Notre Dame fans might still be smarting over the outcome of the 2025 College Football Playoff title game, but it’s time to look to 2026. At least that’s how ESPN sees it.
The Irish are slotted as the seventh seed and host of a first-round game, but the bigger story in this scenario is their first opponent would be LSU. What’s more, this projection has the Irish beating the Tigers in a game that Brian Kelly surely never would live down.
Alas, this projection also has Penn State getting revenge on the Irish in the Rose Bowl en route to winning the national title. At least there’s no shame in losing to the last team standing:
Welcome to college football, where predictions never take time off.
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A four-star LSU receiver commit is “shutting down” his recruitment
LSU commit [autotag]Kenny Darby[/autotag] is “shutting down” his recruitment.
Darby told On3’s Hayes Fawcett, “LSU suits me the best and the best in the boot stay in the boot.”
According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Darby is the No. 39 wide receiver in the class and the No. 9 prospect in Louisiana. He’s a top 300 overall recruit and three of the four major recruiting services slot Darby as a four-star.
Last week, LSU head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and offensive coordinator [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] paid a visit to Darby. Soon after, Darby was locked in with the Tigers.
Of course, a player’s recruitment is never officially shut down until pen hits paper. But Darby coming out to reinforce his commitment to LSU is a positive sign for LSU’s chances to sign the four-star wide receiver.
LSU makes it a priority to sign Louisiana’s top prospects every year. 2026 has a chance to be one of the best classes in the state’s history.
LSU is getting an impact player with Barion Brown. What do Tiger fans need to know about the new receiver?
LSU football head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] alluded to an aggressive approach to recruiting the transfer portal following the end of LSU’s regular season.
The results lived up to expectations as the Tigers brought in the No. 1 transfer class, according to 247 Sports, with eight four-star commitments.
One of those four-stars is wide receiver Barion Brown. In three seasons at Kentucky, he caught 122 passes for 1,528 yards and 11 touchdowns. He prioritized choosing a contender for a conference and national title, which led him to Baton Rouge.
Brown will catch passes from quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who will be in his second year starting for the Tigers. The rising senior brings three years of SEC experience to an offense in need of veteran contributors.
Kelly’s staff needs reliable pass catchers to emerge from its offense this season with 2024 top targets Kyren Lacy and Mason Taylor heading to the NFL. They hope Brown is one of those reliable targets.
Here are five things to know about Brown.
LSU gets SEC Experience
We touched on this in the intro, but the importance can’t be understated. LSU’s receiving core was depleted heading into the transfer portal window as it lost three wideouts and a tight end.
Aaron Anderson, Trey’Dez Green (tight end/wide receiver hybrid) and Chris Hilton are the three returners with the most receptions. While it’s possible one separates himself as a leader in the offseason, pairing the homegrown talent with experience definitely helps.
He’s proven that he can be a game changer late in the game as he made a fourth-down conversion and 60-yard touchdown catch in the Wildcats’ upset over Ole Miss.
Barion Brown’s advanced stats profile
For his career, Brown averages 1.97 yards per route. This mark is above average compared to his counterparts. His 1.89 yards per route in 2024 ranked 22nd out of 48 qualified SEC receivers.
Despite Kentucky’s lackluster offensive performance last season, Brown still separated himself as one of the top threats in the conference, literally.
In 2023, Brown was one of the best wide receivers in the SEC against man coverage. He ranked tenth in the conference with 2.35 yards per route vs man.
Now apart of one of the nation’s top offenses, Brown has a chance to set a new standard. He knows SEC defenses well and will be surrounded by other weapons at LSU.
Where does Brown line up?
In 2024, Brown lined up wide 83.6% of the time. This preference pairs perfectly with LSU’s returning receivers.
Anderson lined up most often in the slot while Green is still establishing his presence as a wide threat, growing from his original listing as a tight end. Brown can establish himself as a speedster on the perimeter.
While Brown doesn’t have the height and length as some classic outside wide receivers of the pat, he’s athletic enough to play outside. One of the fastest players in the conference, coupled with route knowledge and experience, Brown is poised to be a contributor out wide.
How did Brown fare in 2024?
Brown’s statistical performance took a dive last season. He totaled just 361 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a season when Kentucky’s offense struggled.
The Wildcats couldn’t establish consistent quarterback play throughout the year, so Brown can’t be blamed for his numbers dipping. It most likely led to his decision to enter the transfer portal.
Coming off a season in which he didn’t turn heads, Brown is most likely more hungry than ever. With championship and professional aspirations, the wide receiver will bring a hardworking attitude to Baton Rouge.
Special teams impact
Kelly’s efforts to improve the Tigers’ performance in the third facet got a new wrinkle with Brown’s commitment. He holds an SEC record with four kicks returned for touchdowns.
The wide receiver can make game-changing plays on special teams in making players miss and taking kicks to the house. It remains seen as to what Kelly and new special teams coach Alan Anand will do about kick returners. Anderson and Zavion Thomas are candidates for minutes in this role.
