LSU Fires Head Football Coach Brian Kelly Amid 5-3 Season, $54M Buyout

LSU has fired head football coach Brian Kelly after four seasons, during which he compiled a 34-14 record but failed to meet the program's high expectations, including a 5-3 record this season and a recent loss to No. 3 Texas A&M. Associate head coach Frank Wilson will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season. Kelly, who signed a 10-year, $95 million contract when joining LSU from Notre Dame, is owed approximately $54 million as part of the buyout, making it one of the largest in college football history. LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward emphasized the decision was made due to the program's need for greater success and stated negotiations on the separation terms are ongoing. With the coaching vacancy, several potential replacements have emerged, including Lane Kiffin, Jeff Brohm, Willie Taggart, Brent Key, Eli Drinkwitz, and Kenny Dillingham, all noted by insiders as viable candidates to lead LSU. The coaching change marks a significant shift within one of college football's most scrutinized programs, as LSU looks to regain its status among the nation’s elite teams.