All things considered, the LSU Tigers are one of the most disappointing teams in the country.
While a 7-4 record (4-3 in the SEC) may not sound like the end of the world, the hopes and expectations for Brian Kelly’s team this season were so much higher.
Needless to say, Kelly now finds himself under intense scrutiny.
The polarizing Kelly, who joined LSU in 2022 on a 10-year, $95 million contract, had been expected to elevate the program into consistent College Football Playoff contention.
Instead, the Tigers’ underwhelming season and the recent loss of the nation’s top recruit, quarterback Bryce Underwood, to Michigan, have left fans questioning the direction of the team.
Kelly’s time in Baton Rouge has been marked by mixed results, with a cumulative 27-12 record and a 15-6 record in SEC play.
Yet, concerns about his leadership style and its impact on team culture have emerged.
Reporting by Ralph Russo and Bruce Feldman of The Athletic highlighted internal frustrations within the program, with more than six sources connected to LSU raising alarms about Kelly’s approach in Baton Rouge.
One anonymous former staffer pointed to Kelly’s stringent accountability measures as a potential root of the cultural issues.
“You can’t be late for meetings,” a source told The Athletic. “You’ve got to take your vitamins every day. You have to do a wellness check-in app on your phone every day, and for (some of) these guys it’s a foreign language to them.
“Installing culture is a great idea, but now the way you’re installing culture is actually creating a culture problem.”
In fairness to Kelly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having high standards, demanding discipline, and holding everyone accountable.
However, according to the report, it’s more so the way Kelly went about things that rubbed a whole lot of people the wrong way.
Former LSU center Charles Turner also weighed in, suggesting the issue goes beyond strict rules to include a lack of meaningful communication between Kelly and his players.
Turner, who started every game during Kelly’s first two seasons, described the coach as being distant from his players.
“For Coach Kelly, I think this is a different dynamic for him, Turner said. “When I was playing for Kelly the last two years, I didn’t talk to him. I started every game for him. Just, ‘Hey, hi. How you doing?’ And that was really it.
“We never talked Xs and Os. I never sat in his office and got personal with him. He really never got to know me.”
Despite the discontent, LSU is unlikely to part ways with Kelly after this season due to his nearly $60 million buyout.
However, another underwhelming campaign could put him firmly on the hot seat in 2025.
At 63 years old, Kelly is no stranger to adversity. His tenure at Notre Dame included a 4-8 season in 2016, after which he rebounded to deliver five seasons with 10 or more wins and two College Football Playoff appearances.
However, his tenure in South Bend ended ugly – and it’s looking like the same thing may end up happening in Baton Rouge.
What are your thoughts on the situation at LSU?
Needless to say, this new report does not do Kelly any favors. His personality and overall coaching approach has come under attack before. This only adds fuel to that fire.
Just how hot is his seat in Baton Rouge???
