Criticisms will come, but you have to sail along with a smile on your face. If that’s what the job of a coach is, LSU HC Brian Kelly would beg to differ. Right now, one of the hottest college football stories has been brewing bitterly in Baton Rouge. And it has nothing to do with the rivalry on the turf. Rather, a heated exchange on the sidelines that grabbed eyeballs.

Coach Kelly lost his temper at a reporter, who nitpicked at LSU’s offensive issues against Florida. Although the Tigers won, 20-10, the offensive loopholes were glaring and hard to ignore. “We played the game to win the game,” Brian Kelly had retorted to WBRZ-TV sports director Michael Cauble, who questioned him on his team’s offense, post-game. But since then, the head coach has acknowledged his outburst and taken responsibility for his behavior toward Cauble. “I have to do a better job of handling myself in those situations,” Kelly said at Monday’s press conference. “I’ll do better. Because I think everybody knows there’s emotion, those questions can be such that you want to defend your team and you want to defend your players.”

He reasoned that the outburst was a reaction stemming from wanting to defend his boys from the biting criticism. The roster chipped in an SEC win, as he put it. But five interceptions and 15-of-27 for 220 yards by the Heisman stock Garrett Nussmeier was torn inside out by the critics. And that fuelled his frustration post-game. “What do you want, for us to win 70-0 against Florida to keep you happy?” he had snapped at the media. “You’re spoiled.”

Although after the heated interaction, Cauble shared on X that perhaps Kelly had not liked his question straight out of the gate, but it needed to be asked. Kelly continued with his explanation: “That’s your first reaction after a great win. But like I said, I’ve been doing it a long time, but I can do better. I can learn and handle myself in a better fashion as well.”

The Tigers won over the trenches against Florida, but there’s a major pressing concern tugging on Brian Kelly’s mind, and it’s all about star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Kelly issued a public apology for lashing out at a reporter, but Baton Rouge revealed something far bigger, dropping a major shock bomb, heading to week 4.

Brian Kelly reveals Garrett Nussmeier’s hidden injury

Heisman prospect Garrett Nussmeier is 69-for-106 on passing attempts covering 689 yards, along with three touchdowns and two interceptions, presently. More is expected of him, but a major injury reveal has sent Baton Rouge spiraling. On Monday’s press conference, the head coach revealed why the star quarterback is limited during practice reps.

“He’s been slowed a little bit with a torso injury – and he’s fighting through it – he’s getting better,” Brian Kelly said on Monday. “He’s not going to be able to shut it down until the bye week.” He continued with the injury status. “I’m not saying that that has had any of his troubles. I think he is a symptom of us not ripping it on fourth down.”

Over the last three matchups, Garrett’s offense has remained limited in pushing the ball down the field, considering the program’s vertical threats, as LSU Country’s Zach Nagy put it. Earlier, the star quarterback revealed his frustration with the offense not being able to kick off with their full potential, but it’s just week 3, and once the offense starts rolling, there will be more explosive plays to witness.

Kelly continued. “We’re taking some plays away from him. He’s done a really good job… We’ve got to let him get the ball out to his playmakers and keep him healthy.” The head coach further said that Garrett has done a great job over the past weeks, but will remain limited for the next 19 days. “I think the bye week after Ole Miss we should be in a good place,” he added.