The loss to Florida snapped Kelly’s string of seven straight seasons with at least 10 wins, dating back to his time with Notre Dame, and feels indicative of larger issues at LSU. It’s difficult to look toward 2025 and project a significant turnaround for the Tigers — especially after five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped his verbal commitment from LSU to Michigan late last week.Kelly’s first season included an SEC West title and win over Alabama, and his second featured a Heisman Trophy winner and 10 victories. But the Tigers (7-4) head into their regular-season finale against Oklahoma playing out the string on a disappointing year.
“It’s just not up to the standard. It’s been patchwork,” a person long affiliated with LSU football said.
Almost three full seasons after Kelly made the audacious decision to leave Notre Dame to chase a national championship at one of the SEC’s most volatile superpowers, it remains to be seen whether he fits the job and can effectively recruit and coach the players the Tigers need to reach that gThe Athletic spoke with more than a half-dozen people who have ties to LSU and Kelly for this story. Most were granted anonymity to speak candidly about how Kelly’s tenure at LSU has gone and whether the marriage can be successful.
LSU’s last three coaches — Nick Saban, Les Miles and Ed Orgeron — had all won national championships by the end of their fourth seasons in Baton Rouge. Kelly ran toward, not away from, that standard upon his arrival.
“I want to be in an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship,” Kelly said in the spring of 2022. “And I came down here because I want to be in the American League East,” a reference to the hyper-competitive Major League Baseball division that features the Red Sox and Yankees.oal.
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