Garrett Nussmeier picked up one final collegiate honor.
Nussmeier, who was the starting quarterback for the American squad, was selected as the MVP of the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. The American Team defeated the National Team, 17-9, at the 77th annual all-star contest held inside Hancock Whitney Stadium.
The former LSU star quarterback was more than 100-plus prospects that took part in the annual event, in which the two all-star teams were coached by NFL coaches, and where scouts, coaches and general managers of each NFL franchise were there watching all week.
Nussmeier was one of four LSU players that took part in this year’s Senior Bowl. The others were wide receivers Aaron Anderson, Barion Brown and Chris Hilton Jr.
Nussmeier earned game MVP honors after leading touchdown drives on the American Team’s first two possessions and connecting on 5-of-8 passes for 57 yards. He also had a rushing TD and a two-point-conversion throw to Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields.
Nussmeier was credited with one interception, but it was ball that was dropped by Wyoming tight end John Michael Gyllenborg and fell into the hands of a Nebraska’s Deshon Singleton.
The MVP performance capped a tremendous week for Nussmeier who had a disappointing and injury-shortened season or the Tigers. Nussmeier, who entered the 2025 season as a Heisman Trophy candidate and projected first-round pick, completed 67.4 percent of his passes but only threw for 1,927 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.
The 2024 season, his first as a starter, Nussmeier completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
With Nussmeier being named Senior Bowl MVP, the last two MVPS of the game, were both members of Ed Orgeron’s final recruiting class at LSU. The 2025 MVP was former St. Thomas More star Jack Bech, who began his career at LSU.
