No, Garrett Nussmeier is not playing in today’s Texas Bowl (December 27, 2025, vs. Houston Cougars).
Injury Update
Nussmeier has been dealing with an abdominal strain (also described as a core/torso injury in some reports) that originated in preseason camp in August 2025. He played through it for much of the season but reaggravated it ahead of the Arkansas game, leading to him missing the final three regular-season games after being benched/replaced in the Alabama loss.
LSU interim coach Frank Wilson confirmed earlier in December that Nussmeier would not be available for the bowl game due to this injury. Multiple sources, including The Daily Advertiser, CBS Sports, and LSU Tigers Wire, report he’s sidelined, with some noting this effectively ends his LSU career as he prepares for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sophomore Michael Van Buren Jr. (Mississippi State transfer) will start at QB for LSU, marking his fourth straight start.
This is consistent across reports from ESPN, CBS Sports, and local Louisiana outlets as of late December 2025.