The excitement surrounding the opening of the Louisiana high school football season is palpable, particularly with the highly anticipated quarterback duel between Knox Kiffin and Colton Nussmeier. This matchup not only features two talented players but also showcases two of the most recognizable names in Louisiana football.
Knox Kiffin, a three-star quarterback and son of LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, is set to make his debut for LSU Laboratory School, commonly known as U-High. Kiffin transferred from Oxford High School in Mississippi after his father took the helm at LSU. During his time at Oxford, he demonstrated his prowess as a quarterback, completing 67 of 114 passes for 1,236 yards and 14 touchdowns against just two interceptions. His performance played a crucial role in leading the Chargers to the Class 7A state semifinals.
Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 180 pounds, Kiffin has already attracted attention from several Power Five programs, including Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and California. The upcoming game on Friday, September 4, against Archbishop Rummel marks a significant moment for Kiffin and his family, as it coincides with Lane Kiffin's first game as head coach of LSU against Clemson the following day.
On the other side of the field will be Colton Nussmeier, a four-star quarterback and Georgia commit, who is eager to showcase his skills for Archbishop Rummel. Nussmeier, the younger brother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, transferred to Rummel after being ruled ineligible to play at Denton Ryan High School in Texas. Last season, before a knee injury sidelined him, he threw for 1,390 yards and 12 touchdowns, with only one interception, while also contributing 278 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Colton's commitment to Georgia on June 5 came after he weighed offers from several prestigious programs, including LSU, Alabama, Indiana, and Auburn. His family legacy in football is notable; his brother Garrett previously led LSU as their starting quarterback, and their father, Doug Nussmeier, is the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints and has a history as an NFL quarterback.
U-High enters this season after a successful 2025 campaign, finishing with a record of 10-3, although they did suffer a loss to Archbishop Rummel. This season, Kiffin will be joined by another transfer from Oxford, wide receiver Kevin Smith Jr., who had an impressive season last year with 783 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The Cubs have also added talented running back Caiden Bellard, who rushed for 1,532 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, further bolstering their offensive lineup.
Archbishop Rummel, meanwhile, is coming off an 8-5 season and looks to build on its success. They kicked off their preseason with a strong performance, defeating St. Paul’s 35-17 in their jamboree, overcoming a halftime deficit thanks to a combined 250 rushing yards from running backs Jaden Terrance and Coryan Hawkins. The Raiders have a rich football tradition, with notable alumni including Ja'Marr Chase, who went on to become an All-Pro receiver with the Cincinnati Bengals.
The matchup between U-High and Archbishop Rummel is set for Friday, September 4, at 7 p.m. ET at the Cub Complex in Baton Rouge. As both teams look to start their seasons on a high note, all eyes will be on Kiffin and Nussmeier as they take the field in what promises to be an electrifying opening game of the Louisiana high school football season.
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