LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Kelly may be starting to feel the pressure at LSU

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 10/3/23

Brian Kelly's No. 13-ranked LSU team took a 42-34 lead into the fourth quarter of last weekend's game against No. 20 Ole Miss.

The Tigers ended the game down, 55-49, suffering their second loss of the season while putting them in a disadvantageous position in the SEC West.

So it's worth questioning, did LSU take its foot off the gas? The Tigers punted twice in the fourth quarter and allowed 21 points to Ole Miss. Still, they had a chance to win the game with a last-second pass from the Ole Miss 26.

Jayden Daniels' pass was a bit high and went through the hands of his wide receiver in the end zone.

Final play of the Ole Miss 55-49 win over LSU as called by @RebVoice pic.twitter.com/FfAqSbvRI5
— SportsTalk Mississippi (@SportsTalkMiss) October 1, 2023

“No. We weren’t pulling off the gas pedal at all,” Kelly said postgame (h/t On3). “There were a couple of instances there where maybe a read here or there — I mean, it was just the flow of the game, really. Look, we went for a gazillion yards, made a lot of good plays. It was the circumstances of the game.”

LSU may not have taken its foot off the gas, but the mood has certainly changed in Baton Rouge in regards to Kelly. Now in his second season at LSU, he's no longer in the honeymoon phase of his coaching tenure for the Tigers.

And close loss or not, any loss is unacceptable at LSU. Heck, Ed Orgeron was fired two seasons after going 15-0 and winning the National Championship.

Undoubtedly, Kelly is starting to feel the pressure.

"I don't have time. Do I look like I've got time? I came down here to be successful with the #LSU football program."@LSUfootball Brian Kelly on the urgency to get things fixed now.

"They've got pride. These guys will respond. They'll bounce back." pic.twitter.com/GaHG9ZMkGg
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) October 2, 2023

Kelly lost four games in his inaugural season in Baton Rouge. He's already halfway to that mark and the Tigers still have to play No. 21 Missouri, Auburn, No. 11 Alabama, Florida and Texas A&M.

None of those games are guaranteed wins.

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