LSU head coach Brian Kelly should be angry, but CFP goal still doable

Sunday was a night to forget for LSU and its head coach, Brian Kelly, as the Tigers fell to Southern California 27-20 in their opener in Las Vegas.

In the postgame news conference, Kelly became heated and angrily slammed his fist into the table.

“We’re sitting here again,” said an angry Kelly. “We’re sitting here again! Talking about the same things! About not finishing when you have an opponent in a position to put them away! I'm not doing a good enough job as a coach ... it's unacceptable for us not to have found a way to win this football game."

LSU allowed 447 yards and its high-powered offense couldn't overcome a retooled USC defense led by a new coordinator. But the Tigers' goal of an appearance in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff is still doable despite a difficult schedule.

For the next four games, the Tigers should be heavily favored vs. FCS Nicholls (Sept. 7), at South Carolina (Sept. 14), vs. UCLA (Sept. 21) and South Alabama (Sept. 28). After that, seven SEC games — including four at home — will determine LSU's fate.

The first of those seven will be against Ole Miss (Oct. 12), an SEC team with playoff aspirations of its own, following a bye week. If the Tigers win their next four games, as expected, the game at home against the Rebels could be season-defining.

With Alabama (Nov. 9) and Oklahoma (Nov. 30) in Baton Rouge later on the schedule, a loss to Ole Miss would put the Tigers in major hole and possibly out of the playoff race

If LSU loses to Ole Miss, it must go unbeaten vs. Alabama, Vanderbilt (Nov. 23) and Oklahoma and on the road against Arkansas (Oct. 19), Texas A&M (Oct. 26) and Florida (Nov. 16). Even the most ardent Tigers fan would struggle to put money down on that happening.

Over the past five seasons, LSU is 11-11 on the road against SEC teams. The Tigers' schedule is one of the most difficult in the country, with ESPN ranking it the 21st-most daunting slate.

To make the playoffs, Kelly needs more from his quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier (29-for-38, 304 yards passing), who played well Sunday but not well enough.

"[USC's Miller Moss] outplayed our quarterback," Kelly told the media .

The Tigers will face a tough road to the playoffs, but it's possible with this talent-laden team. If they do make it, Kelly will have earned the $9.5 million he's scheduled to make this year ( h/t Front Office Sports ).