Editor’s Note: The following is a cleaned-up transcript from Brian Kelly’s press conference this week.
Opening Statement:
“Obviously, it’s game week. Everybody’s excited — and excitement is part of college football. We’ve got a passionate fan base with high expectations, and we share those expectations.
Since our bowl win over Baylor in January, we’ve worked on our roster and our process to build a team prepared for moments like this — a confident, composed group that plays the right way in a hostile environment. Competitiveness, composure, and maturity will define our DNA. It’s not just about acquiring talent, but about having the right makeup to handle momentum swings, turnovers, and sudden change.
I like this team’s makeup. But I’ll be most proud if, after the game, we can say we competed the right way — with composure and confidence. That’s why we’ve spent nine months preparing.”
On Leadership and LSU Traditions:
“We’ve been intentional about recruiting mature players who can handle these moments. We awarded No. 18 to Garrett Nussmeier, bringing the tradition back to the quarterback position where it began with Matt Mauck, who led LSU to the 2003 championship.
Harold Perkins will continue wearing No. 7 — he wanted a full season in it after last year was cut short. We also named Garrett and Witt Weeks as captains, and we’ll select two additional game-day captains each week. We have a lot of players who’ve earned that opportunity.”
On Clemson:
“Clemson is a top-five team, the epitome of consistency under Coach Swinney. Thirteen straight seasons with 10 wins — that speaks for itself.
Cade Klubnik played his best football at the end of last year, and his dual-threat ability is central to their offense. He’s going into his third year as a starter, which says a lot about him.
They bring back a veteran offensive line, outstanding receivers in Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco, and disruptive defenders like Peter Woods inside and (T.J.) Parker off the edge. Those guys can ruin your day if you’re not ready. It’s a complete football team and a great challenge, which is exactly what you want at this level.”
On LSU’s Roster and Preparation:
“We’ve built this roster with both high school recruits and transfers. I’ve always believed in building through high school recruiting first, but this offseason felt like the right time to bring in experienced transfers. They’ve played in hostile environments like Clemson, and experience is the best teacher.
We have more depth than in previous years, especially on the lines. You’ll see rotations up front on both sides. Offensively, we’ll use a mix of personnel — including 12 personnel — to get our best players on the field while balancing our deep receiver group. Protecting the quarterback will be critical against Clemson’s pass rush.
Defensively, I see more confidence and maturity, especially in the secondary. The new additions have brought swagger and consistency.”
On Exhibition Games in College Football:
“Would I like to see exhibition games? I’m not sure. There was a time when it was all the rage, but now even NFL teams are backing out of joint scrimmages because they can get too physical and put players at risk.
I see the positives in being able to work out kinks before Week 1, but there are also risks when another team comes in with something to prove and they’re not in the right emotional zone. My initial feeling is that we’d have to be very careful with it.”
Closing:
“At the end of the day, we’ve worked since January to prepare this team to play its best football. We respect the challenge, we’re excited for it, and now it’s time to go play.”
