Kelly’s impact on LSU has been significant. In his first three seasons, he has led the Tigers to 29 victories, including back-to-back 10-win campaigns in 2022 and 2023, and a total of 17 SEC wins—trailing only Georgia and Alabama in that period. The Tigers have maintained strong recruiting momentum, recently securing their third consecutive Top 10 high school signing class and the nation’s top-rated transfer portal class, positioning the team as a contender for the College Football Playoff in 2025. LSU returns 14 starters from their Texas Bowl win over Baylor, a roster featuring All-SEC linebacker Whit Weeks and All-America candidate quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
Under Kelly, LSU has also made strides off the field, achieving a program-best 39 players on the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2024. The Tigers closed the 2024 season with a 9-4 record and a three-game win streak, capped by a Texas Bowl victory. Despite losing Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and first-round NFL Draft picks Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, LSU’s offense averaged 30 points per game and ranked seventh nationally in passing (315.2 yards per game) with Nussmeier at quarterback. LSU played 20 true freshmen in 2024, with all remaining on the roster heading into Kelly’s fourth season.
Kelly’s first year with LSU was historic. After inheriting a roster with only 39 scholarship players, he led the Tigers to a 10-win season and an SEC Western Division title, highlighted by Top 10 wins over Ole Miss and Alabama. The Tigers capped 2022 with a dominant 63-7 victory against Purdue in the Citrus Bowl. In 2023, LSU boasted the top offense in college football, leading the nation in scoring (45.5 points per game) and total yards (543.5), with Daniels accounting for 50 touchdowns and setting an FBS record for pass efficiency (208.0 rating).
Kelly, now the winningest coach in Notre Dame history and owner of a 313-108-2 career record, has guided teams to double-digit win seasons 12 times at the FBS level. His coaching stops include Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, and now LSU. Kelly’s programs are known for their strong academic performance and consistent bowl appearances, with 16 postseason trips in his career.
The Tigers look to build on their recent momentum, with Kelly’s roster development and recruiting efforts providing optimism for the future. As the 2025 College Football Playoff looms, LSU remains a team to watch in the SEC and nationally.
For more on Brian Kelly’s career and LSU football, visit the LSU Athletics official page and follow the latest updates from @LSUfootball on Twitter.