LSU's Brian Kelly named to Dodd Trophy preseason watch list

With the retirement of Alabama coach Nick Saban, Brian Kelly is now the winningest active coach in the FBS ranks.

It’s hard to argue with Kelly’s track record of success everywhere he’s been, whether it’s winning multiple Division II national titles at Grand Valley State or becoming the most successful Notre Dame coach in the modern era. But there’s one accolade Kelly lacks: an elusive FBS national championship.

He hopes to change that in 2024 as he enters his third season at LSU, and while he has been tasked with replacing a lot, the Tigers look like an upper-tier SEC squad once again. Entering the year, Kelly has been named to the watch list for the Dodd Trophy, given to the national coach of the year.

It’s a star-studded list, but Kelly will look to beat out the rest of the pack and win the Dodd Trophy for the second time in his career after he won it in 2018 while leading the Fighting Irish to a College Football Playoff berth.

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