Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers suffered their third straight loss in the Southeastern Conference on Saturday night, falling to the Florida Gators 27-16 in Gainesville.
The team has been struggling, failing to deliver a strong performance in The Swamp, and now they find themselves in the spotlight for negative reasons as the 2024 season rapidly deteriorates. After an initial loss to Southern Cal in Week 1, the trajectory has only worsened, leading to defeats against Texas A&M, Alabama, and Florida in SEC play.
With the loss to the Gators, the Tigers’ record dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the conference, with only two games remaining in the season. During his regular segment on The Matt Barrie Show, SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum discussed LSU’s recent challenges.
“You mentioned that teams would prefer to avoid playing Kansas, but they are eager to face LSU,” Finebaum noted. “I have weekly conversations with Brian Kelly, and what was once a positive relationship has become a chaotic situation, almost like a Six Flags roller coaster, given how messy things have become for LSU.”
While the team’s performance on the field has been disappointing, Finebaum highlighted the notable interactions between Kelly and his players on the sidelines, suggesting tension.
“Kelly has been seen yelling at players, who respond back, and there’s a buzz among Notre Dame fans. If he navigates the next two weeks and reaches the playoffs, he could find himself in a tough position as this season has unraveled,” Finebaum remarked.
He further pointed out that Kelly had initially secured a commitment from the top quarterback in the nation, but that now stands to become a competitive bidding situation with Michigan. Failure to land that recruit could severely impact the next season for LSU.
Despite leading the Tigers to 10 wins in each of his first two seasons, Finebaum expressed concern for Kelly’s future given the current situation.
“It’s dire because LSU fans have lofty expectations,” Finebaum said. “Just a week ago, they were talking about championship hopes, and now they’re facing a disappointing end to the season with a home game against Vanderbilt. The energy in the parking lot is likely to be very low.
“The season closes out with a matchup against Oklahoma, which doesn’t bode well either. Kelly, despite being an excellent coach, has seen this season unravel due to injuries and other factors. Garrett Nussmeier seems unable to find his footing, and depending on how things conclude, Kelly may face one of the toughest offseasons for any SEC coach.”
