Paul Finebaum Praises Brian Kelly, Expresses Concerns About LSU's Early Schedule

ESPN's Paul Finebaum appeared on the McElroy & Cubelic in the Morning this week and praised Brian Kelly's confidence heading into the 2025 season. Per On3:

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“It’s gone wonderfully,” Finebaum said of LSU’s offseason. “When I saw him, Greg, in Destin — I don’t know what five six weeks ago — he was oozing with confidence. I really think he knows that’s the only thing he can do right now. He can’t play this second-rate game that Hugh Freeze‘s playing. It won’t work. His fans are a little bit different.

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Finebaum also pointed to September as a pivotal opening stretch for the Tigers. LSU begins the season with Clemson (technically in August) and then will host Florida in Week 3, and travel to Ole Miss in Week 5 to wrap up September.

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“They are used to winning national championships down there. They expect it, even though, overall, the program has been all over the place. He’s told everybody the truth. He’s got the best roster. The problem is he’s got the toughest opening game, and he’s got the toughest September. I think he’ll survive September, but that is a very tricky schedule when you consider what he has to deal with before five weeks of the season are over with.”

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