Notre Dame advancing to the College Football Playoff national championship game on Thursday night stunk really badly for one person in particular.
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.
NOTRE DAME FANS THREW BEERS ON THE FIELD: Quite a scene from the Orange Bowl
“I want to be in an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship,” Kelly said back in April 2022 about why he went to LSU, per NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach.
Well, LSU has failed to do anything meaningful with Kelly at the helm in Baton Rouge, and Marcus Freeman has the Fighting Irish in a title game in his third full season as head coach.
“I want to be in an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship,” Brian Kelly said in April 2022 after leaving Notre Dame for LSU.
Notre Dame will play for a national championship in 11 days. LSU has not made the CFP since Kelly took over.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) January 10, 2025
College football fans immediately noted the irony, as Notre Dame prepares to play for a championship a few seasons after Kelly basically said he left because he didn’t think that was possible.
In November 2021, Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU, citing a desire to “consistently compete for national championships.”
Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame will play for a national championship in a week and a half.
Under Kelly, LSU has 0 Playoff appearances.
— Neil W. Blackmon (@nwblackmon) January 10, 2025
Live look at Brian Kelly. pic.twitter.com/bAEifqFzTS
— Reed Carringer (@ReedCarringer) January 10, 2025
Brian Kelly down at LSU watching Marcus Freeman take Notre Dame to the National Title Game pic.twitter.com/8QP1Z5Vnno
— Dee🤴🏿 (@DGUNZ22) January 10, 2025
Brian Kelly watching Notre Dame win 3 playoff games after he said it could never be done there pic.twitter.com/61n2xPXTZS
— Austin Randolph (@austinsrandolph) January 10, 2025
Shoutout Brian Kelly. With him, Notre Dame wouldn't be here
— Sir Yacht (@SirYacht_) January 10, 2025
With each Notre Dame win in the playoff, Brian Kelly resume as a coach looks worse and worse, which is something every college football fan should treasure.
— Stephen Thompson (@stephenthompson.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Maturing is realizing that I never hated Notre Dame.
I just hated Brian Kelly.
— Deablo fan account (@DeferredWalkOn) January 10, 2025
Brian Kelly leaving for LSU to win Championships is laughable now. pic.twitter.com/fw9BIFdtwm
— Mizzou Fan #STP (@MizzouFan_7) January 10, 2025
Live look at Brian Kelly pic.twitter.com/FzDoRhBadh
— Chris Bennett (CB) (@chrisgb002000) January 10, 2025
Bet Brian Kelly enjoyed that game with his Fam-a-ly.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) January 10, 2025
Brian Kelly since leaving Notre Dame for LSU where he could “have the resources to win a national championship” is 29-11 with 0 CFP appearances
Notre Dame since Brian Kelly left is 33-8 under Marcus Freeman and just punched a ticket to the National Championship Game
— Nathanael (@mrrutherford.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 10:32 PM
I wonder how long “Brian Kelly has made as many ACC Championships as SEC Championships” will remain true
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Marcus Freeman has won two more major bowl games in a week than Brian Kelly did in 12 years!
— revsteve83.bsky.social (@revsteve83.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Marcus Freeman made it to the national championship with Notre Dame before Brian Kelly made it to the playoff with LSU.
— Tarik D. LaCour (@heirofdennett) January 10, 2025
Just wanna point out that both Cincinnati AND Notre Dame have made the CFP more recently than a Brian Kelly coached team.
Biggest loser in America. Hope he’s happy #Bearcats #NotreDame
— Yzerplan fan Cody (@cmauch24) January 10, 2025
Notre Dame tricking LSU into overpaying for an okay coach that was too good to fire but not good enough to win big games and immediately upgrading is an all-time finesse move.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 10, 2025
