The program he left, Notre Dame, is preparing for the College Football Playoff national championship against Ohio State on Jan. 20 in Atlanta, under the guidance of Marcus Freeman. The program Kelly joined after leaving Notre Dame in November 2021, LSU, missed this year's College Football Playoff for the third consecutive season under his watch.

When Brian Kelly decided to leave Notre Dame and take the job at LSU, it was a surprise to many. Kelly has now completed three seasons at LSU and he won 10 games in the first two before winning nine games in 2024.

LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker will return to Baton Rouge for his second season at the helm of the Tigers' defense in 2025. It's no secret the program l

The Orange Bowl was a huge win for that program. The fact that they made it all this way — against Penn State, no less — speaks to the job Freeman has done. To go from losing to Northern Illinois at the beginning of the season to playing for a national championship is unheard of.

The Fighting Irish’s 27-24 Orange Bowl win over Penn State at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida proved former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly very wrong about why he left the program.