LSU head coach Brian Kelly is taking a beating on social media following a series of questionable decisions at the end of the first half vs. Clemson.
Garrett Nussmeier guided the Tigers to the red zone on 60-plus yard drive in the final minutes of the first half. Facing a fourth-and-2 from the 12-yard line with just 15 seconds left in the half, Kelly called his final timeout.
Rather than send his field goal kicker out to potentially make it a 10-6 game, Kelly chose to run another play and try for a touchdown to end the half. Nussmeier then threw a screen pass to Chris Hilton Jr., who ultimately fumbled the ball away.
Here’s a replay of the sequence:
LSU FUMBLES ON 4TH DOWN RIGHT BEFORE HALFTIME ? Watch the second half of LSU-Clemson on ABC and the ESPN App ➡️ t.co/9f1AaLy72c pic.twitter.com/ERlDd9ag99
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) August 31, 2025While the outcome of the play was bad, fans and media are more curious about the process. As many point out below, even if LSU had converted on fourth down in that situation, it was likely to still end up kicking a field goal due to time constraints and a lack of timeouts.
Instead, Clemson took over possession, kneeled out the remainder of the clock and brought a 10-3 lead into the halftime break.
Here’s some of the reaction on social media to Kelly’s curious decision making:
Extremely weird coaching decision to use your last timeout to run a WR screen on 4th down 15 yards from the end zone. Brian Kelly is fun
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) August 31, 2025New year. Brian Kelly still hates points.
— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) August 31, 2025Not really sure what the heck LSU was doing there. If you get the first down there you are out of time outs and clock is running. Clock it and kick FG? Make it make sense LSU.
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) August 31, 2025Brian Kelly holy mismanage. Why would you take a timeout to go for it on 4th and 2 with 15 seconds left and then throw a screen? This guy is BAD.
— Unbiased Ev (@DoubleVodkaDon) August 31, 2025Brian Kelly buddy you ain’t got much slack left
— Eric Ray (@EricRayweather) August 31, 2025A coaching disaster right there from LSU and Brian Kelly. What the heck was that time-management and play call?
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 31, 2025If you're LSU and you convert on that 4th and 2 play, what have you accomplished? MAYBE one throw to the end zone and then possibly the FG try that you already had? Just a bizarre decision to do that with 15 seconds left.
— Heath Cline (@heathradio) August 31, 2025Such questionable coaching by LSU there. Clock was stopped and they call their final timeout with 15 seconds. Decide to go on 4th with a screen, didn’t convert but what if they did? Spike then one more play? Why not take the points??Awful.
— The GOAT House (@GoatHouseNFL) August 31, 2025Why would LSU go for it? You get the first down and make a field goal 4 yards closer? Instead, they turn it over and get no points. What is Brian Kelly thinking?!?!
— Nate Washburn (@Nate_Washburn41) August 31, 2025Why did LSU just go for that on 4th down? Makes zero sense. Even if you get it, you still only have enough time to kick a field goal. What a dumb play call
— MattBeGreat (@mattbegreatyt) August 31, 2025Brian Kelly is an awful coach. My Lord.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) August 31, 2025Fans, media torch Brian Kelly for end-of-half mishap vs. Clemson Saturday Down South.
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