Following Notre Dame’s first championship game since 1988, head football coach Brian Kelly of LSU gets dragged into the mud.

Following Notre Dame’s First Championship Game Since 1988, Brian Kelly of LSU Gets Dragged into the Mud

The college football landscape has a history of significant coaching moves and their subsequent impacts, both on the field and in the court of public opinion. Among the most notable shifts in recent years was Brian Kelly’s departure from Notre Dame after over a decade at the helm, to take the head coaching position at Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2021. Fast forward to 2025, and while Notre Dame is celebrating its return to the College Football Playoff Championship Game for the first time since 1988, Kelly, now at LSU, has found himself at the center of criticism. His name, once synonymous with the Irish’s ascent, has become entangled in a conversation about what could have been, not just for Notre Dame but also for LSU and the wider college football world.

The 2025 season has been a rollercoaster ride for Kelly, especially with the backdrop of his former team’s historic run. As Notre Dame progresses into the national spotlight, Kelly’s tenure at LSU has been met with increasing scrutiny. The question on everyone’s mind is whether his departure has set back Notre Dame’s trajectory or whether Kelly is simply caught in the storm of expectations that come with being a marquee coach in a demanding program like LSU.

This piece delves into the complexities of Kelly’s move from Notre Dame to LSU, the aftermath of that decision, and the fallout from Notre Dame’s recent resurgence. As the Irish make their first appearance in the College Football Playoff Championship Game in over 35 years, the contrast between Kelly’s tenure at Notre Dame and his early days at LSU has fueled a significant amount of criticism. Were the moves that Kelly made beneficial for both programs, or has his transition left Notre Dame fans with the feeling of “what if”?

Brian Kelly’s Legacy at Notre Dame

Brian Kelly took over as head coach at Notre Dame in 2010, inheriting a program that had long been a powerhouse but had struggled to reach the heights expected of it in the modern era. Under Kelly’s leadership, the Fighting Irish experienced significant success, culminating in a national title appearance in 2012, where they faced off against Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. While the game itself ended in a crushing 42-14 loss, Kelly’s time at Notre Dame was marked by several achievements, including consistent 10-win seasons, frequent appearances in major bowl games, and a reputation as a solid recruiter.

However, despite the success, Kelly was often viewed as a coach who could not quite bring the Irish back to the promised land, with the national title in 2012 remaining their only championship appearance during his tenure. Under Kelly, Notre Dame achieved many accolades, including a 2018 College Football Playoff berth, but questions persisted about his ability to secure a national championship. His inability to win the biggest games, especially in the postseason, fueled doubts about his long-term fit at a school that prides itself on excellence.

When Kelly left for LSU in 2021, there was a sense of uncertainty in South Bend. While his tenure had been successful in many respects, it lacked the final, crowning achievement. The decision to leave Notre Dame for LSU left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Irish fans, especially considering that Kelly had expressed in the past that he was committed to Notre Dame. But the allure of the SEC, the riches of LSU’s football program, and the chance to return to the college football elite likely proved too tempting for Kelly to resist.

Kelly’s Transition to LSU

When Brian Kelly took the LSU job in 2021, he was stepping into a very different environment than he had known at Notre Dame. LSU, with its long history of success and rich recruiting grounds, was an attractive proposition. After the departure of Ed Orgeron, who led LSU to a national title in 2019, Kelly took over a program that had struggled to live up to its potential in the two years that followed.

In his first season, Kelly’s LSU Tigers posted a 10-4 record, which was respectable given the tumultuous state of the program, but not quite the level of success fans in Baton Rouge had come to expect. LSU fans were eager to see whether Kelly could replicate the same level of success at LSU that he had achieved at Notre Dame. Early signs were promising, but Kelly’s critics were already circling, pointing to the fact that he had failed to win a national championship at Notre Dame, despite his extended tenure.

