Brian Kelly explains why he expects Lane Kiffin will win national championship at LSU
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Brian Kelly’s 3 predecessors at LSU all won national championships. The former Tigers coach expects his successor to hoist the trophy during his tenure in Baton Rouge.
In a recent conversation with USA TODAY Sports, Kelly was asked if his successor, Lane Kiffin, will win a national championship at LSU. It was framed as a yes or no question, but Kelly gave a longer answer. He started out by saying “I think so,” then explaining why he would say “yes.”
“I think that they have invested in NIL for him,” Brian Kelly said. “They have given him the opportunity. There’s a lot of good things moving in that direction. The recruiting classes are really in solid shape. And I think Lane’s a really smart football coach, so I think it’s in a really good place, and I believe because there’s an investment in that NIL he’s going to be able to be Lane Kiffin. And that’s important.
“You know he’s not going to take the 18-year-old kid and develop him, you know all the way through the ranks. And that’s fine. And because that’s what they wanted. I think with those things in place he can win the national championship. And I’m sorry, that was a long answer, but that’s kind of how I feel.”
Former LSU coach Brian Kelly told USA Today he thinks Lane Kiffin will win a national championship at #LSU.
— Preston Guy (@PGuy77) May 5, 2026
"I think so," Kelly said. "That wasn't yes… Here's why I would say yes, okay, I think that they have invested in NIL for him. They have given him the opportunity.… pic.twitter.com/bPJQafROiy
With Kiffin’s former team, Ole Miss, making the College Football Playoff last season, there are high expectations for Year 1. Prediction market Kalshi is taking early action on CFP qualifiers.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
