Brian Kelly addresses "million-dollar" question after Texas A&M take down LSU in SEC blockbuster

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers succumbed to a shocking defeat at the hands of Texas A&M in week 9. At the end of the first half, the Tigers had a 10-point lead over the Aggies (17-7).

But in the second half of the game, the fortunes shifted in favor of Texas A&M after QB Marcel Reed replaced Conner Weigman midway through the third quarter. Reed's running game was on point for the Aggies and he scored three rushing touchdowns for his team. This helped Texas A&M take the lead against LSU and eventually emerge victorious.

In the post-game press conference, Brian Kelly talked about Marcel Reed's rushing game and his team's inability on defense. He called it the 'million-dollar question' and stated that the Tigers will have to work day and night to improve their defense against run-pass options (RPOs).

"Well it wasn't the RPOs as much as it was the quarterback run game. I mean, it's the million dollar question," Brian Kelly said, "I would say that we need to spend more time and each and every week it's gotta be a part of it. Because right now, I would run the quarterback against us."

With this loss, Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers are 6-2 (3-1 SEC conference) so far this season. Their next game will be a tough one against the Alabama Crimson Tide. But if the Tigers want a chance to be in the playoffs, the last four games of the regular season are crucial.

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Brian Kelly has his say on the team's inconsistent defense against Texas A&M

In the post-game press conference, the LSU head coach detailed how the defense struggled when the Aggies changed from a passing QB to a running one. Kelly said that the flaws in this game will help them better understand their areas of improvement for the rest of the season.

He also pointed out how there is work to be done offensively as well so that QB Nussmeier does not shoulder the responsibilities on the field all by himself.

"We played such good defense," Kelly said. "The first half, it was so good to see our defense playing. And then we go to a running quarterback, and it just goes away from us. And so we know what we need to get better at here."

"And then we know what we need to continue to work on from an offensive standpoint. We need to build some balance so that Garrett is not out there trying to make a play every flipping down. And that's what we're gonna work at."

The last time the LSU Tigers won a national championship was back in 2019. That team was considered one of the best in college football history. Can Brian Kelly end this natty drought for the program and add another trophy to their cabinet?