LSU’s season has reached an uneasy crossroads. What began with promise and playoff chatter has shifted into frustration and doubt. The Tigers’ loss to Vanderbilt has reopened familiar wounds and reignited questions about whether Brian Kelly can truly capture the soul of Baton Rouge football.
The expectations at LSU are relentless. Championships are the standard, not the dream. And when those expectations fade, patience wears thin.
Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back in his recent assessment of the Tigers’ situation. He described the growing disconnect between Kelly and the LSU fanbase as a difficult dance that’s becoming harder to sustain.
Finebaum believes LSU isn’t simply losing games, they’re also losing confidence and it can become really tricky to tackle for Kelly. Fans who were once cautiously optimistic now find themselves wondering what direction the program is truly heading.
“This is not losing to a Vanderbilt team of the past,” Finebaum said. “This was a game everyone expected Vanderbilt to compete in. They were favored, all the things that really don’t matter. But it’s still hard to sell an LSU fanbase on where they are right now.” (From 3:30)
For Kelly, who arrived with the promise of stability and discipline, the optics are brutal. Two SEC losses have placed the Tigers on the fringe of contention, and the remaining schedule is unforgiving.
LSU fans expect dominance, and anything short of that feels like failure. Kelly’s resume may speak for itself, but results in Baton Rouge speak louder. With Alabama, Texas A&M, and others still ahead, LSU has little margin for error.
From here, winning games is just part of the problem for Kelly. He needs to win the confidence of fans and the program for his own future.
Brian Kelly’s LSU Has a Tough Road Ahead
LSU started the season with a win over Clemson. In the following weeks, they dominated LA Tech, Florida, and SE LA. Referring to their start of the season, Finebaum said the team once looked like they could afford to lose three games.
However, a lot has changed since they lost to Ole Miss in Week 5. Finebaum believes that the Tigers cannot afford to lose any more games. But they have some tough competition coming up and it won’t be easy to win against them.
“I’m sure Brian Kelly would not be happy that you ruled him out of the Playoff, but they’re working pretty hard on knocking themselves out of the Playoff,” Finebaum said. “If you don’t think this weekend might do it, then consider that trip to Tuscaloosa in about three weeks.”
The Tigers will face Texas on Saturday and the following week, they’ll travel to Alabama to face the Crimson Tide.
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