ND may be the school where the expectation most departs from reality. I think Kelly may have enough of a name to actually recruit against Saban
I think you are right. LSU is a heck of a job. That program should be in a position year after year to be one win (vs. Alabama) away from the SEC playoff / BCS series / New Years bowl. That division is tough now that Ole Miss is back and Auburn (down now) has its history, but it's very easy to see a 1 loss runner up making the BCS.