Former LSU coach Brian Kelly may not be out of the Big Ten conversation for long.
Kelly is settling into his new job as a color commentator with CBS Sports, while Lane Kiffin is the one guiding LSU through what could be a championship-caliber season in Baton Rouge. Even so, only a few weeks into the 2026 college football season, Kelly is already being linked to another head coaching opening at the Power 4 level.
The Athletic reported that Rutgers could emerge as a possible destination for Kelly if the Scarlet Knights decide to move on from head coach Greg Schiano.
The fit is not hard to see. Rutgers president Bill Tate and athletic director Keli Zinn both worked with Kelly at LSU, giving the two sides an existing relationship that could matter if the job opens up. Kelly’s background also points north, since he is a native of Massachusetts, and a return to the Northeast would make sense.
Kelly also recently opened up about how difficult it was to watch LSU’s season opener against Clemson from the broadcast booth.
"I'll be honest. I had a hard time watching it, but I don't think it was just LSU.
It was just the first weekend, truly, of college football, and it was hard," Kelly said." Like you know, you've been doing it for you know 35 years, and not to be part of of that process, my wife she wanted to kill me.
She was like, "What's wrong with you? And what was wrong was that I wasn't on the sideline, and it was you know I had to deal with it and and and get through it."
He said he was also impressed by LSU’s 51-10 win.
"But you know there's no mistaking LSU looked great, and you know obviously it's a little bit of both, right? Was Clemson maybe not as good as we thought, and and certainly LSU was was on fire, and that showed in the game.
So, props props to LSU. They played great, but I think it's like you know we talked about Michigan, right?
It's one game. Let's let's see what this looks like throughout the entire year.
Can they keep the same energy? But they look really good."
In Other News...
LSU Fans Have One More Reason To Hate This Ole Miss Loss
Ole Miss 32-24 win over LSU was already frustrating enough for Tigers fans, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss putting together a big day through the air and on the ground in a game that helped the Rebels leave with a rivalry win. He threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns, added another score rushing and had just one interception, giving Ole Miss plenty to celebrate after the final whistle.
For LSU fans, though, the irritation did not end with the scoreboard. Chambliss postgame interview with ESPNs Holly Rowe added one more layer to the loss when he let an expletive slip while delivering the Ole Miss cheer Hotty Toddy, a moment that will only sharpen how this result is remembered in Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffins Family Is Forcing Ole Miss Fans To Confront Something Ugly
As LSU and Ole Miss prepare for a high-profile matchup Saturday night, the attention around Lane Kiffin has spilled far beyond the sideline. His family, including daughter Landry, has been hit with inappropriate jokes on social media, a reminder of how quickly rivalry week can turn ugly when football noise bleeds into personal attacks.
Layla Kiffin, Lanes ex-wife, posted a message calling for kindness, and Landry publicly addressed the offensive comments as well. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and will air on ABC, but the lead-up has already shown how much harder it can be for families attached to a marquee SEC game to stay out of the crossfire. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Suddenly Has A Trey'Dez Green Concern It Can't Ignore
TreyDez Green gave LSU a lift against Ole Miss before the fourth quarter turned troubling, and the Tigers immediately had to adjust to life without their tight end. Green hauled in a 19-yard reception before suffering an apparent right leg injury, then was evaluated on the field by medical staff as the LSU sideline watched a key pass-catching option go down.
By the time he was carted to the locker room, the LSU Football Radio Broadcast had ruled him doubtful to return, leaving the Tigers with a real concern in the passing game. Green had been LSUs leading receiver at the time of his exit with four catches for 60 yards, a reminder of how much the offense had already leaned on him before the injury interrupted the night. [Read more 🡒]