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LSU Football Makes Historic Academic Announcement Under Brian Kelly

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated May 20, 2025 11:15 PM ET

Brian Kelly wrapped up his third season as head football coach of the LSU Tigers with a solid 9-4 record, capped by a bowl game win over Baylor. But beyond the on-field success, LSU accomplished something even more impressive off the field near the end of the academic year.

For the first time in program history, the LSU football team earned a perfect single-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 1000, marking a major milestone in the classroom. This achievement places LSU Football amid the university's rising number of athletic programs that have reached similar levels of academic excellence.

The official LSU Football social media account celebrated the accomplishment on Tuesday, posting:

"LSU Football has achieved a single-year 1000 Academic Progress Rate for the first time in school history!"

Graduate Champions

LSU Football has achieved a single-year 1000 Academic Progress Rate for the first time in school history! pic.twitter.com/ta24wVz1r4
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) May 20, 2025

The Academic Progress Rate is a term-by-term measurement of a team’s academic eligibility and retention. Division I teams that fail to maintain an APR score of at least 930 may be subject to NCAA penalties. A 930 score is roughly equivalent to a 50% graduation rate.

LSU’s perfect 1000 APR followed an already strong showing in the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR), where the team scored an 89 last fall. That mark extended LSU’s streak of scoring at least an 89 in the GSR to eight straight years.

Last season, the Tigers improved their multi-year APR score to 977, a significant jump after the previous season’s score dipped below 930. Fortunately, LSU avoided penalties at the time due to the NCAA’s temporary suspension of sanctions related to APR scores. In Ed Orgeron's final year in Baton Rouge, the team posted an APR of 897.

Since arriving at LSU, Kelly has posted a 29-11 overall record and gone 17-7 in SEC play. The Tigers have won bowl games in each of their three seasons. Over his career, Kelly boasts an impressive 292-107-2 record as a head coach.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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