Las Vegas — The atmosphere was electric on Sunday night as No. 13 LSU faced off against No. 23 USC in a highly anticipated season opener. The Tigers seemed poised to secure a win, holding a four-point lead with just under six minutes left in the game. But as the clock ticked down, the Trojans delivered a devastating blow, handing LSU a 27-20 loss and leaving head coach Brian Kelly visibly furious.
Kelly’s frustration was palpable during the postgame press conference, where he slammed his fist on the table, nearly toppling his water bottle. “We had some guys play their butts off tonight, and we’re sitting here again talking about the same things!” Kelly exclaimed, his voice filled with exasperation. “Not finishing when you have an opponent in a position to put them away.”
The loss marked the first time during Kelly’s tenure at LSU that he publicly expressed anger towards his team, criticizing their lack of a “killer instinct.” “I’m so angry about it that I’ve got to do something about it. I’m not doing a good enough job as a coach,” Kelly admitted. “It’s unacceptable for us not to have found a way to win this football game. It’s ridiculous.”
Despite a strong offensive showing with 421 total yards and dominating time of possession by six minutes, LSU’s inability to capitalize on crucial moments proved costly. The Tigers’ first drive covered 74 yards on 13 plays in over seven minutes but ended with zero points. LSU managed to take the lead twice in the third quarter, but the Trojans refused to back down.
Kelly pointed out the team’s complacency once they gained the lead, a recurring issue he found deeply disappointing. “When we get up in a game, we do not know how to handle ourselves,” Kelly said. “You’ve got to put teams away. We had an opportunity to put this team away, but we got complacent and made more mistakes.”
Penalties also played a significant role in LSU’s downfall. The Tigers committed 10 penalties for 99 yards, compared to USC’s six. A crucial targeting penalty on LSU during USC’s game-winning drive placed the Trojans inside the red zone, leading to the decisive touchdown with just eight seconds remaining.
The Tigers’ ground game, which had been touted as a strength leading up to the game, was largely ineffective. Offensive lineman Will Campbell had confidently stated earlier in the week that LSU would run the ball against USC, but the reality was far different. LSU managed only 117 rushing yards, forcing quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to shoulder the offensive load. Nussmeier delivered, throwing for over 300 yards and two touchdowns, but his efforts weren’t enough to overcome LSU’s mistakes.
USC’s new-look defense under coordinator D’Anton Lynn played a pivotal role, particularly in the second half. Despite LSU’s early confidence, the Trojans’ defense held firm, stopping the Tigers on several key third-down attempts. LSU converted just five of their 13 third downs, and after taking the lead in the third quarter, their next four drives ended in two punts, a field goal, and a game-sealing interception by Nussmeier.
USC coach Lincoln Riley, speaking after the game, acknowledged LSU’s confidence but noted that his team was equally prepared. “They had every right to be confident,” Riley said. “But so did we. We just didn’t talk about it in the media.”
As LSU reflects on the missed opportunities and critical mistakes that led to their season-opening loss, Kelly made it clear that changes are needed. “For us to be the kind of football team I want, we have to eliminate the foolish mistakes,” Kelly said. “Finally, we have to be able to play off of each other much better.”
As the Tigers regroup, one thing is certain: the road ahead won’t be easy, and Kelly’s quest to instill a “killer instinct” in his team has only just begun.