When Brian Kelly was shown the door at LSU, he reportedly walked out $50 million richer—a buyout second only to Jimbo Fisher's infamous Texas A&M deal. That eye-popping payout wasn't easy for the Tigers to stomach, but it set off a chain reaction that ultimately landed Lane Kiffin in Baton Rouge.

At one point last December, LSU had three head football coaches on payroll: Kelly (still finalizing his exit), Kiffin (fresh off a massive 7-year, $91 million contract), and Ed Orgeron (nearing the end of his buyout after being fired in 2021). It was a costly—but telling—moment for a program desperate to return to glory.

Despite being ousted, Kelly didn't hold back when asked about Kiffin's future. In fact, he made a bold prediction that has Tigers fans buzzing.

"I think so," Kelly told USA TODAY Sports when asked if Kiffin would win a national championship at LSU. "Here's why I would say yes: I think that they have invested in NIL for him. They have given him the opportunity. There's a lot of good things moving in that direction. The recruiting classes are really in solid shape. And I think Lane's a really smart football coach. I believe because there's an investment in that NIL, he's going to be able to be Lane Kiffin."

The hope was that Kelly himself would be the next coach to lead LSU to the promised land. But after high expectations fell short, it's now up to Kiffin to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Nick Saban, and Ed Orgeron—the last two coaches to bring a title to Tiger Stadium.

As for Kelly? The longtime coach is taking it all in stride, balancing media gigs while slowly working his way back into the coaching ranks. But for LSU fans, the message is clear: the Tigers are all-in on Kiffin, and the pieces are in place for a championship run.