Paul Finebaum reveals the exact reason Brian Kelly bolted Notre Dame for LSU

After putting together a 92-39 record in 12 seasons at Notre Dame, Brian Kelly has left to become the next head coach of the LSU Tigers. Kelly signed a 10-year, $95 million contract with LSU. The news was shocking and has sent waves throughout the college football landscape. According to Paul Finebaum, Brian Kelly bolting Notre Dame for LSU can be attributed to one simple reason: to win a national championship.

“It’s an extraordinary development that someone would leave Notre Dame,” Finebaum said on Get Up. “That has always been the gold standard in college football, but LSU is really more impressive these days than Notre Dame.

“They’ve won three national championship down there since Notre Dame won its last. And I think that’s what Brian Kelly wants.”

Finebaum on Kelly leaving Notre Dame for LSU: ‘He wants a national championship’

Kelly did a tremendous job at Notre Dame. He turned the Fighting Irish into a consistent contender for the College Football Playoff, making two semifinals and an appearance in the 2012 national title game. Notre Dame won ten games in each of the past five seasons under Kelly.

Despite Notre Dame’s prolonged success, Kelly still bolted to LSU. A simple answer as to why the move makes sense for Kelly? LSU probably has a better shot to win. Notre Dame went 11-1 this season. The Irish currently sit at No. 6 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Notre Dame will need a lot of help to find itself in the playoff this season.

At LSU, Kelly is putting himself in a position for prolonged success in the SEC. Each of the previous three LSU football head coaches have won a national championship. Nick Saban did it in 2003, Les Miles did in 2007, and most recently Ed Orgeron led the Tigers on an undefeated national championship run in 2019.

“He wants a national championship,” Finebaum continued. “He lost to Nick Saban ten years ago. He’s lost several times in the playoffs, including to Alabama again last year and I think he concluded he could not win one at Notre Dame.

“He can at LSU because Saban has won one down there and so has Les Miles and so has Ed Orgeron two years ago.”

LSU went 6-6 this season, earning bowl eligibility in Ed Orgeron’s final season. While Kelly now has to deal with Nick Saban on a yearly basis in the SEC, he has a great opportunity to things around for LSU.