Paul Finebaum: Brian Kelly has most on the line in Week 1 matchup vs. Clemson

There are some massive matchups in Week 1 this college football season. That’s also going to put coaches into the fire right away this season, with the potential for big early losses. Among those coaches who are facing a major early test is Brian Kelly.

The LSU Tigers open the season on the road against the Clemson Tigers. There, analyst Paul Finebaum says that Kelly actually has the most to lose in Week 1.

“Brian Kelly,” Paul Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “Even though we all know what he has after that, he’s the coach I think in this weekend is probably the most vulnerable because of everything that has already been said. Also, his schedule. Nobody else has remaining games like Brian Kelly does, especially coming back in two or three weeks later against Florida. So, if you get blown out there and you lose another game, you’re down to your last swing of the bat, perhaps with all kinds of schools coming up like Texas A&M and, especially, Alabama in Tuscaloosa.”

Part of the challenge for Kelly and LSU isn’t the Clemson game itself, which promises to be difficult. The challenge is that the Tigers have a difficult schedule beyond that game. That means there’s less room for error in a Week 1 non-conference game, which has already proven to be a challenge for LSU under Kelly.

“Everyone else has a path back, even Clemson,” Finebaum said. “I mean, they’re at Louisville. They have one or two other games. South Carolina. But Ohio State essentially has what, Penn State left? Then a possibility of a Big Ten Championship Game. I think Brian Kelly would clearly be the topic of conversation Monday morning on this program.”

In his three seasons with the program, Brian Kelly has led LSU to a 29-11 record. That includes one trip to the SEC Championship Game, but they’ve yet to get to the College Football Playoff. That’s the expectation, though, and as former Tiger Marcus Spears shared, there’s frustration growing with him.

“It’s kind of a split decision there. I was with Marcus [Spears] when he said that. What Marcus was reacting to was just how fans will react. We understand that. I don’t believe the administration there. Scott Woodward is heavily invested in that system. You have a new president who’s a big fan of all the athletic teams, and I just don’t think there’s a heavy appetite down there,” Finebaum said. “Because I don’t think there’s been the kind of missteps and misstatements and miscalculations as we’ve seen elsewhere. Now, you can’t ever answer a question in August about a season that turns into a disaster. I’ve seen Alabama coaches start the season ranked No. 3 in the country, and they’ll only win three games, and, of course, they were fired. But, I think Brian Kelly, as long as this season seems successful, is going to be back next year.”

Clemson will play host to LSU on August 30th. After that, LSU will return home and just two weeks later plays host to Florida to kickoff SEC play.