ESPN analyst thinks LSU must make the championship in Lane Kiffin’s first year

ESPN analyst thinks LSU must make the championship in Lane Kiffin’s first year

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ESPN analyst thinks LSU must make the championship in Lane Kiffin’s first year
DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 03: Broadcaster Jordan Rodgers looks on prior to the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl between the Texas State Bobcats and the North Texas Mean Green at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on January 03, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With SEC Media Days being the talk of the college football world recently, LSU was a major topic of conversation. Lane Kiffin’s presence tends to make that happen because of how divisive he is in the college football landscape, but one of the more interesting conversations that occurred was about expectations. I myself wrote an article not too long ago about what a “good” year would be for Lane Kiffin, and in it said that reaching the 12-team playoff mark would stop the first season from being a disappointment. The consensus in the comments, which I do agree with, is that LSU must make the playoffs.

Among LSU fans and analysts, these are reasonable expectations when considering a first-year HC and all the changes made on the roster. But according to ESPN analyst Jordan Rodgers, who is also the brother of NFL QB Aaron Rodgers, this outcome would be disappointing, and the only way it will be a successful year is if Kiffin at least makes it to the College Football Championship.

In the clip above, when Paul Finebaum discusses the outcome of Kiffin missing the championship and argues that people should not write Kiffin off, Rodgers begins shaking his head no in disagreement.

Rodgers brings up Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers. In his first year at the program, Cignetti transformed them into a playoff team, and as many know, led them to a National Championship in 2025/26. This was an incredible transformation of a school’s football program, but there’s a reason it’s so unbelievable.

If Rodgers disagreed with Finebaum about Kiffin missing the playoffs, then that would make a bit more sense, but thinking just missing the championship would be a disappointment is a bit more confusing.

Again, there are already high expectations put on Kiffin to succeed right away at LSU and get the school to the playoffs in year 1, but a National Championship may be a bit extreme right now. Is it out of the realm of possibilities? Absolutely not. But should it be the expectation? No.

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