Are there lessons to be learned about the LSU Tigers' demise under Brian Kelly? Yes, but they are mostly about being a good person, being authentically yourself, and not deflicting blame when it is squarely your fault. Although the Kelly era in Baton Rouge is over, now is the time for LSU to hire the right head coach to lead them. Georgia may not lose anyone of note to LSU, but must pay attention.
This is because if LSU makes the right decision for them and it works out, then the Dawgs will have another SEC foe to worry about in league play every so often. Again, LSU hired Kelly with every intention that he would instill fear in rival teams' eyes like Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and Texas A&M, as well as keep other SEC contenders like Georgia and Texas on their toes just a little bit.
So while it remains to be seen if LSU does what is actually best for LSU, surely, a notable name will make his way to Baton Rouge. It could be former Penn State head coach James Franklin. It could be Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall. Heck, it could even be their former offensive wunderkind in Joe Brady off the Buffalo Bills' staff. Right now, it seems like it should be someone with strong SEC ties.
So between Lane Kiffin, Dan Lanning and Eliah Drinkwitz, Georgia fans would have to keep tabs on it.
Georgia fans wait eagerly to see who LSU decides will replace Brian Kelly
Outside of Alabama, and arguably Texas and Texas A&M, LSU is perhaps the biggest threat to Georgia contending for SEC Championships in the coming years. Those are arguably the five best jobs in the SEC at its current juncture. We have seen Alabama and Georgia be dynastic in recent years. Texas is back, sort of..., while Texas A&M is using all of that NIL money for good to finally be a team of stature.
Between the likes of Auburn, Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee, LSU occupies the spot of being the best program of that next SEC tier. Ole Miss and Vanderbilt have played their way up, but we all know how hard those jobs are to win at with great regularlity historically. The same principle applies to Missouri. So between Drinkwitz, Kiffin and Lanning, who is most inclined to take the job over at LSU?
Lanning would be a great fit, but he seems comfortable at Oregon. He still believes he can win a national title at Oregon, although it would be much easier if he came back to the SEC and did it in a more talent-rich state like Louisiana. He should take the job if offered, but the timing of it all does not seem right. Kiffin could take it, but he might want Florida more. Either way, it feels like a lateral move.
As far as Drinkwitz is concerned, he might be perfect for it. The Missouri head coach will have options beyond Columbia this year. Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and Penn State will all have interest. LSU is the better job of those five. He could reunite with Blake Baker as his defensive coordinator. Drinkwitz has an eye for offensive talent. He would make the most of his perceived program upgrade in the SEC.
Overall, Georgia needs to monitor what happens in Baton Rouge in the coming weeks. Will the guy LSU tabs to replace Kelly be seen as a threat to Georgia in the SEC? If it is, then that makes things harder for Kirby Smart. If not, well, Georgia can continue to look at LSU as the team it has been throughout the playoff era. It caught lightning in a bottle one year, but has otherwise disappointed.
LSU is surely going to hire whomever the athletic department believes will be the antithesis of Kelly.