The 2023 season brought mixed results for Kelly at LSU. The Tigers finished the year with a 9-4 record, and although they made it to a significant bowl game, Kelly’s team was often inconsistent, particularly on defense. This inconsistency did not bode well for LSU’s long-term trajectory, and Kelly’s critics were quick to point out that despite the impressive recruiting classes he had brought in, the on-field product had not yet delivered the kind of immediate success expected in Baton Rouge.

Notre Dame’s First Championship Game Appearance Since 1988

Meanwhile, back in South Bend, Notre Dame was quietly making a resurgence. The school, now under the leadership of Marcus Freeman, a former Notre Dame linebacker and defensive coordinator, was beginning to show signs of greatness. Freeman, who had replaced Kelly as head coach, inherited a talented roster but had yet to prove himself as a head coach on the national stage. However, by 2025, Notre Dame had silenced its doubters and was making its first appearance in the College Football Playoff Championship Game since 1988.

In his second year as head coach, Freeman’s ability to develop his team and recruit top-tier talent was evident. The Irish had posted impressive victories over top-ranked teams during the regular season, leading to their historic run to the title game. Notre Dame’s offense, led by talented quarterback Tyler Buchner, had been explosive, while the defense, now coached by Freeman’s staff, had been both tenacious and opportunistic.

Freeman’s success with Notre Dame quickly drew comparisons to Kelly’s tenure. Despite Kelly’s lengthy stay at Notre Dame, it was now clear that Freeman’s program, just a few years into its existence, had already managed to achieve what Kelly could not: return the Irish to the College Football Playoff Championship Game. Notre Dame’s long-suffering fans, who had yearned for a national title for decades, were now watching a new era take shape under Freeman.

The Fallout for Brian Kelly

Kelly’s departure from Notre Dame and the subsequent success of Freeman’s team created a scenario in which Kelly was suddenly under the microscope. The question of whether Kelly’s exit had prematurely cut short the Irish’s championship window became a hot topic. Kelly’s critics, particularly Notre Dame fans, began to openly question whether Kelly’s lack of a national title at the school was a result of his inability to take the program over the hump or simply due to bad timing.

While Notre Dame’s resurgence under Freeman is undoubtedly a testament to the program’s resilience, it also casts a long shadow over Kelly’s tenure. He had many opportunities to win big but was unable to secure the championship that fans had been clamoring for. In some circles, Kelly was now being seen as a coach who had reached his ceiling at Notre Dame, unable to push the team past the major hurdles it faced in big games.

For LSU, Kelly’s situation was similarly underwhelming. The high expectations that surrounded his arrival in Baton Rouge had yet to be fully realized. While LSU fans remained hopeful, the program’s inconsistency under Kelly, compounded by the growing success of his former team, led many to question whether Kelly was the right fit for LSU after all. His critics pointed out that, although LSU had landed impressive recruiting classes, the team still failed to perform consistently, especially in key SEC matchups.

Public Perception and Criticism

The public perception of Brian Kelly has shifted in light of Notre Dame’s resurgence. On one hand, his departure from South Bend to LSU was seen as a chance for him to build a new legacy and finally win the national title he had long pursued. On the other hand, as Freeman’s Notre Dame team competes for a national title, Kelly’s legacy at Notre Dame becomes tarnished by the fact that he was unable to achieve that ultimate goal.

Kelly’s critics have pointed out that despite his long tenure at Notre Dame, it took only a few years for Freeman to bring the Irish back to the national stage. This has fueled the argument that Kelly, for all his success, lacked the ability to get Notre Dame to the championship level. His critics argue that the Irish were closer to a title during his final years than Kelly might have realized, and his departure may have cost the program that final push.

At LSU, the pressure is mounting. Kelly’s tenure at the school is far from secure, and while it is still early in his career at LSU, fans and media are quick to point out that the expectations at LSU are immense, and the team has not yet returned to the heights of its past glory. With Notre Dame excelling under Freeman, the narrative of “what could have been” continues to linger, making Kelly’s tenure at LSU all the more scrutinized.