LSU football coach Brian Kelly opens up about rapidly approaching 12-team playoff

With the current College Football Playoff being a four-team tournament, LSU football coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers are essentially out of contention with their No. 15 ranking. However, in 2024, the path gets much more manageable as it will expand to 12 teams. On Thursday, coach Kelly spoke about the expansion and what it can do for the sport.

Coach Brian Kelly is excited about what the 12-team playoff could do for college football

“We expect to be there. That’s why we’re here at LSU.”

When coach Brian Kelly took the job in Baton Rouge, he had championships on his mind. He’s won pretty much everywhere he’s been, but the one thing he’s yet to do is win a national title. The Tiger head coach hopes to change that in the near future.

With the upcoming 2024 expansion of the College Football Playoff, the path might be getting a bit more attainable.

“I’m a fan of 12 teams,” LSU football coach Brian Kelly said when asked about the 12-team playoff. “I always have been. I started my career in Division II, where we had 16, and now it’s 32. It’s exciting.

“And who knows, right now, if we’re in this position – I think we’re 15th – maybe we get a little help and we slide in. So, that would make it exciting for everybody in college football. That the top 15, 16 teams are still fighting for an opportunity for postseason.”

Winning in college football is far more difficult than most realize, especially for those in the SEC, one of the premier conferences in the sport.

It’s not getting any easier, either. Oklahoma and Texas will join the party next season, the same year an expanded College Football Playoff will take effect.

As exciting as it is to think about 2024 and all the changes, coach Kelly remains focused on the present. He knows his team has plenty to play for this year and wants to ensure they finish as strong as possible.

“Everybody remembers how you finish, and for us, it’s about finishing strong and finishing the season strong, and that’s what our focus is right now.”

Right now, the Tigers are focused on getting ready for their matchup with Georgia State at 7:00 p.m. CST this evening. LSU football is currently a 31.5-point favorite, and if they hope to cover such a wide spread, they’ll need to bring their A-game against the Panthers.

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