Brian Kelly is dealing with an ultimatum hanging over his neck. A 9-4 finish couldn’t do justice to the hope the passionate Tigers fan held on to. A 29-11 record in the last three years might seem decent. But for the program that has gone from a champion to just a ‘no entity’ nowhere in that conversation within six years, it couldn’t appease the thirst. Kelly, in his sixth year, has to break the barriers and let the steam flow. But some bumps can turn a pipe dream into a heartbreak.

The biggest weapon Kelly can flex this year is none other than his starting gun in the QB room, Garrett Nussmeier. His decision to return to Baton Rouge over an NFL call can be a turning point in the Tigers’ fate. Nussmeier didn’t just come. He developed during the spring after piecing together a 2024 campaign where he totaled 3,738 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 12 games played. The commitment to make it big in his final season in college is written everywhere in his grit and grin.

He’s studying his tapes, the mistakes he committed last season, paying serious heed to the mentors and staff to come out of this. But the more important thing, this time, his talent and sincerity are backed by a strong safety net of the new portal picks. “Nuss [Garrett Nussmeier] is a legit talent. They did a really good job finally getting serious in the portal to put weapons around him,” an anonymous coach broke down to Athlon Sports.

“They’re going to take a significant step back on the offensive line, but they’re better at the skill positions,” the coach pointed out the biggest difference in this year’s recruiting spree. “The big talk here is the way they’ve restructured. This isn’t an autonomous coaching culture anymore. [GM] Austin Thomas has a huge role building the roster, and it showed this offseason.”

They sit at the No.1 portal class in the 2o25 cycle. Just a year back, Kelly got lampooned for his comment. He said LSU doesn’t ‘buy players’ when asked about LSU’s agenda in the spring portal. But this time they ranked first in the portal expenditure. The result speaks loudly that it’s not just him who’s spearheading the portal decisions. “The internal evaluation of LSU football will look more professional. They’re going to build BK [Brian Kelly] the best roster possible to go out and win games,” the mystery source kept beating the drums of a pipe dream.

Kelly got some gems like Barion Brown and Nic Anderson in the WR room. The cornerback line-up flexes Mansoor Delane, the No. 9 prospect from Virginia Tech, and others. If this is not the team he capitalizes on, it’s a death trap for the Tigers. “They have playoff expectations here. And it’s a better depth chart than he’s had in Baton Rouge. If they aren’t in the CFP, I think there’s some serious pressure here,” the coach seconded.

But for that end goal, Kelly needs to take care of a strong start.

LSU Tigers need to get rid of a recurring curse 

Former LSU coach Ed Orgeron sets the bar higher for Kelly and co. The 2019 Natty architect doesn’t think there is any way to quench the thirst of a fan who’s been striving for a title for over six years other than a fifth Natty. Kelly doesn’t have an eternity to deliver that.

The Tigers’ higher up is tied with a massive $61 million, but that doesn’t mean they will be forever. This time, Kelly has to make the best of his star-studded roster, and they should train them enough to avoid a lethal early-season lump.

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The Tigers carry a strange curse of losing it all in the opener. It has always led them to a darker stat later in the season. The history recorded no sustainable comeback from a lost kick-off match. They boast a nasty record of losing five straight season openers, marking it as the worst and longest streak in program history. It will be a test for Kelly to dodge this trend and make his way smoother to the Natty.