The 2025 season is a critical one for Brian Kelly. LSU has posted an overall record of 29-11 in three seasons under Kelly, with a 17-7 mark in SEC play. He's won three consecutive bowl games, but Tiger fans expect more than Citrus, ReliaQuest, and Texas Bowl victories in Baton Rouge. The last three LSU head coaches all won national titles by the end of their fourth seasons.
A lot is on the line for Kelly in Week 1 against Clemson. Kelly's performance at LSU has been highly debated during the offseason, and as he enters Year 4, he needs to put together a strong season. That all starts on Saturday.
What a win over Clemson would mean for Brian Kelly and LSU
It's well-documented that LSU is going through a rough patch of season openers. Kelly is 0-3 in season openers at LSU, and the Tigers have dropped five consecutive openers going back to 2020. Needless to say, the Tiger faithful are starving for a 1-0 start. Kelly has a massive opportunity to get under the good graces of LSU fans with a win at Clemson this Saturday night.
A win would not only get LSU and Kelly over the 1-0 hump, but it would put the entire country on notice that LSU is a legitimate National Championship contender. It would give LSU a top-five win in the first week of the season, which in turn, could signal to the college football world that the Tigers are off to the races in 2025. It won't be easy, but a victory over Dabo Swinney's squad would do wonders for Kelly's future at LSU.
What a loss to Clemson would mean for Brian Kelly and LSU
Another 0-1 start would sting. A potential loss to Clemson in the season opener won't end LSU's hopes of making the College Football Playoff, but it would sure feel like it. In the first season of the 12-team playoff, Ohio State suffered two regular season losses before going on a championship run. In three seasons under Kelly's leadership LSU has yet to qualify for the CFP and has appeared in the SEC Championship Game just once. After an 8-4 regular season in 2024, the time is now for Kelly.
Dropping three consecutive openers signals that Kelly hasn't been able to properly prepare his team. Missed opportunities, sloppy play, and untimely penalties have been the cause of frustration among Tiger fans in Week 1 games the past three seasons. If LSU does fall short on Saturday, many LSU fans and national media members will be questioning if Kelly is right for the job. Paul Finebaum has already stated that he believes Clemson will beat LSU and that the loss will make life "very miserable" for Brian Kelly. It's a bit of an unfair prediction, as LSU is taking on a top-five team and National Championship contender on the road. But in the end, Kelly is paid $9 million per year to win these types of games.