LSU’s third year under Brian Kelly didn’t bring the breakthrough many expected. While other programs have made their national title push by Year 3 of a new regime, the Tigers fell short of their lofty standard. For a team accustomed to competing for SEC titles and national championships, a 2024 campaign that ended outside the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff was a clear disappointment.
Key losses to Florida, Texas A&M, and Alabama derailed any postseason hopes, and an opening-week defeat to USC set the tone for what became a frustrating season. Simply put, it wasn’t LSU’s year. Still, the Tigers closed strong, blowing out Baylor 44-31 in the Texas Bowl to finish 9-4. That might be enough for most programs, but not in Baton Rouge.
Now, all eyes are on Year 4 of the Kelly era. The Tigers invested heavily in reshaping the roster through NIL and the transfer portal, targeting impact players at wide receiver, defensive line, and in the secondary. With high expectations and a reloaded roster, this season will be a defining moment for Kelly and the LSU program’s direction.
Previewing the LSU Offense
What is the biggest reason for optimism in Baton Rouge? Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. After throwing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 2024, Nussmeier enters the season as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender and a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Turnovers were an issue at times last year. Still, with a full season of starting experience under his belt and another year in Joe Sloan’s offensive system, the expectation is that Nussmeier will take a big leap forward. His growth will be critical if LSU is serious about crashing the College Football Playoff field.
The Tigers have completely revamped their receiving corps through the portal. While leading wideout Aaron Anderson returns after posting 61 receptions for 884 yards and five touchdowns, he’ll be joined by high-upside newcomers in former Oklahoma wide receiver Nic Anderson and former Kentucky star Barion Brown. Anderson gives LSU the big-bodied perimeter threat they sorely missed in 2024, while Brown brings explosiveness and versatility to the slot and special packages. There’s also a sense of hope that Chris Hilton can finally stay healthy and tap into his immense upside as a vertical threat.
It would be premature to compare this year’s wideout group to the legendary LSU receiver rooms of the past—names like Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall—but the pieces are there to be special. If this unit stays healthy and builds chemistry with Nussmeier, it has the potential to be one of the most dynamic in the SEC.
The run game, however, remains a work in progress. Lead back Kaleb Jackson has moved on, which means Kaden Durham steps into a more prominent role after rushing for over 700 yards last season. For LSU to make a serious push, the ground game must be far more consistent than in 2024. The Tigers ranked near the bottom of the SEC in rushing production last season—something that can’t repeat itself if they hope to reach Atlanta.
Enter Harlem Berry. The nation’s No. 1 high school running back in the 2025 recruiting class is expected to provide an explosive change-of-pace and could challenge for significant snaps early. If Berry lives up to the hype, LSU’s offense could achieve the balance it lacked a year ago.
Previewing the LSU Defense
For LSU to finally break through and reach the College Football Playoff under Brian Kelly, the defense must take a major step forward—and fast. Over the past two seasons, the Tigers’ defense has not held up against top-tier competition. They’ve been pushed around up front, exposed in the secondary, and far too inconsistent in critical moments. If that trend continues, it won’t matter how explosive the offense is.
That’s why 2025 feels like a turning point for defensive coordinator Blake Baker. Now entering his second year at the helm, Baker has the pressure and the personnel to engineer a turnaround.
And LSU didn’t sit quietly during the offseason—they went out and reloaded. The defensive line got a serious boost from the transfer portal. Patrick Payton, a disruptive edge rusher from Florida State, brings size, athleticism, and SEC-caliber experience to the front four. The Tigers also entered Tallahassee’s rival backyard and snagged linebacker Jack Pyburn from the Florida Gators. Pyburn is known for his sideline-to-sideline range and tenacity—exactly what LSU needs in the heart of its defense.
The secondary, another sore spot in recent years, should also look drastically different. Virginia Tech transfer Mansoor Delane is the most notable addition, who is expected to slide into a starting cornerback role immediately. But the most buzzworthy name is D.J. Pickett, one of the crown jewels of LSU’s 2025 recruiting class. The 6-foot-4, five-star freshman has the tools to immediately be a future All-American—and possibly a difference-maker.
There is pressure on this defense to match the standard set by LSU’s offense finally. There’s enough talent on all three levels—experienced transfers, young stars, and returning veterans—to believe it’s possible. But after two seasons of underperformance, the Tigers must prove it on the field before anyone thinks the narrative has changed.
Projected Outlook: Time for LSU to Break Through
This feels like the year LSU finally leaps the College Football Playoff under Brian Kelly. With a loaded roster, a Heisman-caliber quarterback, and a defense rebuilt through the portal, there are no excuses left. Anything short of a playoff berth would be considered a massive disappointment and a failure.
Kelly is entering year four in Baton Rouge, and the expectations have never been higher. The way his contract is structured, the buyout remains steep. But that hasn’t stopped the local pressure from building.
If LSU stumbles again in 2025, the calls for change will only grow louder.
It all starts with a monster season opener on the road at Clemson, a fellow playoff participant from last year. LSU hasn’t won a season-opening game since 2019—the same year they captured the national championship. Ending that streak with a statement win in Death Valley (South Carolina) would be massive for the Tigers’ confidence.
The schedule doesn’t get much easier from there. Florida comes to Baton Rouge. Alabama awaits in Tuscaloosa. A revenge trip to Ole Miss is also on the docket. And Texas A&M returns to Death Valley in what could be another high-stakes SEC clash.
The good news? LSU has the talent to handle it. They’ve invested heavily in NIL and the transfer portal to surround Garrett Nussmeier with the pieces he needs. The wide receiver room is revamped. The defense looks deeper and more athletic. The ingredients for a playoff-caliber team are in place.
It’s on Brian Kelly and his staff to make it all click. This team might not be ready to win a national championship just yet—but a third-place finish or semifinal appearance in the College Football Playoff should be the baseline expectation.
The pressure is on. But so is the potential.
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