In the cauldron of SEC football, where powerhouses battle for supremacy under the unforgiving Southern sun, Brian Kelly has become the maestro of a rising LSU Tigers squad. Two seasons into his tenure, Kelly has traded skepticism for substance, drawing on decades of coaching mastery to elevate LSU into a legitimate SEC title contender once more. With a roster oozing with talent, a reshaped coaching staff, and a methodical approach to team-building, the 2025 season may finally mark LSU’s return to glory.
Brian Kelly didn’t come to Baton Rouge to participate—he came to dominate. And in year three, the Tigers are beginning to resemble a team worthy of his ambitions.
The Vision: More Than Just a Scheme
When Brian Kelly took over the LSU program in late 2021, he was met with plenty of raised eyebrows. A Midwesterner with no roots in the South and a “buttoned-up” demeanor that contrasted LSU’s traditional swagger, Kelly seemed like an odd fit.
But Kelly didn’t come to LSU to be a culture fit—he came with a blueprint. His vision was to rebuild the foundation of the Tigers’ football operations, emphasizing alignment across departments, enhancing player development, and most importantly, creating a sustainable pipeline of elite talent.
“We’re not interested in just having one great season,” Kelly said in a spring press conference earlier this year. “We’re interested in building something that lasts—something that’s championship-caliber year in and year out.”
That vision is now materializing.
Offensive Evolution: Quarterback Depth and Skill Talent Galore
In 2023, LSU’s offense, led by Jayden Daniels, was one of the most electric units in the country. Daniels’ departure to the NFL could’ve spelled regression. Instead, it’s triggered a quarterback competition that showcases the depth Kelly and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock have cultivated.
Garrett Nussmeier, the presumptive starter heading into fall camp, brings a gunslinger’s mentality and has shown flashes of brilliance in previous appearances. Backing him up is Rickie Collins, a redshirt freshman whose arm talent and athleticism have drawn comparisons to a young Dak Prescott.
But the quarterback is just the conductor—LSU’s offensive symphony is composed of star-studded skill players ready to break out.
Running back Kaleb Jackson returns with added muscle and a year’s worth of experience, poised to take over as the feature back. The Tigers also welcome freshman phenom Harlem Berry, one of the top-ranked backs in the 2025 class, who brings a unique blend of speed and vision.
At wide receiver, LSU boasts a unit that’s SEC championship-caliber. Kyren Lacy returns as the savvy veteran, while rising sophomore Shelton Sampson Jr. is set to explode onto the national stage with his elite route-running and catch radius. Throw in elite freshman Jo’Quavious Russaw—an early enrollee with a high football IQ—and LSU suddenly looks like a juggernaut in the making.
A Reengineered Offensive Line
Success in the SEC begins in the trenches, and Brian Kelly—a former offensive line coach—knows it better than anyone. LSU returns four of five starters from last year’s O-line unit, including All-SEC tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. This continuity will be a key factor in both protecting Nussmeier and establishing a dominant run game.
Kelly has invested heavily in O-line recruiting and development, using a combination of high school blue-chips and portal transfers. The Tigers added experienced depth in the form of former UCLA guard Levi Rogers, who brings versatility and leadership.
If LSU’s offensive line becomes the wall Kelly envisions, the Tigers could average over 35 points per game in a conference filled with elite defenses.
Defense: The Turnaround Project
While LSU’s offense has largely carried the team in recent years, the defense has been a work in progress. After a disappointing 2023 campaign plagued by poor tackling and inconsistent play, Kelly and defensive coordinator Blake Baker have aggressively addressed the Tigers’ defensive deficiencies.
Baker, in his second year back at LSU, has installed a simplified yet aggressive scheme focused on creating chaos at the line of scrimmage. He’s prioritized physicality, accountability, and communication—elements that were too often missing last season.
LSU’s linebacker corps, led by Harold Perkins Jr., is the anchor of this defense. Perkins has transitioned into a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker, shedding the “roving edge rusher” role to become the heart of LSU’s defense. His ability to diagnose plays, disrupt run lanes, and cover tight ends makes him a potential All-American candidate.
Up front, Maason Smith and Mekhi Wingo return to form one of the most formidable interior duos in the nation. Smith, finally healthy, has shown flashes in spring camp of being the disruptive force fans hoped for two years ago. Edge rusher Dashawn Womack, entering his sophomore season, is expected to take a leap as LSU’s premier pass-rushing threat.
In the secondary, Kelly hit the transfer portal hard. He brought in experienced cornerbacks Jabbar Muhammad (from Washington) and Keionte Scott (from Auburn), providing leadership to a unit that struggled with youth and injuries. Freshman phenom Faheem Delane could push for early reps, especially in nickel packages.
The Schedule: Navigating the Gauntlet
No SEC season is ever easy, and 2025 is no exception. LSU opens with a marquee non-conference showdown against USC in Las Vegas—a potential tone-setter for the College Football Playoff race.
From there, it’s a murderer’s row: road games at Auburn, Texas A&M, and Alabama—all three boasting top-15 preseason rankings. LSU also hosts Florida, Ole Miss, and Georgia in Tiger Stadium, where Death Valley will be rocking under the lights.
But for Kelly, it’s not about fearing the schedule—it’s about embracing the challenge.
“We don’t get caught up in who we play. We focus on how we play,” Kelly emphasized during SEC Media Days. “Every week is an opportunity to prove we’re one of the best teams in the country.”
Culture Shift and Player Buy-In
Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Kelly’s tenure has been the cultural transformation inside the LSU locker room. Gone are the days of laissez-faire leadership and inconsistent preparation. In their place is a player-led culture rooted in accountability and discipline.
Senior safety Major Burns described the change best: “Coach Kelly’s structure might’ve felt different at first, but now we see why it works. We’re locked in, we’re focused, and we’re all pulling in the same direction.”
Kelly’s “performance science” approach includes sleep tracking, individualized nutrition plans, and mental health resources—off-field investments that are beginning to pay off in player development and injury reduction.
Recruiting Masterclass
Kelly and his staff have also turned LSU into a recruiting force again, particularly in the talent-rich state of Louisiana. The Tigers landed a top-5 class in 2025, headlined by 5-star defensive back D’Angelo Barber and 4-star offensive tackle Elijah Franklin.
Importantly, Kelly has maintained strong relationships with in-state coaches, positioning LSU as the go-to destination for Louisiana’s elite prospects.
He’s also expanded LSU’s footprint into Texas, Georgia, and Florida, using a national strategy to supplement regional dominance. The Tigers are now not just landing top players—they’re developing them into NFL-ready talent, a hallmark of elite programs like Georgia and Alabama.
SEC Championship or Bust?
With the talent in place and the program humming on all cylinders, 2025 feels like a make-or-break year for Brian Kelly’s championship ambitions. Anything less than an SEC West title would be a disappointment, especially considering the maturity of the roster and the experience of the coaching staff.
LSU’s path to Atlanta likely hinges on its ability to beat Alabama on the road and avoid slip-ups against teams like Ole Miss or Texas A&M. If Nussmeier performs up to expectations and the defense makes even a moderate leap forward, the Tigers will be right in the thick of the College Football Playoff discussion.
