ET.

There will be plenty of eyes on Nussmeier throughout the rest of the college football season, and Nike made sure to take advantage of that with its latest NIL deal.