Is Garrett Nussmeier Playing Today in Texas Bowl? Injury Update
Is Garrett Nussmeier playing today in the Texas Bowl? The answer is no.
The LSU
Tigers' senior quarterback has been officially ruled out of Saturday night's
Texas Bowl matchup against the Houston Cougars, as confirmed by interim coach
Frank Wilson.
Is Garrett Nussmeier Playing Today? Injury Status Confirmed
Is Garrett Nussmeier playing today in the Texas Bowl? The confirmation that he will not play concludes a challenging season for the quarterback.
Nussmeier has been sidelined for LSU's final three regular-season games after reaggravating an abdominal strain initially suffered in August. In his last appearance against Alabama, he was benched in the third quarter.
For the 2025 season, he compiled 1,927 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions over nine games—a step back from his standout 4,000-yard campaign in 2024.
His decision to return
for his senior year, foregoing the 2025 NFL Draft to chase a national
championship, did not unfold as planned due to this persistent injury.
Texas Bowl Implications and LSU's Outlook
With Garrett Nussmeier not playing today in the Texas Bowl, sophomore backup Michael Van Buren will make his fourth consecutive start.
Van Buren's mobility is expected to be a key factor against Houston's defense. Nussmeier's absence allows him to focus on preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft process.
The Tigers will also be without several other key players who have opted out, including running back Kaleb Jackson and wide receiver Jelani Watkins.
Read also: Cristiano Ronaldo at the Double as Al-Nassr Win
Despite these
significant absences, analysts give LSU a slight edge (24-20) to leverage its
remaining roster depth and talent against a Houston team playing close to home.
Game Details and Broadcast Information
- Matchup: LSU Tigers vs. Houston
Cougars
- Bowl: Texas Bowl
- Date & Time: Saturday, December 27,
8:15 p.m. CT
- Location: NRG Stadium, Houston,
Texas
- TV Broadcast: ESPN
- Live Stream: Fubo
The Texas Bowl
serves as a final showcase for LSU's program under interim leadership and a
critical development opportunity for Michael Van Buren as he auditions for a
larger role in the team's future.
Source Information:
You can read the full
report for more details here:
Is Garrett Nussmeier playing today in Texas Bowl? Injury update

