On Monday Night, the 2024 College Football season came to a close and everyone turned their eyes toward the 2025 season. The offseason has been exciting for the LSU Football team as the Tigers have gone out and landed elite playmakers on both sides of the football making this a College Football Playoff caliber roster.
The Tigers now will look to make the College Football Playoff in the second season of the 12 team format. Given that LSU will be in Year Four of the Brian Kelly Era it truly feels like a Playoff or bust season to show that the team is headed in the right direction.
As LSU looks toward the 2025 College Football Season, there are five reasons the LSU Football team will make the College Football Playoff.
Garrett Nussmeier returns as possibly the best quarterback in the SEC
At points this season, it looked like Garrett Nussmeier may be headed off to the NFL as he was playing solid football while a ton of the other draft eligible quarterbacks struggled. Instead, LSU was able to get Garrett Nussmeier back for the 2025 season and it makes LSU an instant contender for the College Football Playoff.
In Joe Burrow's second season he went from completing 57.8% of his passes for 2,894 yards and 16 touchdowns and five interceptions to completing 76.3% of his passes for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns with 6 interceptions. Jayden Daniels saw the same jump as he passed for 2,913 yards and 17 touchdowns with 3 interceptions in his first season before passing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns with 4 interceptions en route to the Heisman Trophy.
Both took gigantic leaps and its unfair to hold Garrett Nussmeier to the same standard but, if he makes a similar yet smaller jump, the Tigers may have the best quarterback in the SEC. This season, LSU leaned on Nussmeier too much as the Tigers lacked a capable rushing attack but, in 2025 he'll have the Wide Receiver core to help him if LSU needs to rely on the passing attack.
Garrett Nussmeier has an arsenal of weapons at his disposal
As Garrett Nussmeier looks to make that second year jump like Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels did before him he'll have all the weapons he could ask for next season. Burrow had Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall, and Clyde-Edwards-Helaire at his disposal. Jayden Daniels has Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr, Kyren Lacy, and Mason Taylor to work with. Garrett Nussmeier may not have the elite of the elite but, he'll have players with the talent to reach that level.
The Tigers return a strong wide receiver core with Aaron Anderson, Chris Hilton Jr, Kyle Parker, Jelani Watkins, and Kylan Billiot all returning. The Tigers then used the transfer portal to land elite playmakers in Nic Anderson and Barion Brown who both have the ability to be 1,000 yard wide receivers in 2025.
At Running Back, LSU finally has the elite talents that we haven't seen in the past under Brian Kelly at LSU. Caden Durham is coming off of an emergent Freshman season where he broke big play after big play all while dealing with a serious foot injury. The Tigers add another Home Run threat in Harlem Berry who was the Top Running Back in this year's recruiting class. JT Lindsey was one of the best players in Louisiana and should receive some touches as should Kaleb Jackson who's the veteran of the room.
The Defense has the most talent its had under Brian Kelly
The issue under Brian Kelly has never been the offense as LSU has fielded elite offenses every season. The Tigers defense hasn't lived up to the LSU standard under Brian Kelly but, that should change in 2025. The defense will be under the second season with Blake Baker and after a year of experience everyone should improve within the system.
On paper, the 2025 team will have the most defensive talent LSU has had under Brian Kelly.
On the defensive line, LSU added Patrick Payton, Jack Pyburn, Sydir Mitchell, and Jimari Butler to a group that returns Jacobian Guillory, Dominick McKinley, Gabe Reliford, and Ahmad Breaux giving LSU a talented room up front.
Linebacker will be the strength of the defense as LSU returns Whit Weeks, West Weeks, Dahvon Keys, and adds a talented class of Freshmen. Harold Perkins also returns and will likely play a few roles including snaps at linebacker.
DBU Returns in 2025
Feeding into Brian Kelly having his best defensive group yet is the fact that LSU's defensive back room should finally be back up to standard. Corey Raymond returned to Baton Rouge but, by the time the defensive staff was hired it was too late for him to recruit players that fit his build at cornerback.
This year Corey Raymond was able to do just that signing the Nation's top cornerback DJ Pickett as well as bringing in transfers Ja'Keem Jackson and Mansoor Delane at cornerback. Ashton Stamps returns after starting the entire season while PJ Woodland gained valuable experience at corner this year. The Tigers have legitimate players at the cornerback position and it will go a long way toward making this defense better.
The Tigers won't have veterans Sage Ryan and Major Burns back at safety this year as they'll start a new group. Jardin Gilbert returns for another season while playing with an injury all season and will likely retain his starting spot. The Tigers went out and added an elite transfer in NC State's Tamarcus Cooley who is an instant plug and play safety. The best thing for the room is Dashawn Spears and Javien Toviano taking the next step as it'll only bring competition to the room.
Joe Sloan improves in his second season as an offensive coordinator
It's no secret that this year wasn't the best showing from offensive coordinator Joe Sloan who replaced Mike Denbrock. By the end of the season, Brian Kelly was giving his input and helping out with the offense as the Tigers couldn't run the ball effectively. In his second season as offensive coordinator, Joe Sloan will have a much better understanding of what plays work and which one's he needs to do away with. The Tigers improved playmakers will certainly make his job much easier and the offense should run smoothly.