Paul Finebaum: LSU loss vs. South Carolina would be ‘shattering’ for Brian Kelly

LSU heads out East on Saturday for a noon ET kickoff against South Carolina as a touchdown favorite. Brian Kelly will lead his team into their first SEC matchup of the 2024 season, looking to start on a positive note. The Gamecocks certainly did last week, taking down Kentucky for a momentum-building win.

So what if South Carolina can continue their momentum and earn another surprising win against LSU? If you ask ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, questions would begin to be asked of Kelly. Finebaum described the possibility as “shattering” for the head coach and his tenure in Baton Rouge.

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“I think it would be a shattering loss,” Finebaum said. “I’m a big fan of Brian Kelly but to have two losses by the middle of September would be really hard to handle. LSU fans are great fans but they’re also quick to start asking questions. They would certainly be asking plenty of them.”

Folks inside the LSU program made their goal clear this offseason — making the College Football Playoff. Even if the four-team edition was still around, competing for national championships is the expectation out of Baton Rouge. Starting left tackle Will Campbell believes it’s time for LSU to “do something” in Kelly’s third year in charge.

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Losing to South Carolina would all but take LSU out of the CFP conversation for Finebaum. Starting the season with two losses in three games with some tough games upcoming would put them in serious danger.

Winning on Saturday afternoon would not cement their spot, though. Instead, a few huge opportunities would present themselves at Tiger Stadium.

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“They’re really on the outer fringe of the playoffs,” Finebaum said. “They’re in the next group that doesn’t make it. That’s why they have to win. They have some good home games too with Alabama and Ole Miss, Oklahoma I believe as well. That gives them some really good opportunities but not with another stumble.”

Kelly made a splash in 2022, taking down Alabama and winning the SEC West. Last season, a Heisman Trophy winner was produced in quarterback Jayden Daniels. Add in plenty of success on the recruiting trail and we have seen what the Tigers are capable of with Kelly at the helm.

But Finebaum believes Saturday is the type of game Kelly needs to win to remain in good faith with the LSU fans. The season would not be completely lost but the noise in the Boot would pick up a decibel or two.