SEC analyst Cole Thompson dropped a bombshell 2025 College Football Playoff projection, with fans, coaches, and players talking. Released yesterday, via his X account, Thompson’s post-spring bracket prediction doesn’t just lay out a potential playoff field, but also comes with a pointed warning about two prominent head coaches: Penn State’s James Franklin and LSU’s Brian Kelly.
With the SEC continuing to dominate the sport and the expanded 12-team playoff format in play, Thompson’s bold take has set the stage for a season filled with high stakes and even higher expectations.
SEC Analyst Makes Bold Post-Spring College Football Playoff Pick
Thompson, a well-known SEC analyst, didn’t hold back in his latest College Football Playoff projection. His post on X features a 12-team field with a heavy SEC presence. Four teams from the conference cut: Texas, number one, Georgia, number eight, LSU, number six, and Alabama, number 10.
He predicts Texas will ultimately claim the national title, defeating Ohio State in the championship game after navigating a tough playoff run that included a semifinal win over LSU. The bracket also includes notable matchups like Penn State, number five, taking on Georgia in the quarterfinals, and Alabama facing Ole Miss, number seven, in the first round.
What makes his prediction stand out is not the teams he selected but the stakes he’s set for the two head coaches. He issued a striking warning that he will never believe in Kelly or Franklin again if he is wrong.
I’m ready for the comments:
And I will never believe in Brian Kelly or James Franklin again if I’m wrong….
My post-spring CFB transfer portal CFB Playoff projection. pic.twitter.com/kLTLPDkmAb
— Cole Thompson (@MrColeThompson) May 9, 2025
Brian Kelly’s LSU Journey: High Expectations, High Pressure
Kelly arrived at LSU in 2022 with a stellar resume, leading Notre Dame to two College Football Playoff appearances during his 12-year tenure. But despite his early success in Baton Rouge, winning the SEC West and reaching 10 wins in his first season, he is yet to break through to the playoffs with the Tigers.
As of this year, his record at LSU stands at 20-7, a solid mark that hasn’t silenced critics who point to his lack of a national championship. The last three LSU head coaches, Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Ed Orgeron, all hoisted the national title trophy, a standard he is still chasing.
James Franklin’s Penn State Challenge: Can He Finally Beat Ohio State?
On the other side of Thompson’s warning is Penn State’s Franklin, a coach who has been a polarizing figure in college football. He has been at the helm of the Nittany Lions since 2014 and has a career record of 88-39 at Penn State as of the end of the 2024 season.
KEEP READING: James Franklin: Penn State Does What 99% of Teams Can’t, Praises Their Updated Alignment
He has led the team to multiple New Year’s Six bowls, including a Rose Bowl win over Utah in 2023, but his postseason record remains a sticking point. Penn State has gone 1-4 in bowl games since 2019, and Franklin has struggled against top-tier opponents, notably Ohio State.
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