Kelly projects LSU 10-2 finish, undefeated Notre Dame season in 2026
CBS Sports analyst Brian Kelly outlines game-by-game forecasts for his former programs, highlighting roster construction and quarterback stability as pivotal factors for LSU and Notre Dame.
Brian Kelly, currently serving as a college football analyst for CBS Sports, has released detailed game-by-game predictions for both LSU and Notre Dame ahead of the 2026 season. Having spent four seasons at LSU before his tenure concluded in 2025, and 12 years at Notre Dame where he became the program’s winningest coach with 113 victories, Kelly offers a structural assessment of how Lane Kiffin and Marcus Freeman will navigate their respective schedules.
At LSU, Kelly forecasts a 10-2 regular-season finish under new head coach Lane Kiffin. He attributes this projection to a strong roster assembled through the transfer portal, where the Tigers hold the No. 1 class nationally, alongside anticipated defensive improvements. While FanDuel Sportsbook has set LSU’s win total at 8.5, Kelly suggests the talent level positions the team for a 10-win campaign, provided the quarterback position remains healthy.
Kelly identifies the season opener against Clemson as a critical test, particularly regarding the health and readiness of new starting quarterback Sam Leavitt, who missed spring practice. He notes that the subsequent matchup against Ole Miss hinges on performance levels, specifically questioning whether Trinidad Chambliss can meet expectations. Kelly suggests that if Chambliss underperforms, LSU could fall to the Rebels, though he believes the team can recover from a split in those early games.
The Tigers are projected to beat Alabama at home following any potential early stumble, before facing a difficult mid-November showdown with Texas. Kelly predicts a loss to the Longhorns in that contest, marking the first meeting between the programs since 2019. LSU is expected to close the regular season with victories over Tennessee and Arkansas, securing its first 10-win regular season since the 2019 national championship campaign.
Conversely, Kelly forecasts an undefeated 12-0 regular season for Notre Dame under Marcus Freeman, who enters his sixth season. Despite FanDuel setting the win total at 11.5, Kelly views the schedule as manageable, identifying BYU as the first legitimate test. He remains confident in Freeman’s ability to handle top-15 opponents, dismissing concerns about a November visit from Miami, who defeated Notre Dame in the previous year’s opener.
