On paper, LSU’s hiring of Brian Kelly seemed like a surefire home run. With Kelly’s track record of success at every college program he had led, combined with the wealth of talent in Louisiana’s recruiting territory, expectations were sky-high. LSU fans envisioned Kelly turning the Tigers into perennial contenders for national championships, especially after a strong start that saw back-to-back ten-win seasons.
But things haven’t exactly gone according to plan, and now, a recent turn of events has fans questioning if Kelly is the right man for the job.
The Tigers’ hopes of staying in the playoff picture took a hit with a late-season collapse, marked by disappointing back-to-back losses to Alabama and Florida.
The team’s struggles have dropped them to a 6-4 record, effectively ending their chances of competing for a national title this year.
While the on-field results were disheartening, fans were holding onto hope that the future looked bright, largely due to the highly anticipated arrival of Bryce Underwood, the top-ranked high school quarterback in the nation.
Underwood, a standout talent from the Detroit area, had long been committed to LSU, and his potential to be the next great quarterback on the Bayou was a major point of optimism for the fanbase.
Many envisioned him as the spark that would reignite LSU’s championship aspirations and lead the team to glory. However, that hope was dashed on Thursday when Underwood announced he was flipping his commitment to the University of Michigan.
The news sent shockwaves through LSU’s fanbase, who had grown attached to the idea of Underwood leading their team.
Reports suggest that a lucrative NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) offer played a significant role in Underwood’s decision to stay closer to home and commit to the Wolverines. The disappointment was palpable, and many fans turned their frustration directly toward head coach Brian Kelly.
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The backlash has been fierce. Social media was quickly flooded with LSU supporters calling for Kelly’s resignation, expressing their anger at both the team’s lackluster performance this season and the inability to secure a generational talent like Underwood.
For a program that prides itself on being a recruiting powerhouse, losing out on a player of Underwood’s caliber is a tough pill to swallow, especially given how much emphasis Kelly placed on building a strong recruiting pipeline when he first arrived in Baton Rouge.
It is, however, unlikely that Kelly will be going anywhere anytime soon. Despite the calls for his firing, Kelly’s contract makes such a move financially prohibitive for LSU. He would be owed an estimated $60 million if fired this year and over $50 million if dismissed next year.
These staggering figures mean that LSU is likely stuck with Kelly for the foreseeable future, whether fans like it or not.
The disappointment around losing Underwood has only been exacerbated by LSU’s current struggles on the field. After starting his tenure with two impressive ten-win seasons, Kelly’s third year has been marked by inconsistency, missed opportunities, and a noticeable lack of progress.
Back-to-back losses to Alabama and Florida, two of LSU’s biggest rivals, have only added to the frustration.
Fans had hoped that this season would be the one where Kelly would take the Tigers to the next level, but instead, the team has taken a significant step backward.
Credit must be given to Michigan’s coaching staff, led by offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, for securing Underwood’s commitment.
Moore and his team worked tirelessly to persuade the young quarterback that Michigan was the right place for him, and their efforts ultimately paid off. Underwood’s decision is a significant win for the Wolverines, who continue to build a program capable of competing with the best in college football.
For LSU, the challenge now is to regroup and refocus. While losing Bryce Underwood is a major setback, the Tigers still have talent on their roster and plenty of opportunities to turn things around. Brian Kelly, despite the criticism, has shown in the past that he can lead successful programs, and LSU will need him to tap into that experience to right the ship.
The mood in Baton Rouge is grim, and understandably so. Thursday’s news was a gut punch to a fanbase that was already reeling from a disappointing season.
But as the Tigers prepare for their remaining games, Kelly and his staff will need to find a way to regain the trust of their supporters and lay the groundwork for future success. It’s a tough task, but one that LSU must tackle head-on if they hope to return to prominence in the coming years.
For now, LSU fans are left to wonder what could have been. The dream of Bryce Underwood leading the Tigers to glory is over, and the reality of a 6-4 season has set in.
It’s a bad night to be a Tiger fan, but in college football, hope springs eternal—and perhaps brighter days are still ahead.
