The Frank Wilson era at LSU is set to begin this Saturday, November 8 as the LSU Tigers battle the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. Wilson, LSU's associate head coach and running backs coach to start the season, takes over for Brian Kelly on an interim basis following his firing on October 26.
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Wilson is in his second stint at LSU. He first served as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator from 2010-15. He then returned to serve as Brian Kelly's associate head coach and running backs coach in 2021. Now, he gets his turn to lead the program.
Frank Wilson saying all the right things leading up to LSU vs Alabama
Wilson takes over an LSU Football program that is at a crossroads. The firing of Brian Kelly sent shockwaves through the college football world, and the following events haven't settled the situation down. Governor Jeff Landry's comments added fuel to the fire, and LSU and athletic director Scott Woodward have decided to part ways. There's a lot of distractions for Wilson and company as they prepare for Kalen DeBoer and Alabama, but Wilson is saying all the right things in his first weeks on the job.
"I think we're prepared for this moment."
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) November 4, 2025
Frank Wilson's first assignment as the @LSUfootball interim head coach is a difficult one at No. 4 @AlabamaFTBL. But #LSU hopes to rally around Wilson with a new energy in Tuscaloosa. pic.twitter.com/wQLHslyMTd
"I like our football team. I think we're a talented football team. I think we have the potential to be a good football team, and I think Saturday night will give us an opportunity to put all those things together, to play our best football yet," said Wilson.
"I think we're prepared for this moment. I'm prepared for this moment to lead our football team, to lead our university to a better place than what we're currently in right now. I think right now our team is improving. I think we're better a better team today than we were last week simply because the players have bought in to the things that we're trying to accomplish."
Going up against No. 4 Alabama is no easy task for Wilson's first game as LSU's interim head coach. The Crimson Tide are on a major roll right now having won seven consecutive games. Junior QB Ty Simpson has thrown 20 touchdowns to just one interception on the season, and is looking like a legitimate Heisman contender. After facing Alabama this weekend, Wilson will lead the Tigers in games against Arkansas on Nov. 15, Western Kentucky on Nov. 22, and at Oklahoma on Nov. 29.
LSU fans are hoping that Wilson's role as the interim head coach injects new life into the Tigers. LSU lost 3 of its last 4 games with Kelly at the helm, with his final loss in Baton Rouge coming in an embarrassing 49-25 defeat to the Texas A&M Aggies in Death Valley. Kick-off between the Tigers and Tide is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium.