LSU Fires Brian Kelly After Texas A&M Collapse

LSU Fires Brian Kelly After Texas A&M Collapse, Frank Wilson Named Interim as $54M Buyout Shakes Coaching Carousel

By gatorbaitmedia.com staff

LSU fired head football coach Brian Kelly Sunday ending a 48-game tenure that four years ago was considered one of the boldest hires in hires in college football history. LSU was considered a preseason favorite to challenge for the national championship but the Tigers are now 5-3 on the heels of Saturday night's embarrassing 49-25 loss to Texas A&M.

Sunday, LSU athletic director Scott Woodward reportedly had a heated meeting with Kelly, after which he fired the coach and named associate head coach Frank Wilson as the interim head coach.

Kelly signed a 10-year, $95 million deal in December 2021 after he became Notre Dame’s all-time wins leader. Kelly brought early promise, guiding the Tigers to an SEC West title in 2022 and beating Alabama in his first season. But the program steadily declined, never matching the offensive firepower that highlighted the 2023 campaign behind Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.

LSU owes Kelly approximately $54 million in buyout payment -- the second-largest coaching buyout in college football history behind Jimbo Fisher’s $76 million payout at Texas A&M. The buyout is structured with 40 percent paid immediately and the remainder distributed in monthly installments through 2031. If Kelly accepts another coaching or media position, LSU’s payments are reduced accordingly.

Kelly’s contract included a $400,000 annual base salary, supplemental compensation ranging from $9 million to $9.4 million annually, yearly $500,000 longevity bonuses, relocation costs, car allowance, interest-free mortgage loan, and country club membership. The buyout covers 90 percent of his remaining contract value.

LSU finishes Kelly’s run with a 34-14 overall record, including a 19-10 mark in SEC games. The Tigers faded late in his tenure, going just 7-6 in conference play the last two years. After the departure of Daniels, star receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, offensive consistency was never regained. Defensive changes following the worst statistical season in LSU history in 2023 failed to propel the Tigers back into the national conversation.

Nine head coaches have been fired already so the national coaching carousel is active, with Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss), James Franklin (recently departed Penn State), and several Power Four coordinators emerging as potential replacements for Kelly. LSU competes with Florida, Penn State, and Arkansas for top coaching talent. The Tigers’ massive buyout underscores how major programs now absorb extraordinary costs to execute rapid transitions in pursuit of playoff contention.

For Gator fans, LSU’s upheaval and the broader SEC coaching shake-up signal intensified competition heading into next season. The coaching market reflects a new reality where playoff access and elite results are non-negotiable at blue blood programs, with multimillion-dollar buyouts becoming routine investments in competitive rebuilding.

Athletic director Scott Woodward, who lured Kelly away from Notre Dame, now faces the pressure of making a critical hire to restore LSU’s standing in the SEC and keep pace during an active early coaching carousel.

With a veteran roster and a highly-touted transfer class in Baton Rouge, expectations will remain high moving forward. Wilson will oversee the program as LSU begins its latest search a process that will attract national attention and speculation in the days ahead.

FRANK WILSON, INTERIM HEAD COACH

Wilson, a Louisiana native and longtime assistant under both Les Miles and Kelly, will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season. Known for his recruiting prowess and deep ties to New Orleans high schools, Wilson has previously led UTSA and McNeese State as head coach. His elevation provides temporary stability as LSU braces for another high-profile coaching search.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR LSU?

Athletic Director Woodward, who built his brand on bold hires like Kelly and Fisher, now faces a legacy-defining decision. Sources inside the program describe the next move as “his most pivotal swing yet.” Potential options could include established Power Four head coaches and rising coordinators with Louisiana recruiting roots.

For LSU fans, the Kelly era will be remembered for both its promise and its abrupt unraveling—a reminder that in Baton Rouge, patience fades faster than playoff hopes.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)