Just a few short months ago, LSU football seemed poised to be one of the favorites to win the national title in 2025 after securing a road victory over Clemson. However, that win has since lost its luster, as it turns out neither LSU nor Clemson were true contenders this season.
On Sunday, following an embarrassing second-half collapse at home against Texas A&M — marking LSU’s third loss of the season — the Tigers made the controversial decision to part ways with head coach Brian Kelly. The buyout reportedly exceeds $53 million, underscoring the magnitude of the move.
The shakeup continued on Monday morning, when LSU announced the firing of offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, according to On3 Sports. Sloan had been with the program since 2022, initially serving as the quarterbacks coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator and primary play-caller in 2024.
Tight ends coach Alex Atkins will take over play-calling duties under interim head coach Frank Wilson moving forward.
During his tenure as quarterbacks coach, Sloan played a key role in developing Jayden Daniels, the Arizona State transfer who won the Heisman Trophy in 2023. Sloan also helmed an elite offense in 2024 with Garrett Nussmeier at quarterback. However, this season’s offensive production has dropped off dramatically.
Currently, LSU’s offense ranks as the third-worst in the SEC — a surprising statistic considering Nussmeier has played every game despite injury, and LSU invested heavily in wide receiver talent through the transfer portal this offseason. The only SEC offenses performing worse are Auburn and South Carolina, both struggling primarily due to significant offensive line issues.
While frustrations with Nussmeier and the passing game have been evident, the real downfall has been the running game. LSU is averaging just over 106 rushing yards per game, dead last in the SEC. This inefficiency on the ground puts Nussmeier in difficult situations frequently, and he has struggled to overcome those challenges.
Following the loss to Texas A&M, LSU now sits at 5-3, with its hopes of contending for an SEC Championship and a College Football Playoff berth all but dashed.
The Tigers will have a bye week to regroup and adjust to the new-look staff, but their schedule doesn’t get any easier. In Week 11, LSU faces a daunting road trip to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama.
https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/lsu-football-news-tigers-fire-jayden-daniels-whisperer-brian-kelly