There are over a dozen teams in the mighty SEC conference—each a powerhouse, stacked with talent, cash, and passionate fan bases. Some are beloved, others despised, but one team is starting to stand out as the most hated. When national recruiting analyst Tom Loy asked, “Who do you have as a potential most hated team this year?” One answer immediately stood out—the 9-4 team. It’s not Alabama, where the GOAT left a lasting legacy. It’s not Shane Beamer’s South Carolina Gamecocks, either. Instead, it’s the Baton Rouge powerhouse, a program currently valued at $916 million.

The past few months have been quite wild for Brian Kelly and his $916M SEC giant. Between transfer portal exits, NFL Draft decisions, unexpected coaching hires, and a roster shuffle, the Tigers’ offseason has been chaotic. But now, with spring ball in full swing, the attention shifts to more pressing questions: Who fills the gaps left by key departures? What does the depth chart look like? Just as things begin to settle, one bold take from a national reporter has the potential to shake up the entire college football world.

On March 10th episode of The Ultimate College Football Show, analysts Brad Crawford, Tom Loy, and Smoke Dixon didn’t hold back. Brad Crawford answered Loy’s question without hesitation: “I’m going to go with LSU.” And he had plenty of reasons to back it up. “Because, you know, if Brian Kelly makes the playoff, we’re going to all hear about it in the media. He’s going to say that after every game. ‘I told you guys this was coming.'”

Crawford doubled down, reminding everyone of Brian Kelly’s bold promise: “He said last season, after they won the, I think, the Missouri game at the end of the year, ‘I guarantee this team is going to be a playoff team next season.’ And what have they done? They got the top portal class.”

LSU is loading up, and if they deliver on the hype, the noise will be impossible to ignore. With Garrett Nussmeier’s stock soaring, LSU is making sure to keep their guy. Holding a jaw-dropping $3.6 million NIL valuation, the Tigers’ QB is cashing in on his rising stardom. And Brad Crawford sees the bigger picture: “They went out and spent money that he did not have two years ago. They were doing the same thing, and they’re bringing back Garrett Nussmeier, a guy I consider one of the SEC’s top quarterbacks. So if LSU does make the playoff and Brian Kelly finally gets over the hill and wins a playoff game as the head coach, we’re going to hear about it.”

If LSU finds success, the hatred will only intensify. Fans and critics alike will point to their NIL spending, their aggressive recruiting, and their coach’s confidence as reasons to root against them. Love them or hate them, the Tigers are making noise. So, what’s actually fueling the growing resentment toward LSU? Smoke Dixon stepped in with a key question: “So, Brad, again, is it the player that’s hated, or we just can’t stand the fact that BK is actually winning a national championship at LSU?”

Brad Crawford didn’t hesitate: “I think for LSU it would be Brian Kelly.” Yeah, Brian Kelly’s arrival in Louisiana didn’t exactly win hearts. His awkward Southern accent, his memorable sideline moments, and his over-the-top confidence made him an easy target for memes. But all jokes aside, Kelly now has to prove himself. The time for talking is over—it’s time to bring results to Baton Rouge.

The Brian Kelly gamble

When Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU, he believed it gave him a better shot at the CFP. But after falling short, that gamble isn’t looking as great as he might have hoped. The frustration is real, and if LSU doesn’t make a statement soon, Kelly will face even more pressure.

But it’s not just about coaching—it’s about recruiting. Under Kelly’s leadership, LSU’s recruiting hasn’t become quite dominant as fans expected. If the Tigers don’t make the right moves, they could fall further behind their SEC rivals. And one of Brian Kelly’s most intriguing moves this offseason? His latest coaching hire.

LSU is rolling the dice again on defense, bringing in yet another new face to shake things up. This time, Kyle Williams steps in as LSU’s fourth defensive line coach under Kelly—a constant revolving door that’s becoming a trend. But Williams isn’t just any hire.

As a six-time Pro Bowler and former Buffalo Bills standout, Williams knows the trenches better than most. More importantly, he’s a familiar face—a key piece of LSU’s 2003 national title team under Nick Saban. Now, it’s his turn to revive the Tigers’ defensive front.

But here’s the biggest twist—Kyle Williams has never coached a day in his life. Taking on LSU’s defensive line will be his first-ever coaching gig. And with defense being LSU’s biggest flaw under Brian Kelly, Williams is walking straight into the fire. Sure, he has experience as a player, but coaching is a whole different ballgame. Developing talent, scheming against elite SEC offenses, and fixing one of LSU’s biggest weaknesses? That’s a massive challenge. Right now, this isn’t just a new hire—it’s a gamble.

While Kelly has missed the CFP three straight years, his Notre Dame successor, Marcus Freeman, just led the Fighting Irish to a national title game. That only adds to the pressure. Now, in 2025, Brian Kelly is banking on a 12-year NFL veteran to help him finally break through.

With a loaded roster, a high-profile quarterback, and a massive NIL investment, LSU has everything in place to make a run. But if they fall short again, the backlash will be brutal.