After a devastating four-loss collapse, LSU faces a formidable task to recapture college football’s crown, and Brian Kelly fights against overwhelming odds.

The 2024 LSU Tigers football season started with so much promise. After a strong 2023 campaign, which included a thrilling victory over Alabama and a top-10 finish, there was an air of optimism in Baton Rouge. Fans, analysts, and recruits alike had high hopes for what Brian Kelly could accomplish in his second season at the helm. However, after an utterly devastating four-loss collapse late in the season, LSU’s aspirations of reclaiming college football’s crown quickly turned to dust.

Now, with the 2025 season on the horizon, Kelly and his Tigers face an uphill battle to restore LSU to its rightful place among the elite programs in college football. The road ahead is filled with challenges, but if history has shown anything, it’s that Brian Kelly is a coach who thrives in adversity. But is it enough to overcome the overwhelming odds stacked against LSU? This is a program in turmoil, and its journey back to the top will require monumental effort.

The Road to Collapse: A Season of Broken Expectations

LSU entered the 2024 season with championship aspirations, a season after a near-miss playoff run. The Tigers were ranked highly in the preseason, and with key players returning—most notably quarterback Jayden Daniels, who had turned heads with his dual-threat ability—the foundation seemed set for a dominant year.

Unfortunately, the dream quickly unraveled. The Tigers faced multiple obstacles, including an unanticipated injury to Daniels and a series of high-profile losses in conference play. LSU’s defense, a traditionally feared unit under Kelly, became a glaring weakness, with struggles in both the secondary and up front. In particular, the defense’s inability to stop the run led to several key losses, including a brutal defeat to Arkansas and a shocking loss at home to Ole Miss.

These defeats punctuated a dramatic late-season slide that left LSU with four consecutive losses, the first time in Brian Kelly’s tenure at LSU that the team had suffered such a disheartening streak. The collapse felt even more damaging considering the talent LSU still had on paper. But in a competitive SEC, talent alone isn’t always enough. As the losses mounted, so did the questions about Kelly’s ability to lead LSU back to the promised land of college football.

The Tigers ended the season on a disappointing note, missing out on a New Year’s Six bowl and finishing with a record that didn’t reflect the lofty expectations set earlier in the year. For a program accustomed to championship glory, especially following the 2019 national title under Ed Orgeron, a four-loss collapse left a sour taste in the mouths of players, coaches, and fans alike.

The Odds Against Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly, in his second year at LSU, now faces the harsh reality of restoring a program that had begun to believe its own hype. The pressure is on him to rebuild the Tigers’ defense, find consistency at quarterback, and restore the team’s identity in the face of a rapidly evolving SEC. However, the challenges are many.

1. The SEC Gauntlet: A Tougher Path to the Top

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) remains one of the most challenging football conferences in the nation, with elite programs like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU’s cross-division rival Florida constantly competing for dominance. The task of navigating the gauntlet of SEC powerhouses while rebuilding a team is an immense challenge. In 2025, Alabama looks as strong as ever under Nick Saban, while Georgia has reasserted itself as a juggernaut with Kirby Smart at the helm. These two programs, among others, will be at the forefront of the national conversation, making the path to a national championship even more difficult for LSU.

Kelly faces an even tougher situation as he works to stabilize his roster and reassert LSU’s place in the elite tier of college football. The gap in recruiting between LSU and these other SEC powerhouses could grow even larger unless Kelly can out-develop and out-scheme his rivals. Recruiting in the SEC is an unforgiving endeavor, and LSU is in a constant battle to secure top-tier talent across all positions.

2. Quarterback Play: Finding Stability After Daniels

Jayden Daniels, who had been the face of LSU’s offense in 2023, was a revelation for the Tigers with his dual-threat capability. His arm strength, mobility, and decision-making put LSU in position to compete at a high level. However, Daniels’ absence or inconsistent play due to injury in 2024 left the Tigers scrambling for a reliable signal-caller. The quarterback position, which is often the difference between a good team and a great one, became an issue for LSU down the stretch.

In 2025, Kelly will need to find consistent quarterback play, whether that comes from Daniels returning to form or a new face emerging. LSU has options, including talented backups and highly-rated recruits, but developing them quickly enough to compete at the highest level of college football is no easy task. The volatility at the quarterback position combined with the uncertainty surrounding Daniels’ health creates an additional challenge that Kelly must overcome.

3. Defensive Struggles: An Identity Crisis

LSU’s defense, once a calling card of the program, took a significant step backward in 2024. Under defensive coordinator Matt House, the Tigers’ defense was inconsistent at best. The inability to stop the run and generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks left LSU vulnerable in key games. The secondary, often lauded as one of the most talented units in the nation, failed to live up to its billing, leading to big plays and breakdowns in coverage.

In the SEC, where offenses are constantly evolving, it’s critical for LSU to regain its defensive identity. Kelly and House will need to reevaluate the team’s defensive approach, making adjustments to personnel and scheme to better match up with modern college offenses. The pressure is on to recruit elite defenders and develop them into game-changers. Rebuilding the defense is not just a matter of finding talent; it’s about instilling discipline and toughness in the unit, something that LSU fans have come to expect from the program.

4. Coaching Under Scrutiny: The Weight of Expectations

For all of Brian Kelly’s success at Notre Dame, his tenure at LSU is under much more intense scrutiny. The expectations for LSU are not just about competing for SEC championships but also about competing for national titles. The 2024 season’s failure has increased the pressure on Kelly to deliver results quickly. Fans, boosters, and analysts are already beginning to question whether Kelly can lead LSU to another national championship, especially given the high-profile nature of his hiring. His success at Notre Dame, though impressive, came without the ultimate college football title, and now the clock is ticking for him to prove that he can get LSU back to the promised land.

Kelly’s track record as a head coach is undeniable, but coaching at LSU presents a different set of challenges than what he faced at Notre Dame. The expectations are sky-high, and even with his experience, Kelly will need to prove that he can adjust to the SEC’s style of play and the pressure of coaching at an elite program.

LSU’s Path Back to Championship Glory

Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against Brian Kelly and LSU, there are still several paths for the Tigers to return to championship contention in 2025.

1. Recruiting: The Lifeblood of the Program

One of the most important aspects of LSU’s recovery is its ability to recruit. Under Kelly, LSU has been competitive in recruiting, bringing in top-tier talent from across the country. The 2025 recruiting cycle will be critical for the Tigers as they look to replenish the roster and fill gaps in both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. If LSU can land elite recruits, particularly on the defensive line and at linebacker, it will go a long way toward bolstering its chances of contending for an SEC title and a national championship.

2. Stability at Quarterback

No program can contend for a championship without stability at quarterback. Whether it’s Daniels returning to form or a new quarterback emerging, LSU’s offense will need to find a leader who can consistently make plays and manage the game. The offensive line, which has also faced struggles in recent seasons, will need to improve in pass protection to give the quarterback time to execute. If LSU can stabilize the quarterback position, it will open up opportunities for the offense to operate at a higher level.

3. Defensive Resurgence

LSU’s defense must return to its roots of tough, disciplined play. That means better play from the defensive line, improved linebacker play, and a secondary that can limit explosive plays. LSU has the talent to return to dominance on defense, but it will take a collective effort to develop that talent into a cohesive unit. Adjustments in scheme and personnel will be critical in making this happen.