Joel Klatt explains ‘urgency’ for LSU, Brian Kelly in 2025
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
The clock is rapidly ticking for LSU head coach Brian Kelly entering the 2025 season. LSU inked the former Notre Dame coach to a lucrative deal in 2022 with the hopes of capturing another national title.
However, LSU has yet to even reach the College Football Playoff in three seasons under Kelly. Meanwhile, Marcus Freeman, Kelly’s successor at Notre Dame, is coming off guiding the Fighting Irish to the national title game.
Add it all up and the pressure is on.
FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt is calling it playoffs or bust for Kelly and LSU, which is No. 8 in Klatt’s preseason ranking.
“I think that the urgency is there or should be for LSU and Brian Kelly,” Klatt said. “Brian Kelly knows it. That’s why you hit the portal so hard. They had to fill some holes because it’s got to happen for them. Listen, Notre Dame can’t be going and playing for the National Championship while LSU is not playing in the CFP – that’s not why LSU paid Brian Kelly.”
Klatt believes LSU can have a special season if Kelly gets his roster to max out to their ceiling.
“They get Harold Perkins back after he tore his ACL in the first month of the year,” Klatt added. “No. 1 ranked portal class. This should be a really good team. This should be a very good team. A team that goes to the CFP.”
LSU will quickly learn their capabilities with a season-opening top-10 clash at No. 6 Clemson on Aug. 30 (7:30 p.m. ET/ABC).
