HOUSTON — Before LSU played in the Texas Bowl, coach Brian Kelly framed the game as a way for the team to start the 2025 season. It provided an ending to this year, but as non-playoff bowls often do these days, it also offered a chance to look ahead.

LSU head football coach Brian Kelly's work to rebuild the Tigers into a top SEC contender has only just begun.

LSU football led Baylor by 17 points at halftime of the Kinder's Texas Bowl, but the Bears cut the lead to 10 in the third quarter. The Tigers, tasked with replacing multiple starters on defense, embodied a "bend,

LSU spent the offseason working with Perkins as an inside linebacker going into the first year under defensive coordinator Blake Baker, but he moved to strongside linebacker again after a couple of weeks, replacing the Star position in Baker’s scheme. Perkins notched 17 tackles, 1½ tackles for loss and no sacks through four games before the injury.

Brian Kelly said that his NIL donation match challenge response from fans and donors has positioned LSU football to remain aggressive in portal.

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers have quickly become one of the most active programs in the NCAA Transfer Portal with a slew of additions to this point. Before th