Paul Finebaum Names College Football QB Poised for Breakout Heisman Campaign originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The LSU Tigers have established themselves as one of the premier quarterback programs in college football. Since 2019, the Tigers have produced two Heisman Trophy winners, both of whom were selected as top two picks in the NFL Draft: Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels.
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Garrett Nussmeier is the new quarterback aiming to have a strong season and, ultimately, to win the Heisman Trophy by the end of the year. He enters the season with the second-best odds to win the Heisman, trailing only Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.
On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” the SEC Network analyst stated that he believes Nussmeier has a strong chance of winning that historic trophy.
LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) runs the ball during the first half against the Baylor Bears at NRG Stadium.© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

“I think Nussmeier is positioned for potentially a Heisman season,” Finebaum said. “I don’t think the first game will determine that. I think games later on, perhaps against Alabama, will. But I have no doubt based on several interactions with Brian Kelly that he is ready for the season of his career.”
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Paul Finebaum Has Bought Into The Hype of Garrett Nussmeier This Offseason
Finebaum has expressed strong support for Nussmeier this offseason, stating that he is among the top two quarterbacks in college football heading into the season.
“I think we could argue all day on who the best quarterback in the country is, and in every argument, Garrett Nussmeier will be in there,” Finebaum previously said. “So will (Cade) Klubnik, and then you can add one or two more. But, if he comes out of this season as one of the two or three best quarterbacks in the country, then LSU is in the playoffs with a chance to do something really special.”
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Nussmeier delivered an outstanding performance last season as the starting quarterback, throwing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, which helped lead LSU to a 9-4 season.
Paul Finebaum Thinks LSU is a ‘No Doubt’ College Football Playoff Team
With Nussmeier as the starting quarterback and several returning players, Finebaum is optimistic about the Tigers this year.
“I like LSU,” Finebaum previously said. “I haven’t wrapped my arms around how far they can go, but I have no doubt this is a playoff team.”
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The Tigers are looking forward to the upcoming season, as they return 62% of their overall production, ranking 38th in the nation. In addition to Nussmeier, they are bringing back key players, including running back Caden Durham, who rushed for 753 yards and scored six touchdowns as a true freshman.
LSU has retained junior linebacker Whit Weeks, who led the team last year with 125 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss. The Tigers will also welcome back linebacker Harold Perkins, who missed most of the previous season due to injury. In his first two seasons, Perkins recorded 147 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.
The Tigers will kick off their season with an away game at the Clemson Tigers at 7:30 p.m. ET on August 30.
Related: Paul Finebaum Takes Subtle Shot at Clemson Ahead of LSU Showdown
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
