LSU football fans have high expectations for head coach Brian Kelly as he enters his fourth season with the Tigers. Despite a lucrative 10-year, $95 million contract signed in 2021, Kelly has yet to lead LSU to a College Football Playoff appearance.
Former Tigers legend and ESPN analyst Booger McFarland is among those calling for a resurgence in LSU’s national title contention. In a recent interview on “Andy and Ari On3,” McFarland emphasized the urgency for the Tigers to return to the national spotlight.
McFarland’s message to Kelly was clear: it’s time for action, not just imagination. He stressed the importance of success for the program and the players, expressing his loyalty to LSU and his desire to see the team thrive.
Despite the pressure mounting on Kelly, he remains supportive of his former team, Notre Dame. In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Kelly expressed his excitement for the Fighting Irish as they compete for the national championship. This show of support has sparked mixed reactions from fans, especially considering Kelly’s departure from Notre Dame in pursuit of a national title.
While Kelly’s tenure at Notre Dame saw some success, including a Championship Game appearance in 2012, his move to LSU has yet to yield similar results. The Tigers finished the 2024 season with a 9-4 record and a Texas Bowl victory over Baylor, but the absence of a College Football Playoff berth is a glaring gap in Kelly’s coaching resume at LSU.
As LSU looks ahead to the upcoming season, all eyes will be on Kelly and the Tigers as they aim to break through and compete at the highest level. With quarterback Garrett Nussmeier leading the charge and a strong transfer portal ranking, there is optimism surrounding the team’s potential for success.
In the competitive landscape of college football, the pressure is on for Kelly to deliver results and fulfill the expectations set by the LSU faithful. Only time will tell if Kelly can lead the Tigers back to national prominence and silence the critics who doubt his ability to bring a championship to Baton Rouge.
