Kelly completes superb first LSU season with dominant Citrus Bowl win

Brian Kelly was 6-0 against Purdue as the head coach at Notre Dame. LSU’s first year head coach remained unbeaten against the Boilermakers in an absolute rout.

The Tigers humiliated Purdue in a 63-7 demolition Monday at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

Start with this.

Inheriting a program with fewer than 40 scholarship players, Kelly won the SEC West and posted 10 victories. A short-handed Purdue squad in a coaching transition had no chance to prevent the double-digit win clincher for the Tigers.

Drew Brees was on the sideline coaching for Purdue but he was not playing for the Boilermakers. That is what it would have taken for Purdue to have a chance against LSU.

Jayden Daniels, making his 43rd career college start, was healthy, unlike at the end of the regular season. He played like it, completing 12 of 17 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown while rushing six times for 67 yards.

Garrett Nussmeier picked up where he left off in the SEC championship game, equally as impressive as he was in Atlanta. The second-year quarterback completed 11 of 15 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.

A pure passer with a huge arm, Nussmeier has a bright future, most likely in the NFL.

Daniels is a solid passer and elite runner who may also have an NFL future. He decided recently to return to LSU next season.

Will Nussmeier return? By playing him substantially against Purdue, Kelly was signaling to Nussmeier that he likes him and wants him to stay with the Tigers.

That said, Nussmeier is clearly a starting-level talent in major college football.

True freshman Walker Howard got to play as well. The Lafayette product is also higlly regarded.

LSU had great balance, passing for 369 yards and rushing for 225 yards. Leading a busy stable, Noah Cain ran for two scores and caught two passes for five yards.

The Tiger defense was stout, allowing just one score and posting four sacks while holding Purdue to 263 total yards. LSU forced three Purdue turnovers with interceptions by Quad Wilson, Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Greg Brooks Jr.

While much was made of the depleted Purdue squad, let us not diminish what LSU accomplished without its full 2022 team. The Tigers were without three key defensive linemen, three key wide receivers and a tight end, among others.

LSU was well prepared and motivated.

While the Florida State and Texas A&M losses were disappointmentsthis season, Kelly did masterful job in his first year on the job overall. His staff is doing an outstanding job recruiting on the high school level and in the transfer portal.

Next, Kelly will try to recruit Nussmeier to stay and possibly play at least part time while Daniels is the clear starter and leader of the team heading into the offseason.

LSU has a great chance to be fully back to elite program status as early as next season, based on the talent returning, quality of recruits coming in and an established coaching staff led by a proven winner.