LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and Florida quarterback DJ Lagway suffered the same fate during Saturday’s college football slate.
Nussmeier was benched in favor of sophomore QB Michael Van Buren Jr. midway through the third quarter of LSU’s loss to Alabama. The Tigers’ offense had stalled against the Crimson Tide, mustering up just two field goals under Nussmeier in the 20-9 loss.
Lagway had an even worse performance as his Gators got smacked around by Kentucky 38-7 at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. Lagway went 11/19 for 83 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions, prompting Florida interim head coach Billy Gonzales to bench him at halftime.
Several fans took to social media after the twin benchings, with many talking about how such a scenario would have been unfathomable heading into the season.
Garrett Nussmeier and DJ Lagway benched within minutes of one another, imagine even uttering this in the preseason.
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) November 9, 2025
Lagway and Nussmeier benched on the same night. Imagine saying that in the off-season https://t.co/mycdymM0xh
— David Waters – Gators Breakdown (@GatorDave_SEC) November 9, 2025
Imagine saying in September that DJ Lagway and Garrett Nussmeier would both be getting pulled by interim coaches? Just shocking how their seasons individually have gone.
— Dan Morrison (@Dan_Morrison96) November 9, 2025
Florida benched DJ Lagway and LSU benched Garrett Nussmeier – two decisions which felt unfathomable three months ago. That's the brutality of the SEC slate, and what injuries can do to a quarterback's ability to perform.
— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall) November 9, 2025
Both quarterbacks should have better days moving forward,…
Imagine telling someone before the season that Garrett Nussmeier and DJ Lagway would both get benched (on the same night as well)
— Cole Heinrich (@ColeH1014) November 9, 2025
Florida and LSU entered the season as top-15 ranked teams, with Nussmeier and Lagway both being pegged as potential Heisman Trophy finalists. Neither the teams nor the players have lived up to their preseason expectations. LSU’s loss to Alabama dropped them to 5-4, while Florida’s record fell to 3-6 after losing to Kentucky
Last month, Florida fired head coach Billy Napier ahead of its matchup against No. 5 Georgia. LSU followed suit, firing Brian Kelly just weeks later. Nussmeier and Lagway both got benched by interim coaches during what was meant to be a banner season for their respective school programs.
