Things spiraled from bad to worse for Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers. Although a 9-4 record isn’t disastrous, that 16-27 loss to the Gators? A complete meltdown. And fans erupted on social media, calling it one of the worst, most inexcusable defeats of Kelly’s tenure. As the frustration was loud, many dubbed him the most overhyped coach in CFB. And others questioned his leadership, saying he lacked the spark to elevate LSU to elite status. Now, the heat is on as an SEC insider just dropped a bombshell—LSU’s shocking $38 million QB stance. And with that, Kelly faces a make-or-break ultimatum.

Well, on a recent episode of Locked On SEC, the conversation turned heated as the panel debated the most overrated coach in the conference. And one SEC insider, Corey Burton, didn’t hold back—he called out LSU’s Brian Kelly. But his reasoning? It spells trouble for Garrett Nussmeier’s future at LSU.

Burton laid it out bluntly. He said, “I’m gonna put out there Brian Kelly because he does a—he does not enough with all that talent he’s got. I mean, with Jayden Daniels, I feel like he should have been in the playoffs. Like, I feel like he just kind of loses three, four games every year and just kind of comes, you know, comes up short a lot. And I—I don’t know what he’s going on to do this year.” It reflects the $38 M QB is none other than Jayden Daniels.

However, Burton wasn’t finished, and he doubled down, adding, “Like I said, he could go 12-0 this year with the team he’s got coming back, but I just—I don’t know. He just seems to underwhelm every single time. Maybe I’m wrong. I don’t—I don’t know, but I’m going to say Brian Kelly.”

At the same time, another SEC insider, Chris Gordy, jumped in, backing Burton’s take. And Gordy stated, “Yeah, it’s an interesting one because he’s a guy who averages nine, ten wins a year. But yeah, I mean, you had the Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, but your defense was so historically bad.” As of now, with insiders questioning his ability to maximize talent, the pressure on Kelly is reaching new heights.

Consequently, on the other side, Nussmeier’s future at LSU is looking shaky. However, there’s no doubt he’s a standout QB, but the real question is—can Brian Kelly maximize his talent? Don’t know, but you know, one NFL team is already watching closely. Yes, the New Orleans Saints have their eyes on Nussmeier. And why wouldn’t they? He’s got a solid 78.2 QBR, ranking 14th, and he reads the field well. On top of that, his accuracy on short and medium throws makes him a dangerous passer.

But it’s not just about the QB—LSU’s offense has been a mess under Kelly, especially with its wide receivers. And given that an SEC insider, Steven Wills, didn’t hold back, saying, “And last year, they had two of the better wide receivers—some of the best wide receiver groups they’ve ever had—with Jayden Daniels as the quarterback, and they still weren’t able to hit those levels that they should have hit.” To be honest, that statement alone raises serious concerns about whether Nussmeier’s future is in the right hands.

But hold on—before crowning him the next big thing, does Nussmeier truly have all the qualities of a top-tier QB? That is the main concern.

Does Brian Kelly’s future QB1 have any problems?

Garrett Nussmeier has the talent, no doubt. But his deep passing? That’s a real concern. On top of that, his QBR on vertical throws sits at a brutal 21.6—ranking 117th in the FBS. It means stretching the field has been a struggle. And in 2024, he was one of the most polarizing QBs in CFB. Because while at times he flashed pure brilliance, then other times, his shortcomings showed up when it mattered most—especially in high-stakes games.

Remember, the games against Bama and Texas A&M, where he struggled with turnovers, are arguably the best examples. Yes, against the Aggies, Nussmeier’s nightmare unfolded—3 second-half interceptions, all turned into TDs, sealing a 38-23 defeat. On the other hand, his struggles carried over to Bama, where 3 more costly mistakes, including a brutal end-zone pick, left LSU reeling in a 42-13 blowout.

And considering that ESPN’s Matt Mille claimed, “Inconsistent reading the field and makes some late decisions that are backbreakers. I think his lack of size and inexperience would have really cost him when scouts dug in all the way on his tape.”

Not only this, Adam Breneman didn’t hold back. And he laid it out plain and simple. “Do I think he can put a team on his back and go win a National Championship when he’s forced to throw the football and forced to win the game with his arm? I don’t think so from what I’ve seen, and we’ve seen him make too many mistakes in some of the critical moments of games that have come back to hurt him,” said Breneman.

As of now, looks like tough words, but hard to ignore. So, let’s see what the quarterback does this season.