​One of the most polarizing head coaching hires in the latest college football cycle was LSU’s decision to bring Lane Kiffin onto the Tigers’ sideline. LSU lured him away from SEC rival Ole Miss, and expectations are sky-high—not only because of what he brings to the program, but also because of how aggressively LSU pursued him. The Tigers remain one of college football’s premier brands and are eager to move past the unsteady Brian Kelly era. While fans anticipate immediate results, at least one analyst counsels patience, arguing that a College Football Playoff appearance in Year 1 may be unlikely.
College football analyst Glenn Guilbeau joined The Paul Finebaum Show to discuss LSU’s forthcoming challenge and suggested that the program will experience some growing pains as Kiffin settles in. “There’s going to be a while where he has to kind of figure the team out,” Guilbeau said. “They have five SEC road games for the first time ever. Tennessee might be really good. Ole Miss is going to come. I mean, he left a great team at Ole Miss, so that’s going to be a difficult game. And they have Texas at home, they have Clemson at home, so they could be really good, but could also absorb a few losses.”
That reality check may not sit well with a fan base itching to ascend back to the summit of the sport for the first time in seven years. Still, the truth could lie somewhere in the middle as LSU navigates the transition under new leadership.
Kiffin did a masterful job at Ole Miss, and there is little doubt he can build a successful program in the SEC. Even so, he and LSU will be under intense scrutiny after his departure from Oxford. The coach has a track record of controversial moments at previous stops; late Raiders owner Al Davis once labeled him a “professional liar” and a “con-man.” While Kiffin may prove to be an excellent football coach, a slow start at LSU could rekindle memories of his past exits and fuel heightened criticism if early results don’t meet lofty expectations.
The upcoming season promises to be fascinating to watch unfold. Kiffin could win over many fans and media members with early success, but if LSU falls short of the playoff conversation, the pressure will mount quickly and relentlessly.