LSU made the cut for one of the top safeties in the 2026 recruiting class
Four-star safety Ayden Pouncey released his top 10 schools and LSU made the cut.
According to a report from 247Sports’ Tom Loy, LSU was joined by Miami, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Florida, among others, for the services of the 2026 prospect.
Pouncey, a Florida native, is the No. 8 ranked safety in the class, according to ESPN’s rankings. The On3 Industry Rankings slot Pouncey No. 131 overall, No. 12 at his position, and No. 21 in the state of Florida.
Per the On3 Prediction Machine, Miami is the favorite to land Pouncey with a 23.6% chance. Florida State is second with 20.8%.
In 2024, Pouncey took visits to Oregon, Florida State, and Miami.
LSU is looking to add talent to its safety room that’s struggled the last few years. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] reshaped the defensive coaching staff after the 2023 season, adding secondary coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] and safeties coach Jake Olsen. There was an improvement in 2024, but LSU wants the talent level at safety back to where it was in the 2000s and 2010s.
LSU football is adding a special teams ace to its coaching staff
LSU football is adding to its coaching staff.
Former Grambling State special teams coordinator Aman Anand will join the Tigers’ staff, according to a report from Football Scoop’s Zach Barnett released Wednesday.
Anand’s hiring follows the departure of tight ends coach and special teams coordinator [autotag]Slade Nagle[/autotag] for an offensive coordinator position at Houston. Head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has yet to make a hire for the tight end room.
LSU also lost longtime Kelly assistant Bob Diaco to UNC. Diaco played a pivotal role on the Tigers’ special teams in 2023 and 2024.
In one season at Grambling State, Anand’s unit averaged a SWAC conference-best 61.8 yards per kickoff and ranked second with 20.7 yards per return. Punter Johnny Schifano totaled conference bests with 2,983 punting yards and 30 punts downed inside the 20. Just two punts ended in touchbacks.
Anand held full-time roles on special teams staffs at Penn State, Baylor, and Texas Southern. At the latter, he also served as the running backs coach. He has experience coaching eventual NFL contributors, such as former Penn Staters and current NFL kickers Blake Gillikin and Jordan Stout.
Kelly signaled a commitment to improving LSU’s performance in the third facet by bringing in Anand and multiple special teams standouts via the transfer portal.
These five teams did the most to address their secondaries in the transfer portal. Where does LSU rank?
LSU football entered the offseason needing help in the secondary. The Tigers have been inconsistent on the backend under [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and are losing veteran corner [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag], along with a handful of transfer portal exits.
Last year, Kelly hired secondary [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] to help right the ship. Raymond built the best secondaries in college football in his original stint at LSU.
The group improved in 2024, but the talent level wasn’t where it needed to be.
When the transfer portal opened, LSU got busy. Raymond is one of the best recruiters in the game. With the help of a strong NIL push, Raymond was able to land some of the top defensive backs on the market.
Today, we’ll look at the top secondary transfer portal hauls of 2025. Some players are still looking for a home, but most of the big dominoes have fallen.
In these rankings, I’ve tried to gauge which classes are best set up to make an impact in 2025. Talent and experience matter.
Bill Belichick is running the show in Chapel Hill — that’s a good sign for the Tar Heels defense. Belichick made some splashes in the secondary that will lead to instant improvement on that side of the ball.
Belichick hires his son, Steve, away from Washington to lead the unit. Steve Belichick brought cornerback Thaddeus Dixon and safety Peyton Waters along with him. Waters didn’t play much but was a freshman in 2024. Dixon, according to PFF, was the No. 5 ranked coverage corner in the Big Ten.
UNC added safety, Gavin Gibson, from ECU, who totaled six pressures with four pass breakups in 2024.
Gibson adds playmaking ability while Dixon has a chance to be one of the best corners in the ACC.
Washington took a loss with Dixon transferring to UNC, but they added the top-ranked corner in the transfer portal in Tacario Davis.
Davis thought about the NFL but decided to reunite with former coach Jedd Fisch in Seattle. Davis is an All-American caliber player and gives the Huskies a shot at building one of the Big Ten’s best units.
At safety, Washington signed FIU transfer CJ Christian. At 6’1′, Christian has the size to play in the box or make players in coverage. He totaled 23 stops and picked off a pass in 2024. He brings over 1,500 snaps of experience to the Huskies’ defense.
Washington didn’t add volume, but a few teams signed a higher-quality defensive backs from the transfer portal.
3. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Arizona Republic
Texas Tech’s transfer class is one of the best across the board, but it’s especially strong in the secondary.
At corner, the Red Raiders signed Brice Pollock and Amier Boyd-Matthews. The two rank No. 9 and No. 14 on 247Sports’ cornerback transfer rankings. At safety, Texas Tech signed North Dakota State transfer Cole Wisniewski. He’s 247Sports’ No. 4 ranked safety transfer.
