This is still the same LSU that looked completely lost against Tennessee a few weeks ago, and lost by 27. Plus, there was a reason undefeated (and #7) Ole Miss was a 2pt dog to an unranked LSU, and it had more to do with Ole Miss than LSU. Most felt like Ole Miss was a bit of a paper tiger...and it certainly looked that way in the second half.
I'm guessing most here haven't seen Ole Miss' schedule up to this point. Also, they have not been known for their defense in a while. All that plus a few significant starters out and yeah, this isn't shocking. That's not to take away from Brian Kelly. People dismissed him and I do think his notre dame teams were overrated but the guy won in Cincinnati and then sustained success at notre dame when others couldn't even if they were overrated in the national picture. Edit: I have no doubt he would have us playing better overall but I don't think I like the long term hire over Napier as of now.
Gotta give Cajun Kelly credit. They’re 6-2, beat a undefeated top 10 team, and he’s taken a portal QB and made some chicken salad. His 2 losses were a somewhat fluke 1pt stumble to f$u and a top 3 Tenn team. I guess he had much more to work with coming in.
This is from the premium side in a similar discussion, by @oragator1 (who says it a lot better than me): Kelly also had a good more talent on his roster. According to the 247 they were: 5th in 2019 4th in 2020 3rd in 2021 12th in 2022 that’s enough talent enough to win a title. we were: 9th in 2019 and 2020 12th in 2021 18th in 2022 So they out-recruited us all four years, and that’s before the almost unimaginably bad development our defensive guys had over the last two years, or all the transfers out at key positions. Ours is a much bigger rebuild. And it was the point I kept making in Mullen’s years. 9th or 12th doesn’t sound nearly as good when you are fifth or sixth in league.
Check the composite. Lsu has a less talented defense than Florida and it’s not that close. what we are seeing here is the difference between a proven playoff level coach and a new up and comer who has only coached in big boy football in 7 games and obviously has a lot to learn.
inaccurate analysis. Don’t just look at the rankings. They lost a ton of those players. Look at their starters Florida has more talent on defense. Offense is a push.
I don’t disagree with any of that, but.. LSU was a mess though, really bad shape, they only had 39-45 scholarship players for their bowl game. They had a bunch of guys transfer out. Did LSU have a better roster than UF going into this season, probably, likely so. How much better though, I guess that’s the question. No, I don’t want to trade chiefs with them, no way!
Nope, not a bit. In fact I feel worse since I was rooting for ole miss to be a factor in the West, not LSU. Right now Kelly looks like the better hire. Hope that story changes next year.
I’m trusting all those spewing such negativity about Coach Napier will be the first to post they were wrong when Napier is competing for and winning championships once he’s had the chance to recruit and coach better talent and depth.
Some of the same posters who were laughing at LSU and Kelly after their loss to the semi-holes have done a 180. LOL.
We will see when bama plays them..UT took them to the woodshed...we came within a wisker of beating ut...I think we played a better game against ut...and no I am not a proponent of moral victories...