Michael Van Buren is getting another shot to run an offense, and this one comes with a fresh start at South Florida.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that USF has named the former LSU quarterback its starter for 2026. It’s the latest turn in a fast-moving college career that has already taken Van Buren from Mississippi State to LSU and now to his third school in three years.
Van Buren’s path to this point has been anything but steady. He opened his career at Mississippi State in 2024, then moved on to LSU for the 2025 season. That year, he was thrust into the starting job after Garrett Nussmeier battled an injury and was eventually shut down.
Once in the lineup, Van Buren produced solid numbers in limited time. He threw for 1,012 yards and eight touchdowns against just two interceptions. The production came with some clear limitations, though, as LSU’s passing game never really found a big-play gear and Van Buren averaged 6.7 yards per attempt.
His earlier work at Mississippi State showed a different sample size. In 2024, he completed 54.7% of his passes for 1,885 yards and 11 touchdowns.
LSU had brought Van Buren in with the idea that he could eventually replace Nussmeier, but that plan disappeared once Brian Kelly was fired and the roster changed.
Now he lands at USF, where first-year head coach Brian Hartline is trying to keep the momentum going after Alex Golesh built it in Tampa. For Van Buren, it’s another chance to start, and another chance to reset the conversation around his career.
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LSUs Running Back Battle Just Took A Turn Fans Didnt Expect
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A recent full-contact scrimmage offered a fresh look at how the staff is evaluating the position, with Durham getting first-team work and breaking off some notable runs even as Dilin Jones opened the day as the No. 1 back. Jones did not return to the scrimmage, and LSU also continued sorting through other lineup tweaks, including changes along the second team and a safety spot where Jhase Thomas was working ahead of Tamarcus Cooley. [Read more 🡒]