From Purdue, Tech added Tarrion Grant. He struggled as a true freshman in 2024, but he offers upside and multiple years of eligibility.
Texas Tech added impact players with volume.
2. LSU Tigers
Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
LSU comes in one off the top spot. The Tigers signed three defensive backs, and all are expected to make an impact in 2025.
He brings much-needed experience to LSU’s secondary and can slide into Alexander’s role.
At safety, LSU added TaMarcus Cooley from NC State. Cooley had a breakout year with the Wolfpack in 2024 and gives LSU playmaking versatility.
The most talented but least proven of the group is former Florida CB Ja’Keem Jackson.
Jackson reunites with Corey Raymond at LSU but missed most of 2024 with an injury. If he’s healthy, he will compete for a starting spot.
1. Miami Hurricanes
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Miami signed five defensive backs out of the transfer portal with an average rating of .902 according to 247Sports. That’s elite quality at an elite volume.
With Charles Brantley and Ethan O’Connor, Miami signed two of the top five corners on the market, per the On3 Industry Rankings.
At safety, Miami signed Zechariah Poyser. Moving up from Jacksonville State, there will be an adjustment for Poyser, but he has the talent to play at the power conference level.
The class is rounded out by former Arizona CB Emmanuel Karnley and former Wisconsin S Xavier Lucas.
Miami struggled to prevent the big play in 2024, but that should change in 2025.
LSU just missed the cut in the final US LBM Coaches Poll rankings
After a win over Baylor in the Texas Bowl, there was some hope LSU could finish as a ranked team. But in the final US LBM Coaches Poll, the Tigers just missed the cut.
LSU finished with 44 points, the first team out in the receiving votes section. LSU was 12 points behind Colorado, who ranked No. 25 with 56 points.
This is the first time since 2021 that LSU finished unranked in the coaches poll.
In total, seven SEC teams finished ranked. Texas led the pack, coming in at No. 3.
Oregon and Penn State also represented the Big Ten in the top five.
LSU would have liked to finish with a number next to its name, but expectations will remain high for [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and the Tigers entering 2025. Starting quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] is back paired with the top-ranked transfer portal class in the country.
A key member of LSU’s staff is leaving the program
LSU’s athletic department is losing a key piece of its support staff.
Dr. Matt Frakes, the assistant athletic director for sports nutrition, is leaving the program. Frakes took to social media on Tuesday to announce his departure.
“I put my heart and spirit into everything I did for our players, the staff, and LSU! Thank you for allowing me to change what performance nutrition looks like for our athletes, the field, and the community,” Frakes wrote.
Frakes capped his statement off with a “Forever LSU.”
Frakes joined LSU in 2022. He arrived with head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] after the two worked together at Notre Dame. Frakes’ work covered more than just the football team as he oversaw 20 other sports.
Frakes brought regional experience after working in similar roles at Ole Miss and Louisiana.
He graduated from Bowling Green, where he received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
Frakes role isn’t talked about often, but its an important one in a college football program.
Notre Dame lost 34-23 to Ohio State in Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship. The game, held inside Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA, capped a 14-2 year for the Fighting Irish.
Marcus Freeman ascended to the head coaching role following Kelly’s departure. Following nine and ten-win seasons through his first two years, Freeman led Notre Dame to 14 wins, including eight over ranked teams.
When Kelly took the job at LSU, debate ensued. Notre Dame fans felt slighted by Kelly’s departure and wanted to prove that South Bend was a place with the resources to win a national title. Freeman got the Irish close, but not any closer than Kelly did in 2012.
Both Freeman and Kelly have led Notre Dame to a national title appearance now, but both met the same fate.
After Notre Dame’s loss, the debate continued on social media.
How did LSU social media react to Notre Dame’s loss?
An LSU fan poked fun at the Notre Dame base for poking fun at Kelly leaving based on the narrative of, “he didn’t tonk he could win the national championship.” “Oh? They didn’t win huh?” the fan joked.
The On3 writers ranked the Tigers as No. 15 in their way-too-early top-25 rankings. LSU is the No. 8 team in the SEC, just behind No. 14 Alabama and No. 13 Tennessee. Auburn (11), Florida (9), South Carolina (8), and Georgia (6) round out the top 10. Texas is the No. 1 team in Staples’ and Wasserman’s rankings.
On LSU, Staples wrote, “Having QB [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] back is huge, but just as important was a concerted effort to improve the talent on the defense through the transfer portal.”
LSU has been ranked as high as No. 5 in other way-too-early rankings. These lists will change as the season gets closer as all programs must go through spring camp as well as another transfer portal signing period.
Head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] will enter his fourth season leading the Tigers. His staff secured the No. 7 2025 high school class and the No. 5 2025 transfer class, according to On3.
After losing contributors to the NFL and transfer portal, the Tigers needed to reload to make the most of Garrett Nussmeier’s return for a second season as the starting quarterback.
