Booger McFarland questions if LSU defense can step up in 2025

Booger McFarland believes LSU’s offense, led by Garrett Nussmeier, will turn heads in 2025. It’s the defense he’s worried about heading into a new campaign.

There are national championship expectations in Baton Rouge. McFarland doesn’t want to see that derailed due to a shoddy unit on the defensive side of the football. He voiced his concerns on Twitter (now known as X) on Friday.

LSU has a really good roster The biggest question mark isnt talent it’s mindset. You have to be able to run the football and stop the run/rush the passer. Football is a physical hit someone in the mouth game. Can/will they do that ? Biggest question for my tigers

— Booger (@ESPNBooger) August 22, 2025

“LSU has a really good roster,” McFarland posted on X. “The biggest question mark isn’t talent, it’s mindset. You have to be able to run the football and stop the run/rush the passer. Football is a physical, hit someone in the mouth game. Can/will they do that ? Biggest question for my tigers.”

There’s certainly talent on defense, but whether or not they can shine through and match LSU’s offense remains to be seen. If the Tigers want to reach their full potential in 2025, that’s going to have to be the case for Brian Kelly’s squad.

Meanwhile, McFarland isn’t the only former Tigers star watching the team closely heading into 2025. In an interview with On3’s Brian Jones, New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers was asked about LSU’s expectations for the 2025 season.

“I would say they’re going to surprise a lot of people,” Malik Nabers told On3. “They got Garrett [Nussmeier], that’s my quarterback. I’ve been knowing him since my freshman year, so I’m excited to see his last year him perform out there. And I heard from Coach [Cortez Hankton Jr.], they added a few good guys from the transfer portal, that’s going to help them win some games this season.

“So I’m very excited to see how those guys are going to put it together. Hopefully, they do great things this season.”

Alas, LSU enters the 2025 season with high expectations, as the team is ranked No. 9 in the first AP poll of the season. Following the 2025 SEC Media Days, the media projected LSU to finish fourth in the SEC. 

Nabers mentioned Nussmeier being his quarterback, and it looks like the media likes him as well. Nussmeier was selected to the All-SEC Second Team along with running back Caden Durham and wide receiver Aaron Anderson. On defense, where McFarland’s concerns have been well stated, linebacker Whit Weeks was selected to the All-SEC First Team, and linebacker Harold Perkins was named to the Second Team.

Time will tell how high LSU can reach this season. We’ll find out in short order if they can handle the big boys, as they play a rejuvenated Clemson team in Week 1. Booger McFarland, Malik Nabers and many other former Tigers will be ready for that one.