Click here to view Monday’s press conferences at SEC Media Days.
ATLANTA — Thirty-eight victories in four college football seasons should be cause for celebration.
At LSU, it may be cause for cancellation. Or at least calls for cancellation.
Coach Brian Kelly has been good in Baton Rouge. Real good. The Tigers are 29-11 in three seasons under him.
However, there have been no championships and no playoff appearances. That’s like gumbo without andouille sausage. No real Louisianan will stand for such nonsense.
“Our goal is to win the national championship,” star linebacker Whit Weeks said on Monday at SEC Media Days. “I truly believe we have the roster, the leaders and the work ethic to get that done this year.
“We play at LSU. LSU needs to be in the playoffs, and we need to be national champions at the end of this year. That’s what we go in there and work for every single day.”
So, another good year — say, nine wins — without a championship or playoff appearance likely means this time next year, Kelly will be on the hottest of hot seats.
That may seem unfair. But the three previous LSU football coaches — Nick Saban, Les Miles and Ed Orgeron — all won national championships within their first four years on the job.
Kelly is approaching his fourth season. Expectations are high. Demands are high. Frustration levels will be higher if LSU again settles for a consolation prize bowl game. He’s not getting $9.2 million this season to be good.
Fortunately for Kelly, LSU could be much better than good.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is hailed as a Heisman Trophy contender. The receiving corps is flushed with speed-burners. Sophomore Caden Durham could be among the SEC’s best running backs. Heralded linebacker Harold Perkins will be back in the lineup after sitting out much of last season with a torn ACL.
Also, Kelly at least appears to be optimistic about the areas in which LSU seems vulnerable — the offensive line and defense.
Four offensive linemen starters from last season were taken in the NFL draft. All-American tackle Will Campbell was the fourth overall selection.
Still, Kelly indicated the O-line won’t be an issue in 2025.
“We have been grooming some players for their chance and their opportunity,” he said. “You remember I started Emery (Jones) and Will (Campbell) as true freshmen in the SEC, and they held their own. We think we have gone a step further, that we don't have to start a true freshman this year, but guys we developed.”
Also, transfer portal additions Braelin Moore (Virginia Tech) and Josh Thompson (Northwestern) enhance the outlook.
“I'm bullish on our offensive line,” Kelly said. “I think we're going to be able to produce the kind of things necessary to be a championship team.”
Maybe. But can the same be said for defense? Last season, the Tigers were No. 14 in the SEC in scoring defense. South Carolina scored 33 points on them. Texas A&M had 38. Alabama rolled up 42.
Kelly said the defensive problems have been addressed through recruiting and the transfer portal.
“I love our roster, our team, the camaraderie of the group, the seriousness and the focus, intent,” he said. “So, I think we’re going to have a defense that's going to be representative.”
It had better be. If LSU doesn’t reach the playoffs, the heat on Kelly will be intense next year.
Another merely good season won’t be celebrated.
To be clear: 8-4 over three years is 24-12 without bowl games. 27-12 with wins…Detmersdislocatedshoulder said:
couple of things, i do think corn dog should be pretty good this year. they are one of just a few sec teams returning their quarterback. defense shoud be better if offensive line can gel they should be a good team
man i hope some day we get to the point where we feel like 29-11 over three years wasn't good enough.