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Brian Kelly had a list of things to celebrate late Saturday night in Fayetteville after his 8th-ranked LSU team easily handled Arkansas in a 34-10 victory.
First, LSU beat an old rival on its home field and did it in convincing fashion.
Second, it was the Tigers’ 6th straight victory after a season-opening loss to USC and kept them firmly in the conversation for the College Football Playoff.
Thirdly, it was LSU’s 6th victory of the season, meaning the Tigers are bowl-eligible, and that also meant a $500,000 bonus kicked in for Kelly.
LSU coach Brian Kelly set for $500,000 bonus — yes, $500,000 — as Tigers become eligible for bowl game by beating Arkansas for their 6th win of the season: https://t.co/H98w0zPIE0
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) October 20, 2024
Sure, LSU has much higher aspirations in 2024 (and every season) than just becoming bowl-eligible. But after that loss to USC in Las Vegas on Labor Day weekend, you can pardon some LSU fans if they’re not celebrating 6 wins in a row and Playoff relevancy as we head into late October.
Yes, there are many hurdles still left for Kelly and his team, starting this Saturday when LSU stays on the road to face an equally surging Texas A&M team. The annual early November showdown with Alabama looms on Nov. 9 in Baton Rouge.
But right now, LSU has a lot to be proud of, and Kelly has 500,000 reasons to be a little happier about a blowout victory over a mediocre Arkansas team.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
