Garrett Nussmeier on staying at LSU, not transferring: ‘I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else’ Garrett Nussmeier recalled his decision to stay at LSU rather than enter the transfer portal and said he “wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

In an era where the college football transfer portal spins like a roulette wheel and loyalty is often trumped by immediate opportunity, Garrett Nussmeier has chosen something rare: patience, perseverance, and purple and gold.

The LSU quarterback, now entering his fourth year in Baton Rouge, spoke candidly this week about his decision to remain with the Tigers, despite spending much of his early career behind Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. In a college football world defined by quarterback carousel chaos, Nussmeier’s loyalty has made him a symbol of staying power.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Nussmeier said. “This is home. I’ve invested too much here. I love this program, I love these coaches, I love my teammates. It was never about leaving—it was always about being ready when my time came.”

For the better part of three seasons, Garrett Nussmeier was a highly touted talent sitting in the shadows. A former four-star recruit from Texas with NFL bloodlines—his father Doug Nussmeier was an NFL quarterback and longtime offensive coordinator—Garrett could have taken the easy route. Instead, he chose the long one.

From 2021 through 2023, Nussmeier backed up Max Johnson, Myles Brennan, and most notably Jayden Daniels. Though he saw occasional action—including a standout performance in the 2023 SEC Championship game—he spent most Saturdays on the sideline, preparing as if he were the starter, while others basked in the spotlight.

He entered each offseason as a prime transfer target. Schools from the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC inquired. Some even offered starting jobs and NIL deals. But each time, Nussmeier stayed put.

“A lot of people told me I should transfer,” he said. “But I’ve always believed that if you want to be great, you don’t run from competition. You face it.”

Nussmeier’s mindset didn’t happen in a vacuum. He credits Brian Kelly, quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan, and former teammates for creating a culture that values long-term investment over quick fixes.

“Coach Kelly has always been real with me,” Nussmeier explained. “He told me what I needed to work on. He told me where I stood. And he told me if I stuck with it, my time would come. I trusted him—and now I’m ready.”

Sloan, who turned down a major offer from Texas A&M to remain with LSU, echoed that sentiment:

“Garrett has been all in from day one. He’s never complained. He’s just worked. That’s rare today. And it’s why we believe he’s going to be special.”

Now, Nussmeier steps into the role he’s waited years to claim: LSU’s starting quarterback.

He inherits an offense stacked with weapons—elite receivers like Kylan Jackson, emerging star AJ Knox, a deep running back room, and a veteran offensive line. With Sloan back as OC and new WR coach Kevin Bolden joining from Ole Miss, the Tigers are tailoring the offense to fit Nussmeier’s strengths: quick release, deep accuracy, and savvy improvisation.

In spring practices and the LSU spring game, Nussmeier dazzled. He showcased poise, command of the offense, and leadership that teammates say has always been there—now just finally on display.

“He’s not the new guy,” said tight end Malik Carson. “He’s been here, he knows this system, and he’s got the respect of everybody in that locker room.”

Had Nussmeier transferred, his path would have likely been easier—at least on the surface. But he knows there’s value in struggle, in forging bonds through adversity, in building rather than borrowing success.

“I didn’t want to rent a season somewhere else,” he said. “I wanted to earn one here. I wanted to be a part of something real, something lasting.”

His decision has resonated beyond Baton Rouge. National analysts have praised Nussmeier’s loyalty as a rare example of a player trusting the process rather than chasing the spotlight. In an offseason dominated by transfer moves, NIL headlines, and QB movement, Nussmeier stood still—and in doing so, stood out.

“He could’ve left after last year and started anywhere,” said ESPN’s Greg McElroy. “But he stayed. And now he might be the most prepared first-year starter in the country.”

With loyalty comes responsibility—and expectations. Nussmeier isn’t just LSU’s starting quarterback. He’s now the face of the program, a Heisman dark horse, and even the cover athlete for EA Sports College Football 26, a recognition that stunned him.

“Being on that cover is wild. But I know it doesn’t mean anything unless we win,” he said. “All the hype doesn’t matter. I’ve got to go out there and perform every week.”

The 2025 schedule offers no breathers. LSU opens against USC in Las Vegas before jumping into a brutal SEC gauntlet that includes Florida, Alabama, Texas, and Texas A&M.

Still, Nussmeier welcomes the challenge.

“Pressure is a privilege,” he said. “I’ve prepared for this moment my entire life. I’m not afraid of expectations—I’m fueled by them.”

In a sport where player movement dominates the headlines, Nussmeier’s patience has had ripple effects throughout the program:

• Stability: His presence has allowed LSU to build a system around continuity, not desperation.
• Culture: His work ethic and commitment set the tone for younger players watching how stars should handle adversity.
• Recruiting: Nussmeier’s story is now a blueprint for future Tigers—proof that LSU develops talent the right way.

“He’s the heartbeat of this team,” Brian Kelly said. “And we’re lucky to have him.”

Garrett Nussmeier may not have taken the fastest route to stardom—but he might just have taken the most rewarding one.

As he prepares to lead LSU into the 2025 season, he does so not as a transfer mercenary or flash-in-the-pan phenom, but as a battle-tested Tiger—one who waited his turn, earned his shot, and stayed loyal when it would’ve been easier to leave.

“I’ve been through the highs and lows here,” Nussmeier said. “That’s why it means so much now. I’m not just playing for myself—I’m playing for LSU, for the guys who believed in me, and for everything we’ve built together.”

And as the season draws near, one thing is clear: Garrett Nussmeier didn’t just stay at LSU. He became LSU.