Brian Kelly’s situation at LSU right now feels like a classic case of “too many dreams, not enough room.” The 85-scholarship limit isn’t just a number—it’s a concrete wall he keeps running into while trying to reconstruct an offense that, outside of the passing game, seriously underwhelmed last season.
Despite finishing 8th in the SEC and showing flashes of aerial brilliance with Garrett Nussmeier under center, the lack of a reliable ground game and an unseasoned O-line made LSU one-dimensional—and predictable. So naturally, Kelly wants to shop the portal, maybe bring in some seasoned offensive linemen and a rushing threat or two. The catch? He can’t add unless others leave.
Greg McElroy hit the nail on the head—LSU needs better tackle play, but with the roster already at the scholarship cap, Kelly’s got some hard choices to make. Either he banks on some post-spring attrition (transfers out), or he’ll have to make some cuts that aren’t going to win him any popularity contests.
Spring practice, then, becomes an open audition not just for playing time, but for a spot on the team—period. With five QBs and a crowded, but arguably underdeveloped, offensive group, Kelly is walking a tightrope between player development and roster management.
And let’s not forget the irony here: LSU’s NIL presence is strong, giving them an edge in recruitment. But all the NIL money in the world won’t help if you’ve got no space left to bring players in.
So is it a lost cause? Not necessarily. Kelly is nothing if not strategic. If he can navigate the numbers and make the right calls—both in terms of who leaves and who comes in—LSU could still build an offense capable of competing at the top of the SEC. But it’s a narrow path, and the margin for error is razor thin.
What do you think—should Kelly focus on reshuffling current pieces, or take risks in pushing players out to gamble on transfers?