By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Brian Kellys plan to end 2014 on a high note worked beautifully. But 2015 is just hours away a season where, in large part because of Tuesdays performance, expectations will likely be the highest theyve been in his time at Notre Dame.

x9cTomorrow is about 2014. Its not about 2015.x9d

That was Brian Kelly Monday afternoon, a day before the Irishs Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl battle with No. 23 LSU in Nashville.

His decision to play both redshirt freshman Malik Zaire and junior Everett Golson at quarterback was deemed to be a one-shot deal, with the sole intention of keeping the Tigers off-balance with the differences in the styles between the two signal-callers.

But with the success that the Fighting Irish had against the nations No. 8 defense one that held Ole Miss to 7 points, Alabama to 13 points in regulation, and Texas A&M to 17 points Tuesdays performance will not be forgotten on Wednesday night when 2014 is lost to history.

Notre Dames 31-28 victory over LSU was more than just its eighth win of the season. The impact of coming into SEC territory and defeating one of the conferences traditional powers will pay dividends well into the new year, not only on campus, but in the homes of recruits those same recruits whose last notable memory of Fighting Irish football was their 42-14 debacle against Alabama in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game.

Zaires arm production matched that of his legs in his first career start, running for 96 yards and a touchdown and throwing for 96 yards and a touchdown. Golson threw 11 passes in relief, including a completion on perhaps the games most crucial play a 12-yard third-down strike Ben Koyack to keep what would become the game-winning drive alive.

Five plays later, Kyle Brindza closed his college career with a 32-yard field goal as time expired to give Notre Dame its first victory over an SEC opponent since 2005.

x9cPart of making the decision to start [Zaire] was to find out how we were going to move forward and effectively craft and put together a game plan for both of them.x9d Kelly said. x9cToday we kind of saw a glimpse of what thats going to look like. I think we can move forward and begin looking at that and how we can construct that.x9d

It was Kellys best-coached game since Octobers near-miss Florida State, keeping one of college footballs best defenses on its heels in a 449-yard performance that featured 51 runs tied for the most in the Kelly era at Notre Dame.

A back-and-forth battle saw the Irish hold leads of 7-0, 14-7 and 21-14 before LSU scored on consecutive offensive snaps in the third quarter a 75-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Jennings to John Diarse followed by an 89-yard run by freshman phenom Leonard Fournette, his third score of the day.

The game was even again less than two minutes later, as C.J. Prosise ran 50 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-28. LSU threatened again midway through the fourth quarter, but Isaac Rochell blocked Trent Domingues 40-yard field goal attempt. A trade of punts set up the Irishs picture-perfect 71-yard drive that took the entire 5 minutes and 41 seconds remaining on the clock.

So, now what?

Notre Dame could return as many as 21 starters from Tuesdays game next season. Before the Irishs surprising 6-0 start to 2014, it was 2015 that appeared to be Notre Dames next best chance for greatness. Theyd have a senior quarterback in Golson, a year of Brian VanGorders defense under its belt, and a navigable, albeit challenging, schedule.

With the thrill of victory comes more questions.

Is Zaire ready to be the full-time starter? Could this be the end of Golsons rocky road in South Bend? Should he graduate in the spring, he would be eligible to play at another school in 2015. Could a dual-quarterback system work at Notre Dame, as it did for Kelly at Cincinnati in 2009 with Tony Pike and Zach Collaros when the Bearcats went 12-0?

x9cPlaying both of them and my focus was about winning this game and well figure out the quarterback situation in January,x9d Kelly said. x9cThis was just utilizing both of their skills to get a win today.x9d

Luckily for Kelly, he has 249 days until Texas comes to Notre Dame Stadium for the season opener.

Zaire certainly doesnt believe hes headed back to the bench after being asked is this was his x9cRudyx9d moment.

x9cWasnt Rudy a one-shot wonder?x9d the southpaw joked after the game.

The quip drew a laugh from his head coach sitting beside him, showing no signs of discomfort about Zaire being his quarterback of the future. This wasnt a cozy season-opener against Directional State that allowed Zaire to get his feet wet in his first start. This was LSU. In a bowl game. In the South.

Kellys plan to end 2014 on a high note worked beautifully. But 2015 is just hours away a season where, in large part because of Tuesdays performance, expectations will likely be the highest theyve been in his time at Notre Dame.

Yes, Brian, Tuesday was about 2015, even if you truly didnt believe it was going to be.