Could Alabama Face a New Quarterback When it Takes on LSU?

The Alabama Crimson Tide will face a familiar foe on Saturday when it welcomes the LSU Tigers on Saturday, November 8. Alabama defeated the Tigers last season in Death Valley, 42-13, when it faced the Brian Kelly-led Tigers.

Get our free mobile app

LSU will have a new man on the headset on Saturday, with interim head coach Frank Wilson taking over for the fired Kelly, who was let go after LSU's 49-25 loss to Texas A&M on October 25. The Tigers' starting quarterback is one Alabama saw last season, Garrett Nussmeier. In the Tigers' loss to Alabama last year, Nussmeier threw for just 239 yards and one touchdown, adding three turnovers in the blowout loss at home. Alabama will already have its hands full with facing a new head coach, but could the Crimson Tide's defense line up against a new quarterback as well?

It won't be immediate, with Wilson reiterating during the SEC coaches' call earlier in the week that Nussmeier is the starting quarterback, but he did acknowledge that transfer backup quarterback Michael Van Buren got more reps in practice, and could have an opportunity on Saturday against the Crimson Tide.

"Practice has gone well. Michael (Van Buren) has taken more snaps than he usually has," Wilson said on Wednesday, "again, I reiterate that Garrett (Nussmeier) is our starter. He will take to the field; he will get every opportunity to do the things that we think he can do to help our football team, and there will be opportunities that'll arise in the game that may present itself, that Michael will have opportunity as well. He's practiced really well; he understands that, in any moment, he may be called into action."

LSU's incumbent starter, Garrett Nussmeier, has completed 65.9% of his passes for 1,806 yards this season and 12 touchdowns (five interceptions). In 2024, in his first year starting for LSU, Nussmeier completed 64.2% of his passes for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns (12 interceptions). Nussmeier was the only returning SEC quarterback who threw for 4,000 yards during the 2024 season.

Michael Van Buren is in his first season with the Tigers after spending 2024 with Mississippi State. During his lone season with the Bullogs, he completed 54.7% of his passes for 1,886 yards and 11 touchdowns (seven interceptions). Van Buren was not the full-time starter for Mississippi State in 2024, taking over for injured starter Blake Shapen during Mississippi State's 45-28 loss to Florida.

So far this season for LSU, Van Buren has appeared in two games, completing 81.3% of his passes (13-for-16) for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He's also added 23 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Van Buren has only played in games after the result of the game is already in hand, making appearances in LSU's 56-10 win over Southeastern Louisiana and the Tigers' 49-25 loss to Texas A&M.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.