Sport: Rugby Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Former head coach Brian Kelly reacts to LSU victory after program firing

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 12:38 AM

Last updated Sep 11, 2026

Former head coach Brian Kelly reacts to LSU victory after program firing

Summary

Former LSU football head coach Brian Kelly shared his reaction to the team’s 51-10 victory over Clemson during the opening weekend of the college football season. Kelly, who was dismissed by the university midway through the previous season, admitted on a SiriusXM call that watching the game was difficult after 35 years of coaching. Despite his personal struggle with being away from the sideline, Kelly praised the performance of the current LSU squad. He specifically credited the team’s defensive play and effective rushing attack for the dominant result. Kelly noted that he had previously hired defensive coordinator Blake Baker and currently views the unit as championship-caliber. The win marked the debut for the program under new head coach Lane Kiffin.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•LSU defeated Clemson 51-10 in the first game of the Lane Kiffin era.
•Brian Kelly coached at LSU before his mid-season dismissal last year.
•Kelly highlighted the efficiency of the LSU running game and defensive unit.
•Blake Baker serves as the current defensive coordinator for the team.

Latest Updates

12:38 AMYahoo Sports — ‘I had a hard time watching it’: Brian Kelly reacts to LSU’s dominant victory after being fired

What they're saying

"
Brian Kelly was let go as the head coach of the LSU Tigers football program in the middle of last season after he failed to find the sort of success either he or the university envisioned when he came to Baton Rouge after a long stint as the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting…
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Rugby