Brian Kelly, the former LSU head coach, is still available after being sacked during the Tigers’ 2025 season. LSU ended the previous season with a 7-6 record under interim coach Frank Wilson, but new head coach Lane Kiffin has been active during the offseason, hoping to build the foundation for a great 2026 season.
Brian Kelly acknowledges LSU’s national championship aspirations as Lane Kiffin prepares to encounter sky-high expectations.
Kelly resigned from Notre Dame to take the LSU position, signing a big contract to succeed Ed Orgeron, citing a desire for more resources to compete for a national title. At the time, Notre Dame was still in contention for a College Football Playoff berth, but his tenure at LSU ended in his dismissal.
Kelly discussed the pressure variations between Notre Dame and LSU with Dusty Dvoracek on SiriusXM College Sports Radio on Friday.
“I went to Notre Dame to bring them back to relevance,” Kelly said. “They had slipped off the map, so to speak. Facilities had lagged behind. The love and passion for the game has dwindled somewhat. That was my task. So, from a pressure point of view, you concentrated on building a program, doing it correctly, being consistent, and bringing that program back with new facilities, an indoor arena, a stadium, and everything else that goes with returning a program to top status.
“When I took the LSU position, it was win or go home. It was win the national title or go home. So the pressure is different from that standpoint because you’re attempting to make judgments that will help you win on the field a little bit faster than you would at Notre Dame. “
Despite departing LSU before making the playoffs, Kelly was not a flop. He had 10 victories in each of his first two seasons, with a 34-14 overall record.
Kiffin, who also departed Ole Miss before the playoff push, will now face the same “win the national championship or go home” demands. Kiffin may not feel the full pressure in his first season, but expectations will increase rapidly as his tenure progresses.
LSU has spent extensively to ensure Kiffin’s tenure is successful, with Kiffin and his team investing over $40 million in constructing the 2026 squad, according to Kelly.
Kiffin commented on LSU’s recruiting surge in February.
“The entire town was wonderful in recruiting to help bring all of these children in, and the hospitality they provided them was remarkable,” Kiffin said. “Hotels, restaurants, on campus, it was amazing, and they could sense it. At the end of formal visits, there were all kinds of meetings to discuss, “Okay, what did you think about your experience? ” Parents, the athletes, said it was fantastic, the LSU and Baton Rouge experiences. “
This offseason, LSU acquired three of the five top portal players: Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, Colorado offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, and Ole Miss EDGE Princewill Umanmielen. As a result, many believe the reported $40 million claim is real. If it is true, demand will be high from both the fanbase and the front office.
According to PFSN, LSU has a 36. 92% chance of qualifying for the College Football Playoff in Kiffin’s first season in 2026.
