LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly didn’t hide his frustration after his team’s 27-20 collapse to the USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium, marking LSU’s fifth consecutive season-opening defeat.
Despite facing a formidable opponent in No. 23 USC, the No. 13-ranked Tigers squandered an impressive performance by junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who completed 29 of 38 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
It seems like the Trojans may be in for a much better season than some had expected, especially with the impressive Miller Moss under center.
While LSU’s defense certainly flashed at times, they failed to deliver a big stop when it was needed most.
The frustrating loss left Kelly visibly angry, culminating in a moment of raw emotion during the post-game press conference where he slammed a table in frustration.
“We’re sitting here again,” Kelly said. “We’re sitting here again, talking about the same things – about not finishing when you have an opponent in a position to put ’em away.
“But what we’re doing on the sideline is feeling like the game’s over! And I’m so angry about it that I got to do something about it.
“I’m not doing a good enough job as a coach, and I got to coach ’em better. Because it’s unacceptable for us not to have found a way to win this football game … It’s ridiculous. It’s crazy.”
LSU’s latest defeat is particularly disheartening given their status as favorites in each of Kelly’s season-opening losses.
His frustration is more than understandable, as the Tigers once again failed to close out a game they should have won.
The Tigers’ inability to capitalize on opportunities, particularly in the second half, allowed USC to stay within striking distance and ultimately steal the game.
The once-explosive LSU offense, which was among the nation’s best in 2023 under the leadership of now-NFL quarterback Jayden Daniels, struggled to find the same consistent rhythm.
Now in his third year with LSU, Kelly has yet to achieve the level of success expected when he was hired to return the Tigers to national contention.
While his tenure has kept the Tigers in the mix, LSU remains far from the powerhouse it was in previous years.
There’s no denying that Kelly is one of the best coaches in the country. Having said that, his impact thus far in Baton Rouge hasn’t been nearly as strong as expected.
That may sound unfair and borderline harsh, but considering LSU’s resources and overall talent level, few programs have such high standards.
Meanwhile, the vibes are completely opposite at Kelly’s old stomping grounds in South Bend, Indiana (at least for this week).
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish delivered one of the most impressive wins of the entire weekend as they took down the Texas A&M Aggies in a brutally difficult environment.
Kelly has hinted that LSU offers him certain resources that Notre Dame never did. In a way, his decision to leave the Irish was partially driven by his feeling that he took Notre Dame as far as he could. (LSU’s $95 million contract offer may have also had something to do with it.)
While he may not admit it publicly, it’s safe to assume that Kelly thought he’d have the Tigers much farther along by this point in his tenure.
Don’t get me wrong. With the expanded playoff field, Kelly and the Tigers could certainly turn things around and emerge as a national title contender – especially if Nussmeier continues to improve and develop.
Having said that, is it fair to wonder if deep down Kelly regrets leaving Notre Dame???