LSU has fired fourth-year head coach Brian Kelly amid a disappointing 2025 campaign, multiple reports say, ending a tenure that never reached the College Football Playoff despite top-10 rankings and heavy roster investment.
The 64-year-old exits at 5-3 this season and 34-14 overall in Baton Rouge.
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The decision followed a contentious Sunday at the football facility. Kelly arrived expecting to dismiss offensive coordinator Joe Sloan after another poor outing, but the day ended with athletic director Scott Woodward removing Kelly instead.
LSU’s offense has posted its worst points-per-game since 2009, a stark reversal from previous years when defense drew most scrutiny.
Financially, LSU will owe Kelly 90 percent of the salary remaining on his contract, roughly $53.8 million, the second-largest buyout for a college coach behind Jimbo Fisher’s $76.8M at Texas A&M. That was also a deal Woodward authorized.
Because the firing came midseason, LSU also owes 90 percent of Kelly’s remaining 2025 salary. Programs across the country have shown little hesitation to absorb massive buyouts during this year’s frenetic carousel.
The move comes a day after a 49-25 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M, when “Fire Kelly” chants rang through Tiger Stadium as LSU squandered a halftime lead.
Though the Tigers peaked at No. 3 this fall and reached the top 10 in all four of Kelly’s seasons, they never won more than nine regular-season games and dropped at least two SEC games each year.
That inconsistency persisted despite high-end quarterback play (Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, NFL prospect Garrett Nussmeier) and a No. 1 transfer/HS class, which immediately boosted the defense.
LSU now joins Penn State, Florida, Virginia Tech and others seeking splash hires.
For Kelly, the first firing of his 35-year head-coaching career (career record 297-109-2), the crossroads are clear. Pursue another job immediately or step away and re-enter the market in a future cycle.
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