LSU could be in line for a big 2025 season. Led by returning starters Garrett Nussmeier, Aaron Anderson, and Caden Durham, the LSU offense could be lethal this season. The defense brought in several highly-touted transfers, as well as five-star CB recruit DJ Pickett. All in all, Tiger fans have a lot to be excited about heading into a massive Week 1 matchup against Clemson.
But there is still a lot we don't know about the 2025 LSU Tigers. With that in mind, here are the biggest unknowns for Brian Kelly's squad this season.
1. How good will be offensive line be?
The LSU offensive line will look a lot different this season. Will Campbell, Emery Jones Jr., Miles Frazier, and Grant Dellinger were all selected in April's NFL Draft, leaving Brian Kelly and his staff with a lot to replace. They will rely on several young returners including Tyree Adams, Paul Mubenga, Coen Echols, Weston Davis, Carius Curne, DJ Chester, and Ory Williams. They also brought in C Braelin Moore from Virginia Tech and RG Josh Thompson from Northwestern. Kelly has stated that it's likely to see all of these players on the field at some point this season. There's been a lot of mix and matching on the offensive line during Fall Camp, so it will be interesting to see how the lineup shakes out.
LSU's success this season will be directly related to how the offensive line performs. A lot will be expected of the offensive line group as LSU's skill-position players on offense have the potential to put up big numbers. They'll have to be ready from the jump, as Clemson owns a daunting pass rush that could very well be the best in the nation. It will be a serious test for a new-look Tiger O line, and giving Garrett Nussmeier time to operate will be vital.
2. How improved will the secondary be?
The Tiger defense needs to take a big step forward this season if LSU wants to complete for an SEC Championship and national title. The 2023 season was a historically bad one for LSU's defense, and while things were a bit better last season, it still wasn't enough to get the job done.
Last season, LSU had the third-worst scoring defense in the SEC, as the Tigers allowed 23.4 points per game. They also ranked 11th in the conference by allowing 364.4 yards per game to their opponents. Timely stops were hard to come by, which put the offense in tough situations on a weekly basis. That can't be the case in 2025.
But help is on the way. Brian Kelly and his staff hit the transfer portal hard for defensive reinforcements. Headlining the transfer class is CB Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech), S A.J. Haulcy (Houston), DE Bernard Gooden (South Florida), and S Ja'Keem Jackson (Florida). Along with returners Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins Jr., hopes are high for a better defensive performance in 2025. There's a long way to go, but the potential is there.
3. Can the offense start fast?
LSU hasn't won a season opener since 2019. The Tigers have started 0-1 in five consecutive seasons, in large part because of slow starts from the offense. Last year's opener was especially frustrating, as LSU wasted several opportunities and scored just 20 points against USC. Their opening drive of the game resulted in a turnover on downs at USC's 3-yard line, and as the game progressed, nothing came easy for Nussmeier and company. A faster offensive start would do wonders for LSU's chances at picking up a win over Clemson in Week 1.
The return of Nussmeier is massive, and the returns of Anderson and Durham give the LSU offense a lot of experience to lean on early in the season. Wide receivers Chris Hilton Jr. and Kyle Parker are also back, and transfer additions such as WR Nic Anderson, WR Barion Brown, WR Destyn Hill and TE Bauer Sharp give Nussmeier plenty of weapons to choose from.
The Tigers will have to figure things out quickly, as Clemson isn't the only tough matchup on the schedule early in 2025. LSU also faces Florida and travels to Ole Miss in the first month of the season. They then battle South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M all before Halloween.