How LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier's 2024 stats compared to Joe Burrow's 2018 season
How LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier's 2024 stats compared to Joe Burrow's 2018 season
LSU football quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was solid in 2024. In his first year as a starter, Nussmeier led LSU to ranked wins over Ole Miss and South Carolina. When he was at his best, he dazzled with NFL-level throws.
But like there are for any year one starter, there were struggles. Nussmeier was inconsistent in late October and early November as LSU hit a three-game skid. The Tigers offense struggled coming out of the half at Texas A&M, and those struggles continued into the Alabama and Florida contests.
Nussmeier elected to return for his fifth year of college football and will be back in 2025.
The story isn't different from Joe Burrow's first year as a starter at LSU. Burrow's 2018 season had high highs, but there was room to grow. Burrow returned in 2019 and posted one of the best seasons we've ever seen. LSU fans are hoping a similar fate could be in store for Nussmeier.
Nussmeier ranks second in Heisman trophy odds, only trailing Texas' Arch Manning. Here's a look at how Nussmeier's 2024 season compared to Burrow's 2018.
Garrett Nussmeier's 2024 season vs. Joe Burrow's 2018 campaign
Stat Garrett Nussmeier (2024) Joe Burrow (2018) Completion % 64.0% 57.8% Passing Yards 4,043 2,890 Yards per Attempt 7.7 7.7 Touchdowns 29 16 Interceptions 12 5 TD/INT Ratio 2.42 3.20 PFF Pass Grade 81.3 79.9 Pressure-to-Sack % 9.8% 25.7% QBR 79.0 78.4 PPA/play .482 .372
The similarities are eerie. Burrow and Nussmeier both averaged 7.7 yards per attempt. The QBR ratings are separated by less than a point. The PFF passing grades aren't that different either.
Joe Burrow was better at protecting the football, with only five picks on the year. But Nussmeier's sack avoidance mitigates the turnover differences. Nussmeier's passing yards total is higher, but that's due to the style of offense and not the individual player.
These numbers are promising for Nussmeier's 2025 campaign.
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