| What made Garrett Nussmeier decide to defer his life-long ambition to play in the NFL for one more year? In the final equation, it was pretty simple. "I feel like it wasn't as consistent as I wanted it to be," the LSU quarterback said Friday in his first talk with reporters since his decision to return to the Tigers in 2025. "And I feel like that there's a whole other level that I could tap into." Comparisons with former LSU Heisman Trophy winners Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels and their meteoric rises from year one to year two as the Tigers' starting quarterbacks no doubt will be pinned on Nussmeier, fair or not. But expectations are what they are, and the fact his Nuss and the Tigers will be expected to be CFP and Heisman contenders in 2025 is something even LSU linebacker Whit Weeks talked about Friday. "We're going to win a championship next year," Weeks said. "I have a lot faith in Nuss. I think he's going to win the Heisman." To be a championship contender, LSU has had to make a major splash in both recruiting and the transfer portal. The hay is pretty much in the first barn, but the Tigers continue to make hay in the latter with Friday's addition of defensive tackle Sydir Mitchell of Texas. If you're eager to figure out where LSU stands, please click on our LSU transfer portal tracker anytime. Turning to basketball, the LSU women ran their record to 14-0 Thursday at the expense of Illinois-Chicago on the road in the Windy CIty, 91-73. It's great to lead the nation in total wins, but LSU coach Kim Mulkey is always looking for something more. Right now, she wants better defense and a dependable point guard as LSU heads into its Christmas break before its final non-conference game Dec. 29 against Albany. One of LSU's greatest ever, All-American center Sylvia Fowles, may soon be regarded as one of the best to play basketball anywhere. Friday it was revealed that she is on the list of nominees for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2025. LSU great and new assistant coach Seimone Augustus went into the Naismith this year. Finally, Burrow certainly knows how to get the men in his life something special they won't have for Christmas. Check out what, shall we say, exotic gift he gave his Cincinnati Bengals' offensive linemen. I'll bet none of them already own one, the key to any Christmas gift giving. Well, no LSU in the College Football Playoff, but please enjoy Saturday's CFP first-round tripleheader. We'll see you next week. Scott Rabalais | 