LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly has been lambasted plenty by the media due to his inability to carry the team to the CFP during his time at Baton Rouge. Kelly allegedly changed from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to LSU to stand a chance of winning the national title. This was also the goal the school set for him: to at least take them to the CFP.
Nonetheless, since arriving in Baton Rouge in 2022, he has only been able to scrape together 29 wins, including a couple of bowl victories. In contrast, his successor at Notre Dame, Marcus Freeman, took the Fighting Irish to the CFP final last year.
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CBS Sports‘ Adam Breneman believes 2025 will be a make-or-break year for the LSU coach. On Monday, he posted a short video to his Instagram account, saying:
“Brian Kelly just wrote a $1 million NIL check. Now, that means he has to win. Brian Kelly, head coach at LSU, is matching up to $1 million in NIL donations for his school. This is his most talented roster since he’s been in Baton Rouge. They just beat out Miami for All-Big 12 safety AJ Haulcy and added elite transfers at every level. And he still hasn’t made the College Football Playoff during his time at LSU.”
“The reality is that at LSU, 29 wins in three years is not enough. The three guys before him all won national titles. Right now, Brian Kelly’s trophy has a Citrus Bowl and a Texas Bowl. Again, not gonna cut it,” he added.
Breneman added that if Kelly doesn’t manage to at least carry the Tigers to the CFP in 2025, considering that he has a loaded roster which includes a potential first overall pick in Garrett Nussmeier, he will likely never make it big at LSU.
It’s also highly unusual for a coach to personally contribute to NIL funding, suggesting that Kelly is going all the way this season.
Brian Kelly’s LSU Tigers get hold of top-rated two-way starter Dezyrian Ellis
The LSU Tigers have gotten hold of Dezyrian Ellis, who is a top-ranked two-way prospect in the state of Louisiana. According to 247Sports, Ellis is a three-star prospect who’s ranked as the 22nd athlete in the nation and 12th in Louisiana.
Ellis plays quarterback and cornerback, and chose to play on the defensive side of things over playing quarterback with the West Virginia Mountaineers. Speaking with On3, the recruit explained his decision, saying:
“It’s a dream come true. It’s always been ‘THE school.’ By ‘THE school,’ I mean the school that me and everyone I grew up with wants to attend, the school that will change people where I come from’s lives.”
“I’m overly excited to receive an offer from LSU. As a kid growing up in Louisiana, you have no choice but to be an LSU fan,” he added.
BREAKING: #LSU has landed a commitment from the No. 2 ATH in Louisiana: Dezyrian Ellis.
The two-way star locks in a pledge with Brian Kelly and Co. after going public with a decision on Saturday.
Corey Raymond and the Tigers add him as a cornerback.
High upside addition. pic.twitter.com/xIho6uBKIz
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) June 28, 2025
This commitment is a significant win for Brian Kelly’s 2026 recruitment class, having beaten Tulane, Arkansas State, Houston, and, as mentioned above, West Virginia. The addition will bring flexibility to an already powerful Tigers roster.
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