Urban Meyer Names SEC Powerhouse Under Immense Pressure This Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Aug 27, 2025 5:36 PM ET

On a Wednesday episode of "The Triple Option," former national championship-winning coach Urban Meyer offered a pointed assessment of one SEC powerhouse's outlook this college football season.

Speaking with former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram II and Fox Sports' Rob Stone, Meyer highlighted LSU and Brian Kelly, calling the Tigers a dark horse contender while emphasizing that "the pressure is all over LSU now."

"I'm going to say this about Brian Kelly and I use this very sparingly unless it's true. He's a winner," Meyer said. "He's won in Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Notre Dame and so he's going to win... They didn't hire him, with all due respect, to get nine or 10 wins. That's not why you go to LSU... So, I have LSU as a dark horse because I think there's a lot of respect for their coach."

The comments arrive just days before No. 9 LSU opens its season on the road against No. 4 Clemson in a nationally televised matchup that could set the tone for the Tigers’ playoff aspirations.

Brian Kelly’s Tenure at LSU

Kelly, now in his fourth season in Baton Rouge, holds a 29-11 overall record since taking over in 2022. His tenure began with an immediate turnaround, winning the SEC West and posting a 10-4 record in Year 1.

2022: 10-4, SEC West champions, Citrus Bowl win over Purdue.
2023: 10-3, featured the nation’s top offense (45.5 PPG, 543.5 YPG), ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin.
2024: 9-4, Texas Bowl win over Baylor, overcame significant roster turnover after losing Heisman winner Jayden Daniels and multiple first-round NFL draft picks.

Kelly has delivered three straight bowl victories and back-to-back double-digit win seasons before last year’s slight dip.

However, LSU has yet to reach the College Football Playoff under his leadership, a benchmark that looms large given that the last three Tigers head coaches (Nick Saban, Les Miles, Ed Orgeron) all won national titles.

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

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