Jayden Daniels: Win over Alabama meant a lot for both LSU, Brian Kelly

If you told an LSU fan Brian Kelly was going to be able to beat Alabama in Year One, not too many would believe you. Nick Saban‘s team was heavy preseason national championship favorites while the Tigers were beginning a rebuild. But there’s a reason we play the game, with a signature win happening in Baton Rouge thanks to a Mason Taylor two-point conversion.

Jayden Daniels got his first LSU-Alabama experience in November as well, getting the win as the starting quarterback. He joined LSU from Arizona State but still understood the importance of beating the Crimson Tide. Not just for Kelly but also the entire state of Louisiana.

“It meant a lot,” Daniels said. “He lost to Alabama in the national championship game (while at Notre Dame). So it meant a lot to him to get that win. It meant a lot to the state of Louisiana to get that win against Alabama at home for the first time in a while.”

Kelly did not have the greatest record against Alabama, with one loss being the national championship game loss Daniels mentioned. The other was in the 2020 College Football Playoff semifinal, another game Saban took care of easily.

Turns out, beating Alabama is fun. Home LSU fans had not watched a win in Death Valley since the 2010 season when Les Miles was running the program. Over a decade and Kelly was the one who got it done.

As for the head coach’s overall attitude, Daniels says Kelly is thoroughly enjoying his time on the Bayou. He took a big risk by leaving a national power in Notre Dame to join the SEC. Players are loving playing for him as well and getting a rivalry win only makes matters better.

“It’s been fun to see Coach Kelly enjoy his time at LSU,” Daniels said. “If your coach is not enjoying it, the players and going to look at it and not enjoy it too. So, he’s enjoying his time here. He’s enjoying coaching us and we enjoy being around him.”

While the SEC media poll for the 2023 season has not been released, LSU has a serious chance to be favored to win the West. A trip to Tuscaloosa will loom large, with many believing to be a divisional championship matchup.

Getting a second consecutive win, something the Tigers have not done since 2011, would mean a whole lot more.