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LSU Football: Top 5 concerns heading into the 2023 season

By Charlie Hubbard

Dec 3, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; LSU Tigers place kicker Damian Ramos (34) attempts a field goal against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; LSU Tigers place kicker Damian Ramos (34) attempts a field goal against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JULY 17: Head Coach Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers speaks during Day 1 of 2023 SEC Media Days at Grand Hyatt Nashville on July 17, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JULY 17: Head Coach Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers speaks during Day 1 of 2023 SEC Media Days at Grand Hyatt Nashville on July 17, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) /

No. 1 – LSU Football fans’ expectations are too high

My top LSU Football concern for 2023 is because of you and your expectations.

In all fairness, my expectations for the Tigers are just as high, and that’s a problem. I’m wondering, are we expecting too much from Kelly’s second season at the helm?

Brian Kelly stunned college football last year by leading LSU Football to the SEC Championship Game in his first season as head coach. He did such with a depleted roster, short offseason, and doubts he could recruit and win in the southeast.

Now, the expectations for Kelly’s Tigers are sky-high including a College Football Playoff berth.

Earlier this offseason, Kelly admitted his belief that the Tigers are at least a year away from contending for a national championship. Perhaps, the coach is more realistic than any of us regarding the LSU Football outlook for this year and the next.

Conversely, I think Kelly’s remarks might be in response to the second-year head coach aura that has consumed Baton Rouge.  Kim Mulkey and Jay Johnson led LSU’s women’s basketball and men’s baseball teams to national championships in their second seasons.

Thus, Tigers’ fans are expecting Kelly to follow suit.

There’s a lot of reasons for LSU Football fans to be excited for this season. The Tigers have a continuity advantage in the SEC and the preseason polls are reflecting doubt. LSU’s schedule is also extremely favorable including home games against Auburn, Arkansas, and Texas A&M.

Still, we should be careful to not adopt a doom and gloom attitude if LSU stumbles in 2023.  There remains other college football teams that are equally, if not more more talented on paper than LSU Football.

Indeed, the road to the College Football Playoff will not be a cake walk for LSU. We must expect bumps along the road as Kelly continues instituting an organizational culture that is very young.

Next. Garrett Nussmeier comments prove different from predecessors. dark

We want LSU Football in the College Football Playoff. But we must remain content and trust the process if the season only yields another 10 win season and bowl game win.

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