Brian Kelly didn’t hide the fact that Florida State has his attention.
With the Seminoles searching for a new head coach after Mike Norvell was fired Sunday, Kelly emerged as one of the names being discussed for the opening. On Tuesday, the former Notre Dame and LSU coach addressed the job directly and made it clear he knows exactly what the position represents.
“I’ve got a great history with Florida State, great games. I know what that’s like, the history and tradition of Florida State, playing in that state, and the fan base,” Kelly said. “So anytime you have an incredibly brand driven, great tradition and history, there’s a want and desire to be part of somebody that has had that success and, certainly, leading that program, from anyone’s perspective, would be an honor and privilege.”
Florida State’s appeal is obvious enough. Even after years without much success, the program still carries the kind of name recognition that turns a coaching search into a national conversation. That’s part of why Kelly’s name has surfaced so quickly.
The question is whether he’d actually be the right fit.
Kelly’s most recent run ended in 2023, when LSU fired him eight games into a 5-3 season. He went 34-14 there overall, good for a .708 winning percentage. Across his career, he’s sitting at 200-76, a .725 mark that makes him an easy candidate to take seriously.
But the modern job description is different now. Winning at this level isn’t just about game-planning and recruiting the old-fashioned way. It’s about navigating the transfer portal and NIL, and that’s where the evaluation gets more complicated.
Kelly’s exit from LSU came right as college football was changing fast, which left him without much time to prove he could consistently keep key players in place and pull in impact talent from other programs. That matters here. Florida State can’t afford to guess on someone who hasn’t already shown he can handle both sides of that equation.
So yes, Kelly is worth discussing. But if Florida State is serious about getting this hire right, the Seminoles may need to keep looking for a coach who has already shown he can retain talent and attract it.
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For LSU, the ranking is less about the number itself than what it says about the path ahead. A spot in the first release would put the Tigers on the board in the CFP debate, but it also leaves plenty of room for movement as the season unfolds. The committees first look often sets the tone for the rest of November, and LSU will be watching closely to see whether it starts from a position of respect or from one that still demands a climb. [Read more 🡒]
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LSU Just Learned Winnie Watkins Jr. Has Been Playing Through Injury
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Watkins addressed the injury publicly for the first time on a radio show, saying he expects the thumb to fully heal in a few weeks. For LSU, the encouraging part is that he said it is not affecting his ability to play right now, which helps explain why he has remained part of the offense despite the obvious discomfort and the uncertainty that comes with any hand injury for a receiver. [Read more 🡒]