The low point of Brian Kelly’s 38 games as head coach at LSU came in Gainesville two weeks ago, with a third consecutive loss and two heated sideline exchanges with his players.
The first sideline interaction looked familiar: Kelly got in the face of wide receiver Chris Hilton with a stern lecture that featured a couple of expletives. The second was different: Kyren Lacy, the team’s leading receiver, seemingly startled Kelly when he yelled at his coach after another failed LSU possession.
The loss to Florida snapped Kelly’s string of seven straight seasons with at least 10 wins, dating back to his time with Notre Dame, and feels indicative of larger issues at LSU. It’s difficult to look toward 2025 and project a significant turnaround for the Tigers — especially after five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped his verbal commitment from LSU to Michigan late last week.
Kelly’s first season included an SEC West title and win over Alabama, and his second featured a Heisman Trophy winner and 10 victories. But the Tigers (7-4) head into their regular-season finale against Oklahoma playing out the string on a disappointing year.
“It’s just not up to the standard. It’s been patchwork,” a person long affiliated with LSU football said.
Almost three full seasons after Kelly made the audacious decision to leave Notre Dame to chase a national championship at one of the SEC’s most volatile superpowers, it remains to be seen whether he fits the job and can effectively recruit and coach the players the Tigers need to reach that goal.
The low point of Brian Kelly’s 38 games as head coach at LSU came in Gainesville two weeks ago, with a third consecutive loss and two heated sideline exchanges with his players.
The first sideline interaction looked familiar: Kelly got in the face of wide receiver Chris Hilton with a stern lecture that featured a couple of expletives. The second was different: Kyren Lacy, the team’s leading receiver, seemingly startled Kelly when he yelled at his coach after another failed LSU possession.
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