Skip to main content
LSU
Join Now

LSU makes change at quarterback in game vs. Alabama

On3 imageby: Matthew Brune3 hours agoMatthewBrune_
NCAA Football: Southeastern Louisiana at Louisiana State
Sep 20, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (18) congratulates LSU Tigers quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. (11) on a touchdown run against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Michael Van Buren has entered the game for LSU at quarterback.

LSU’s offensive issues have persisted all year and Garrett Nussmeier has been unable to mask them and at times has contributed to the inconsistencies. On Saturday night, the Tigers made the switch and put in the sophomore quarterback.

Garrettt Nussmeier can re-enter the game, but at the moment has 121 yards on 18-of-21 passing with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. Interim head coach Frank Wilson said earlier this week that LSU was open to getting Michael Van Buren in the game and that opportunity has presented itself.

Wilson was shown on the broadcast lighting into Nussmeier after he took a sack on third down in the redzone.

“As far as the quarterback position? As I spoke about, Garrett is our starting quarterback,” said Wilson. “We do think that Michael brings some special things to the table that makes a defense have to defend him as well. And so, we’ll look at the opportunities that present itself to them, for us. And, when they present themselves, we’ll take advantage of it.”

In his first drive, Van Buren converted a pass for a first down, then ran for a first down that was called back on replay forcing LSU to punt.

Michael Van Buren bio

TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON (2024 at Mississippi State)
Started final 8 games at quarterback for the Bulldogs in 2024 … Appeared in 10 games completing 140-of-256 passes for 1,886 yards, 11 TDs and 7 interceptions … Added 5 rushing TDs … Named SEC Freshman of the Week after passing for 306 yards and a career-best 3 TDs against Georgia in week 5 of the season … First career TD pass came against Georgia … Threw a career-long pass of 72 yards vs. Georgia … Other 300-yard game came against Arkansas when he completed 22-of-31 passes for 309 yards and 2 TDs … Tied career-highs for completions (22) and TD passes (3) vs. Texas A&M … Had 8 TD passes over a 3-game span in games against Georgia (3), Texas A&M (3) and Arkansas (2) … Made collegiate debut in backup action vs. Eastern Kentucky … First career start came at Texas, completing 12-of-23 passes for 144 yards … Rushed for first career TD at Texas …. Accounted for 3 TDs (2 rushing, 1 passing) vs. UMass … Closed season with 280 passing yards and 2 TDs (1 rushing, 1 passing) vs. Ole Miss.

HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Baltimore St. Frances Academy under the direction of head coach Messay Hailemariam … Rated with 4-star by ESPN and Rivals … Considered a 3-star recruit by 247Sports and On3 … Rated inside ESPN’s Top 300 for 2024 at No. 58 … Played in the 2024 Under Armour All-American Game … Played a national high school schedule and guided St. Frances Academy to back-to-back top 10 finishes in the MaxPreps Top 25 in both 2022 and 2021 … Guided St. Frances to the 2022 national championship game against IMG Academy and was ranked as the No. 2 high school program in the country … In a win against eventual Texas 6A Division II State Champion DeSoto, Van Buren completed 13-of-20 passes for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns … After missing 4 games in 2023, Van Buren returned to guide his squad to wins in 5 of the team’s final 7 games … Earned All-Metro honors by the Baltimore Sun in 2022 after passing for 1,707 yards and 18 touchdowns to go along with his 125 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.