In Las Vegas, Brian Kelly slammed his fist on the press conference table, nearly knocking over his water bottle, as he vented his frustrations following LSU’s disappointing 27-20 loss to No. 23 USC.
After leading by four points with less than six minutes remaining, Kelly did not hold back in addressing his team’s shortcomings. “Some players really gave their all tonight, yet here we are again discussing the same issues!” he exclaimed, emphasizing the failure to finish when they had the chance to secure the win. “It felt like we were acting as if the game was already over.”
This marked the first time Kelly admitted to feeling “angry” at his team during his time at LSU, citing a lack of a “killer instinct.” He expressed his dissatisfaction with his coaching, stating, “I’m so frustrated that I need to make changes. It’s unacceptable that we didn’t find a way to win this game. It’s absurd.”
Despite racking up 421 yards of offense and controlling possession for six additional minutes, LSU failed to convert their opportunities. Their opening drive covered 74 yards over 13 plays but ended without scoring. Although they managed to take the lead twice in the third quarter, they could not maintain it.
“It’s clear we struggle to manage ourselves when we have a lead,” Kelly said. “We need to put teams away. We had the chance to do that tonight, but we became complacent and made mistakes instead of maintaining focus and a determined mindset. That’s disappointing.”
Kelly pointed out that the Tigers committed 10 penalties for 99 yards, compared to USC’s six, with some occurring at crucial moments. A targeting penalty during USC’s game-winning drive allowed the Trojans to score from inside the red zone with just eight seconds remaining.
LSU’s ground game also fell short of expectations. Offensive lineman Will Campbell had confidently stated earlier in the week that the Tigers would run the ball effectively against USC. “That’s not something we’re trying to keep quiet,” he asserted.
Ultimately, LSU managed only 117 rushing yards, relying heavily on quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns. However, after scoring the go-ahead touchdown, LSU’s offense stalled, allowing USC’s revamped defense to make critical stops.
“They had every reason to be confident,” USC’s Lincoln Riley noted about LSU’s offensive line. “But so did we. We just didn’t discuss it publicly.”
Out of 13 third downs, LSU converted only five. Following their touchdown in the third quarter, their next four drives resulted in two punts, a field goal, and an interception by Nussmeier that sealed their fate.
“For us to become the team I envision, we must eliminate careless mistakes,” Kelly concluded. “We also need to improve our ability to work together more effectively.”