Why LSU Football Benched Garrett Nussmeier for Michael Van Buren vs Alabama
Interim LSU head coach Frank Wilson made a key quarterback change during the game against Alabama, responding to what many fans had wanted.
Quarterback Change Decision
Midway through the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Wilson replaced senior Garrett Nussmeier with sophomore Michael Van Buren. This was Wilson's first game as LSU's interim head coach.
"As we discussed as a staff, we knew there could be opportunities in the quarterback run game," Wilson said. "(Alabama) would make it more difficult sitting in the pocket. We wanted to move (Van Buren) around and do some things. I thought that he gave us a chance to do those things. That went into the thought."
Impact on the Game
- LSU was trailing 17-6 when Van Buren entered with 6:26 left in the third quarter.
- He led LSU to a scoring drive after linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. forced a fumble on Alabama's quarterback Ty Simpson.
- The drive ended with a Damian Ramos field goal, closing the gap to 17-9.
- However, LSU scored no further points with Van Buren at quarterback.
Despite the effort, No. 4 Alabama held on to win 20-9, leaving LSU with a 5-4 record overall and 2-4 in SEC play.
Summary
The quarterback switch aimed to utilize a more mobile QB to challenge Alabama’s defense but ultimately fell short of changing the game’s outcome.
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