LSU head coach Brian Kelly acknowledged that he was aware of the chatter in the community, which he explained is part of being the head coach in Baton Rouge. His team, the LSU Tigers, had just suffered three consecutive losses to No. 14 Texas A&M, No. 11 Alabama, and Florida, and on top of that, one of his standout recruits switched his commitment to Michigan.
Quarterback Bryce Underwood, the top player in the 2025 class, had been committed to LSU since January 2024, but he changed his mind only days after the Florida loss. Although Michigan’s lucrative offer and Underwood’s hometown ties to Belleville, Michigan made sense, it was still a tough blow for Kelly and his staff.
Despite this setback, LSU was preparing for a crucial game against Vanderbilt, and Kelly insisted that Underwood’s decision would not impact the team’s goals on the field. “Recruiting doesn’t play a significant role when focusing on the current team. Others may see it differently, but it didn’t affect our players or coaches,” Kelly stated after the game (h/t On3). “It’s disappointing given the many years invested in recruiting, but it didn’t deter our core objective. We aimed to finish the game strong, and we did by taking a knee on the 10-yard line, which is how you want to end a game.”
LSU secured a victory against a tough Vanderbilt squad with a score of 24-17, setting them up for a chance to finish the season at 8-4 with a win over Oklahoma. While this wasn’t the conclusion the Tigers aspired to—originally hoping for a shot at the College Football Playoff—Kelly emphasized that the team remained focused on their current goals despite the surrounding turmoil. “While the noise is present after three straight losses at LSU, it doesn’t reflect our players’ commitment, which they demonstrated this week,” Kelly remarked.
