LAS VEGAS — LSU head coach Brian Kelly did not hold back his frustration after the No. 13 Tigers suffered a 27-20 loss to No. 23 USC in their season opener on Sunday night. Despite leading by four points with just under six minutes left, LSU faltered, prompting Kelly to express his anger and disappointment in a post-game press conference.
Kelly, visibly upset, slammed his fist on the table, emphasizing his dissatisfaction with the team’s inability to close out the game. “We had some guys play their hearts out tonight, and here we are again, talking about the same issues—failing to finish when we have the chance,” Kelly said. He criticized his team’s lack of a “killer instinct,” a quality he believes is essential for victory. “It’s unacceptable that we couldn’t find a way to win this football game. It’s ridiculous. It’s crazy.”
LSU’s offense managed to rack up 421 yards and controlled the clock by six minutes, but they failed to capitalize on key opportunities. Their first drive, which lasted over seven minutes, ended without any points. Though the Tigers took the lead twice in the third quarter, their inability to maintain it cost them dearly.
Kelly pointed out the team’s struggles when ahead, saying, “Unfortunately, it’s clear that when we get up in a game, we do not know how to handle ourselves. You’ve got to put teams away.” Penalties also plagued the Tigers, with 10 penalties for 99 yards, some of which occurred at crucial moments, including a targeting penalty that helped USC set up their game-winning score.
LSU’s ground game struggled as well, despite earlier confidence from offensive lineman Will Campbell, who had predicted the Tigers would run the ball effectively. In the end, LSU managed only 117 rushing yards and relied heavily on quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns. However, the offense stalled after taking the lead in the third quarter, with Nussmeier’s interception in the final minutes sealing the loss.
Kelly concluded by emphasizing the need to eliminate mistakes and improve teamwork. “For us to be the kind of football team I want, we have to eliminate the foolish mistakes and play off each other much better,” he said.
