LSU entered Saturday's blockbuster matchup with Ole Miss undefeated, but the Tigers' offense hadn’t always looked the part over their first four games.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and LSU failed to crack 25 points in any of their first three games, only surpassing that mark against FCS Southeastern Louisiana in a contest that offered limited insight into the Tigers’ potential.
Despite hopes of a breakthrough, LSU’s offensive struggles caught up with them in a 24-19 road loss to Ole Miss in Oxford on Saturday.
Here’s a look at the causes of LSU’s offensive struggles and Nussmeier’s 2025 stats.
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Why is the LSU offense struggling?
LSU's offense hasn't had as many complications as Clemson or Florida, which have both dealt with ill-timed turnovers, but nothing has run quite the way Tigers fans expected.
To put it plainly, Nussmeier hasn't looked like the quarterback many believed would be in the Heisman Trophy discussion. The senior has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game, has thrown an interception in three of four games against FBS opponents and has only one multi-touchdown game. LSU expected more from its quarterback than it has gotten to this point.
LSU driving… and then DISASTER 😳🚨
— Aggregate Sports (@AggregateSports) September 27, 2025
Garrett Nussmeier picked off approaching the red zone!
Ole Miss defense holding strong.#LSU #GeauxTigers #CFB #OleMiss pic.twitter.com/fqISHXPWlU
How much of LSU’s offensive struggles fall on Garrett Nussmeier? While you’d hope a potential No. 1 pick could overcome surrounding issues, he hasn’t had much help from the rushing attack and has struggled to fully gel with new weapons. Drops have also been an issue early in the season, and WR Aaron Anderson exited Saturday’s game against Ole Miss with an injury.
Nussmeier has been dealing with a torso injury since Week 1, with coach Brian Kelly telling reporters he won’t fully recover until LSU’s upcoming bye. Some critics have pointed to LSU’s lack of explosive plays, but the injury may be limiting Nussmeier’s ability to fully unleash his arm.
On Saturday, the running game was LSU’s biggest problem. The Tigers gained just 22 yards on 57 carries, struggling to sustain drives on third down. LSU had hoped Nussmeier could shoulder some of those challenges, but he wasn’t able to keep pace on the road.
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Garrett Nussmeier stats 2025
| Games | Comp. rate | Yards | TD | INT |
| 5 | 67.2% | 1,159 | 7 | 3 |
Nussmeier is averaging considerably fewer yards per game than he did in 2024, though he is completing passes at a higher rate. The potential first-round pick threw for 3,739 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2024.
LSU offensive stats 2025
| 2024 | Stat | 2025 |
| 30.5 | Points per game | 27.0 |
| 315.2 | Yards per game | 270.8 |
| 7.7 | Pass yards per attempt | 7.0 |
| 4.1 | Rush yards per attempt | 3.7 |
LSU's offensive numbers are down across the board in 2025, with the Tigers averaging fewer point and yards per game as well as fewer passing yards and rushing yards per attempt.
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What did Brian Kelly say about the offense after loss to Ole Miss?
Kelly told reporters his offense and defense were "out of sync" with one another, as one unit struggled when the other started to gain traction.
"This is not about, 'they didn't play hard,'" Kelly said of his team, arguing that they need to play "free."
Kelly told reporters, "This is not a Garrett Nussmeier problem," adding that his quarterback is healthy. Nussmeier, meanwhile, declined to answer questions about his health.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly said Garrett Nussmeier is healthy & added "this is not a Garrett Nussmeier problem."
— Brian Holland (@BHollandSports) September 28, 2025
Comments came after the 24-19 loss at Ole Miss#LSU pic.twitter.com/2eqWxShCie
LSU remaining schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| October 11 | vs. South Carolina | TBD |
| October 18 | at Vanderbilt | TBD |
| October 25 | vs. Texas A&M | TBD |
| November 8 | at Alabama | TBD |
| November 15 | vs. Arkansas | TBD |
| November 22 | vs. Western Kentucky | TBD |
| November 29 | at Oklahoma | TBD |
LSU will use its first bye week to reset before returning home to face South Carolina on Oct. 11, followed by matchups against Vanderbilt and Texas A&M.