Five reasons Brian Kelly failed at LSU - ESPN

Brian Kelly came to LSU in late 2021 with a clear and realistic purpose: to win a national championship.

His three predecessors as Tigers coach — Ed Orgeron, Les Miles and Nick Saban — all led LSU to titles by the end of their fourth full seasons on the job. Kelly had more impressive credentials than any — yes, even Saban — when he came to Baton Rouge, as the winningest coach in Notre Dame history, a two-time Division II national champion at Grand Valley State and a two-time AP National Coach of the Year.

Kelly brought his bold and brash style to the bayou and immediately had success, winning an SEC West Division title in his first season, and 10 games in each of his first two years. But he didn't make the CFP in his first three seasons, and when his much-anticipated fourth veered after three losses in four games, LSU quickly pulled the plug.

A 49-25 home loss to Texas A&M in which the Tiger Stadium stands had emptied by the fourth quarter, followed by a contentious Sunday of meetings, led to Kelly's ouster. He briefly addressed the team Sunday night, before driving away from the football operations building and Tiger Stadium for the last time.

How did it go so wrong so quickly for Kelly at LSU? He generated reactions from the moment he arrived, beginning with his «here with my fam-u-lee» speech at a Tigers basketball game. But whatever barbs came his way, Kelly still could stand on a track record of winning big… until he couldn't.

ESPN reporters Mark Schlabach, Max Olson and Adam Rittenberg examined the reasons Kelly ultimately didn't work out at LSU.

Those who worked with Kelly at both Notre Dame and LSU described him as a true CEO-style head coach. He typically hired strong staffs, especially at Notre Dame with