The search for LSU's next head football coach is now more than two weeks old. Brian Kelly was let go following LSU's embarrassing 49-25 loss to Texas A&M in Death Valley, and it's been a wild two weeks in Baton Rouge since then. But through all of the chaos, fans are still eager to see who LSU brings in to be the next head coach of the Tigers.
LSU coaching candidate heavily linked to a different SEC job
LSU hot boards have been circulating on social media since the minute Brian Kelly was fired. The most common names flying around include Lane Kiffin, Jon Sumrall, Joe Brady, and Kenny Dillingham, among others. One name also making the rounds as a potential Brian Kelly replacement is Eli Drinkwitz. However, LSU fans may be out on the Missouri coach after his latest comments.
LSU fans might be out on Eli Drinkwitz after CFP comments
According to On3, Drinkwitz is pushing back against the "playoff-or-bust" mentality when it comes to measuring success in college football.
"We gotta get out of this ‘Oh man, it’s playoffs or bust,' If the season only counts for 12 football teams, and we got 127 D1 football teams, that math’s not gonna math very well... There’s a whole heck of a lot to be proud of."Eli Drinkwitz
NEW: Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz pushes back on ‘playoff-or-bust’ mentality in college football:
— On3 (@On3sports) November 12, 2025
"We gotta get out of this ‘Oh man, it’s playoffs or bust,' If the season only counts for 12 football teams, and we got 127 D1 football teams, that math’s not gonna math very… pic.twitter.com/zHoekrMPqB
That's not exactly what LSU fans want to hear. Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Ed Orgeron all won National Championships at LSU by the end of their 4th seasons in Baton Rouge. Brian Kelly left LSU having never come close to a national title. Over 3.5 seasons, Kelly led the Tigers to just one appearance in the SEC title game and zero appearances in the CFP.
LSU has not made the College Football Playoff since 2019, and the fan base is starving to complete in the CFP as soon as possible. The bar is set high at LSU for a reason. The program is arguably the best job in all of college football because of the history, fan base, resources, and recruiting advantages in the SEC. The school dished out approximately $18 million to construct the 2025 roster, and that number will most likely increase over the next few seasons.
If Drinkwitz is hired by LSU and brings his "playoff-or-bust doesn't matter" mentality to Baton Rouge, it's not going to be well-received by the Tiger faithful. Drinkwitz's comments may sit well with Missouri fans, but LSU is a whole different animal. In the expanded 12-team playoff, there's no reason why the Tigers shouldn't be a National Championship contender every year.