College football: 3 second-year coaches who could win 2023 national title

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Dec 3, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly reacts towards the fans after being defeated by the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Brian Kelly, LSU

From one Notre Dame coach to the former Irish coach. Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU because he felt like he had a better chance to reach his career goals (a national title) in Baton Rouge. He felt like he was tapped out at Notre Dame.

I remember when Kelly was introduced during an LSU basketball game as the next Tigers head coach, replacing Ed Orgeron. He spoke in a fake, corny southern accent and I remember laughing and thinking to myself, “Wow, this is going to be a disaster.”

After the season opener when Kelly’s Tigers choked away a win against Florida State and then he was called out by a reporter in his press conference the following Monday, I felt vindicated.

Boy was I wrong.

All Kelly did was reel off a number of wins and have the Tigers in a position to make the College Football Playoff before a stumble at the end of the regular season. They did make the SEC title game before losing to eventual-champion Georgia

But LSU looked like a legit title contender in both the SEC and nationally and I think it’ll be even better in 2023 with Jayden Daniels back.

This team is going to be a problem under Kelly.

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