Baton Rouge took a collective sigh of relief when QB1 Garett Nussmeier confirmed he’s foregoing the NFL draft to return for another year. Those of an LSU persuasion were fearing the worst as the walls were closing in on them. 3 straight losses down the stretch took them out of the playoff reckoning. Couple this with their embarrassing failure to land Bryce Underwood and the early signing period in December being an unmitigated disaster. Fortunately, things are on the up again for Brian Kelly and Co.

The Tigers have been wagging their proverbial tails as they prance through this offseason. Brian Kelly and LSU’s shortcomings have largely been offset via the transfer portal. They’ve got one of the top portal classes across the country. Now that the majority of their business has concluded, coach Kelly has addressed what the strategy was heading into the portal window. One that preceded a potential make-or-break season for his future at the program. Brian Kelly made his modus operandi very clear. He wanted to provide help to 2 individuals in particular.

Brian Kelly spoke with insider Matt Moscona of the “After Further Review: LSU” YouTube channel. When asked to sum up his thoughts and discern how the portal window has gone for LSU, coach Kelly said, “The big picture plan was to surround Garrett [Nussmeier] on offense [and] to give Blake [Baker] the pieces that he needs on defense to have a championship roster. I believe we did that on paper.” Nuss had some issues with his O-line and receiving corps. What hindered his performances and, by extension, LSU’s ability to put up points. They’ve addressed those with the likes of OL Josh Thompson and wide receivers Barrion Brown and Nic Anderson. 

Conversely, defensive coordinator Blake Baker also got the requisite help. Especially in the secondary, which was LSU’s Achilles heel in 2024. Ja’Keem Jackson and Mansoor Delane are proponents of this. Apart from this, Brian Kelly also dropped a bombshell pertaining to the NIL arsenal. Let’s just say there’s an influx of green into the iconic purple and gold.

Brian Kelly and his wife, Paqui, had announced something called the “Kelly Family Million Dollar Match Challenge.” In what was equal parts brave and generous, the couple pledged a donation of up to $1 million towards LSU’s NIL fund. It was supposed to match every dollar fans donate to the school’s collective, Bayou Traditions Football Fund. Turns out it wasn’t just $1 million that the fans conjured. An anonymous donor gifted an additional $1 million to the collective. This means the fund just got bolstered by as much as $3 million.

“I’m very appreciative of our fans and the generosity…it looks like we’ve met our goals. I couldn’t be more excited about that and the direction that allows us to continue to move relative to NIL,” said Brian Kelly. This is not a first when it comes to head coaches shedding personal money towards NIL. Mike Norvell did something similar, and to a greater extent, at FSU. Despite his success traversing the portal window, Coach Kelly remarked how he wasn’t happy with the direction he had to take in order to replenish his roster. 

Brian Kelly dissatisfied with how LSU had to build their roster out

As vital as recruitment from high school continues to be, it is not quintessential in the modern CFB sphere. In this era of evolution, another channel of opportunity has spewed up. Not only can the transfer portal substantiate shortcomings on the recruitment front. In fIn fact, it serves as an instantaneous solution for programs seeking a turnaround in their fortunes.s is evidenced by Colorado’s recent upturn under Deion Sanders, who’s leaned heavily on it. After Brian Kelly claimed he’s aiming for a Natty next season, LSU firmly fell in that category. They’ve achieved the outcome, but coach Kelly isn’t pleased this had to be how.

“I don’t want our roster to be built through the portal,” remarked Kelly. “I would like it to be topped off [using it]. This year was a little bit heavier.” While Brian Kelly would prefer to utilize the more orthodox methods of recruitment, he had to acknowledge the portal’s positive results. “We felt that we needed more depth and more experience across the [board] to be a championship roster. I believe that the portal has served us from that perspective,” he said. Different factions have different opinions of building through the high school ranks vs. the portal. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. 

Coach Kelly has been backed by the program full-fledged this off-season. A more prosperous 2025 is vital, and he’s going to need to make things work. He’s firmly in sink-or-swim territory. “This is an all-in year for LSU. In the same way that 2024 was an all-in year for Ole Miss and Ohio State…it’s a bit uncomfortable because when you look to 2026…you’re losing everybody. That’s true, but you’ll deal with that [when the time comes],” said Matt Moscona.