“I want to be in an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship,” this coach had said in the spring of 2022 when made a transition to this SEC school’s football program from Notre Dame. “And I came down here because I want to be in the American League East,” a reference to the hyper-competitive Major League Baseball division that features the Red Sox and Yankees.

Sadly, the coach will enter his year 4, still searching for the right combination of assistant coaches and with a roster that looks like the initial stages of a rehash rather than one ready to contend in the toughest conference in the country. What went wrong?

Some said, his time spent coaching in the North and awkwardly trying his hands on a Southern accent — “my FAM-i-lee” at an introductory press conference was an indication that his long track record of success might not be replicated in the SEC school. On the other hand, some, familiar with the program and the coach, said his hands-off and at times detached management approach had not matched what was needed at the program.

So, 2024 saw the LSU Tigers being tamed, with their tails firmly between their legs. What began as a potential contender dwindled as the season progressed. 3 losses on the spin is almost an alien concept in Baton Rouge, let alone all of them to their fellow southeastern adversaries. One such stretch epitomized their year and marked the end of their ambitions. The iconic purple and gold yearns for a return to its lofty heights. The buck has to stop somewhere- and it happens to do so at head coach Brian Kelly’s doorstep.

Brian Kelly just can’t catch a break. The first 3 years of his tenure with LSU have not seen him break the proverbial glass ceiling which he was always short of at Notre Dame. While the Irish saw his successor take them to the Natty, Kelly concurrently traversed his first sub-10-win season in 8 years. When it rains, it pours. As if this wasn’t enough, the success of Jayden Daniels in the NFL has fueled the discourse about LSU’s underperformance with Brian Kelly. Coach Kelly has been deemed to be in sink-or-swim territory by many heading into next year. One SEC insider also concurs with this sentiment.

Braden Gall of 440 Sports and SEC Football Live guested on the “That SEC Football Podcast”. There, host Micheal Bratton asked him a hypothetical question. Which of the following three coaches- Steve Sarkisian, Mike Elko and Brian Kelly- will stay in their capacity the longest? The rationale needed to cover the entire spectrum, from leaving for the NFL to being fired. To this, Braden Gall showed no real hesitation.

“If you’re talking about who’s going to get fired first, Brian Kelly’s number 1 on the list. If you’re talking about who’s going to go to the NFL, it’s Steve Sarkisian…who could be there the longest? it might be Elko.” he said. “I think Kelly’s going to have to make some hay this year.” With that in mind, LSU continues to make changes in its staff lately, completely reshaping the roster after the disappointing 8-4 season.

The staff changes kicked off for LSU in early December as tight ends coach Slade Nagle left in December to become the Houston offensive coordinator. Since then things have continued to change, including four staff exiting the program in the last week. LSU reportedly chose not to retain two former Tigers players, Nick Brossette and JaCoby Stevens who were working in support staff roles. Brossette in alumni relations and high school outreach. Stevens as a recruiting assistant.

Paul Turner, another former LSU player, left his role as an offensive analyst to become a wide receivers coach with UNC Charlotte too. But in a bigger development, Bob Diaco, who had been demoted from special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach to “defensive analyst”, also left the program to join Bill Belichick at North Carolina. However, despite all the changes LSU’s recruitment spree has not stopped.

The Tigers currently have the number one overall Transfer Portal class in the nation with several new potential star players headed to Baton Rouge. Edge rusher Patrick Payton and cornerback Mansoor Delane passed up what would have likely been excellent shots at serious 2025 NFL Draft capital to transfer to LSU. A trio of explosive playmakers at wide receiver in Barion Brown (Kentucky), Nic Anderson (Oklahoma), and Destyn Hill (Florida State) have joined the fold in hopes of catching passes from the talented Garrett Nussmeier at quarterback. Two of the best offensive line transfers in the country committed to the Tigers.

While the Tigers are looking to bounce back, Gall also proceeded to share a similar view on Auburn HC Hugh Freeze. “[Huge] Freeze is absolutely at the top of the list [of people on the hot seat]. Because you never can predict Auburn,” he remarked. Auburn has had back-to-back below .500 seasons with Freeze at the helm. Another case of not living up to the reputation he came in with. Speaking of which, Micheal Bratton himself will attest to what his guest said. He laid a scathing indictment of Kelly’s LSU stint during the season.

“[Brian Kelly is a] fine coach, but they didn’t bring him down [there] to be a fine coach. They brought him down [there] to win national championships,” stated Bratton back when the Tigers’ season was spiralling out. “LSU [are] dead in the water. I mean, they’re about the 10th-best team in the SEC right now” There are some discrepancies here. LSU aren’t quite dead in the water. They’re wounded big time. However, there’s still life in these Tigers. Braden Gall himself thinks so, too.

Brian Kelly has no excuses not to challenge for hardware, owing to off-season activity

After Braden Gall agreed with the prevalent notion that Brian Kelly “needs to make some hay” this year and win over the fans and skeptics, he proceeded to say, “I think that they will.” Gall spoke about how LSU managed to bring back key components to the operation. Namely, defensive coordinator Blake Baker and QB1 Garrett Nussmeier. Nuss is currently one of the Heisman favourites, that’s what they’re working with offensively. Plus, he mentioned how they’ve done well during this portal window.

“I think LSU is a pretty dangerous team this year. They’re going to have to be better than, you know, an 8-4 type of regular season. But I think they will be,” said Braden Gall. The tools for a bounce-back year are there, in theory. The front office has provided Brian Kelly with the requisite help. Now, it’s down to him to make things work. He’s got the cushion of a $61 million buyout, but this safety net will dissipate quickly if results don’t match standards.

There are two kinds of elite-calibre coaches. Those who can stabilize a program that’s doing well or can build a program up to a certain stature. Then, there are those that can breach the top echelon. LSU is a program that demands a coach of the latter ilk. Unfortunately, Brian Kelly hasn’t quite showcased that so far. He’s outwardly said that he’s aiming for the National Championship this year. Whether he’s made a rod for his own back or will live up to these gaudy standards, we shall see.