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Nick Saban explains why LSU is among his picks for 12-team College Football Playoff field
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Nick Saban has plenty of familiarity with the LSU program. He led the Tigers to a national championship in 2003 while posting a 48-16 mark in five seasons in Baton Rouge.
Fast forward to today, as the Tigers seek a first championship since 2019. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier takes the reins from Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels in hopes of an appearance in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
And it’s their passing game that will lift the Tigers to the Playoff, Saban said on ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday morning.
“I think Garrett Nussmeier is going to be one of the all-time sleepers in college football this year at QB,” he said. “LSU always has skill guys. They’re talking about all the receivers they lost — you could shake a tree in Louisiana and them guys would fall out.”
Nussmeier has big shoes to fill with Daniels now in the NFL, but as Saban noted, the LSU receiving corps has also lost significant production. Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas were both first-round picks in the spring, but the Tigers added grad transfer CJ Daniels, a 1,000-yard receiver at Liberty in 2023. Kyren Lacy and Chris Hilton are among LSU’s returnees along with tight end Mason Taylor.
LSU opens its season on Sept. 1 against No. 23 USC in Las Vegas.
Related: Want to bet on the Tigers this season? Here’s a bet365 Louisiana promo to get you rolling.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
