BATON ROUGE, LA — As the LSU Tigers prepare for the 2025 college football season, expectations are once again sky-high in Baton Rouge. With redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier earning preseason praise as one of the top five signal-callers in the nation, many fans and analysts believe LSU has the offensive firepower to contend for the SEC title and a potential College Football Playoff berth.
But not everyone is convinced that things are as stable as they appear in Tigerland. One of LSU’s former head coaches, speaking anonymously but candidly, has raised concerns about head coach Brian Kelly’s job security going into his fourth season with the Tigers.
“Brian’s got a lot going for him—an elite quarterback, solid depth, and support from the administration—but in the SEC, that only buys you so much time,” the former coach said. “If you’re not winning big, and I mean really big, by year four, the heat starts to rise quickly. And in Baton Rouge, it rises faster than almost anywhere.”
Brian Kelly, who arrived at LSU in December 2021 after a decade-long stint at Notre Dame, has compiled a solid 28-11 record over three seasons, including a 10-win debut season in 2022 that culminated in an SEC West title. However, back-to-back seasons with defensive struggles and missed playoff appearances have left some within the program restless.
In 2024, LSU finished 9-4, ending the year with a narrow bowl victory but failing to meet preseason expectations of a top-5 national finish. While the offense remained explosive under Nussmeier’s leadership after Jayden Daniels departed for the NFL, the defense continued to falter in key games—most notably in shootout losses to Alabama and Ole Miss.
“LSU fans are some of the most passionate and demanding in the country,” the former coach continued. “They’ve tasted national championships. They want more than just good recruiting classes and flashy offenses—they want rings. That’s the standard here, and Brian knows it.”
Garrett Nussmeier is expected to be a pivotal figure in the Tigers’ 2025 campaign. After patiently waiting behind Daniels, Nussmeier impressed in limited action and took full control of the offense last season. With his rocket arm, poise in the pocket, and increasing leadership presence, many NFL scouts have labeled him a first-round talent.
“He’s the kind of quarterback that can carry a team deep into the postseason,” said an SEC network analyst. “But if LSU doesn’t fix its issues on defense and in-game decision-making, even a top-5 QB won’t be enough.”
Adding to the pressure is the brutal SEC schedule that awaits. The Tigers are slated to face road games at Texas A&M and Florida, home battles with Alabama and Ole Miss, and a non-conference showdown with USC.
With such a daunting slate, anything less than a 10-win season could stir unrest among boosters and fans—especially if LSU falls short in rivalry games or loses another winnable matchup due to preventable mistakes.
Kelly, for his part, has remained confident and composed in offseason interviews. He has emphasized the need for “complementary football” and expressed faith in the adjustments made to the defensive coaching staff. New defensive coordinator David Reeves, formerly with UAB, has been tasked with revitalizing a unit that ranked outside the top 50 in total defense last season.
“We have the talent and the leadership to take that next step,” Kelly said during spring camp. “Garrett is a special player, and we’ve worked hard to put the right pieces around him—not just on offense, but on the entire roster. The guys are hungry. They know what’s at stake.”
Still, the warnings from the former LSU coach reflect a broader concern: that patience is running thin, and that the SEC’s unforgiving nature may not allow Kelly much room for error, even with one of the most talented quarterbacks in the nation under center.
“He’s got to win now,” the coach concluded. “And not just win eight or nine games. We’re talking SEC Championship-level success. Otherwise, it’s only a matter of time before the whispers become roars.”
As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes in Baton Rouge will be on Brian Kelly—and on Garrett Nussmeier’s arm—to see if this talented LSU squad can meet the towering expectations that come with wearing purple and gold.
