Brian Kelly explains how preparation is different in Year 2

Many experts predicted a learning curve for Brian Kelly in the SEC after taking the LSU head coaching job last season. He crushed those expectations in 2022, notching 10 wins and winning the SEC West in his first season.

Now, expectations are through the roof entering year two.

On top of that, the Tigers came into their own during the postseason, defeating Purdue and winning the Citrus Bowl 63-7 to round out what ended up being a major turnaround for a Tigers squad that previously had seen little luck in the win column after winning the 2019 National Championship.

After enjoying immense success in 2022, Kelly is attempting to spearhead this offseason the same way he did this time last year.

“I don’t want to overuse this phrase, but I want to say that there should be a realistic expectation that everything we do, we do a little bit better [than last year],” Kelly said after the first day of fall camp. “Does that mean we’re gonna win every game we play? I would like to. But I think you have to have a realistic expectation that the work we did last year we should be able to build upon.

“We go in with the same kind of realistic expectation that we should be making some kind of incremental jump in certain areas. … They should be making those jumps. Freshmen we have to be more patient, we have to teach more, but that’s how I feel about everything we’re doing on a day-to-day basis.”

Assuming that QB Jayden Daniels improves and is in form to be the SEC’s marquee quarterback this season, LSU’s 9.5 win total that Vegas has tabbed on them — the Tigers could crush that mark. At the very least, notching double-digit wins should be the floor for LSU heading into the 2023 season.

With Daniels leading the charge, he finished his first season with the Tigers having thrown for 2,913 yards, 17 touchdowns and three interceptions on a 68.6% completion percentage. He also contributed 885 rushing yards and 11 more touchdowns on the ground — and is only expected to build on that during the 2023 season.

If LSU finds itself with a 10-win regular season, it almost ensures that either the Tigers would be back in the SEC Championship, they would certainly be in a New Year’s Six bowl game, or even find themselves ranked in the top four when the final College Football Playoff rankings roll around.