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Brian Kelly hot seat: Update emerges on future of LSU head coach, Louisiana governor involved

by: Alex Byington3 hours ago_AlexByington
Brian Kelly, LSU
© SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

LSU athletic department officials and university executives are currently holding high-level discussions on the future of head football coach Brian Kelly, sources tell On3‘s Pete Nakos. These conversations have involved Louisiana governor Jeff Landry, who inserted himself into the conversation following Saturday night’s 49-25 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M.

In addition, Nakos reported LSU’s position coaches have all been sent home from the facility for the day, further casting doubt on Kelly’s future in Baton Rouge. Kelly and the unranked Tigers (5-3, 2-3 SEC) were effectively eliminated from College Football Playoff contention for the fourth straight season after its loss to A&M. The defeat — LSU’s third consecutive vs. ranked SEC competition — dropped Kelly’s overall record to 34-14 and 19-10 in league play across his four seasons in Baton Rouge.

Latest intel on Brian Kelly and LSU

Following Saturday night’s loss inside Death Valley, Landry publicly called out the program and its Board of Supervisors for its planned ticket price increase beginning in 2026. The proposed increases to LSU season ticket prices range depending on the seating location, but they are slated to go up by as much as $125 in some areas. The program is projecting that the higher prices will generate an additional $4.5 million in revenue, according to a report from Nola.com.

“I think [LSU] and the LSU Board of Supervisors needs to rethink their actions to raise ticket prices for next year after tonight’s showing!” Landry wrote on Twitter.

If LSU opted to move on from Kelly, it’d owe him a $53 million buyout, making it the second-highest in college football history, behind only Jimbo Fisher‘s $77 million buyout at Texas A&M. Current LSU athletic director Scott Woodward was previously in College Station and gave Fisher his guaranteed contract.

LSU hired Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame in November 2021, signing him to a 10-year, $95 million deal that also includes incentives. LSU and Kelly have six years remaining on the deal. He would be paid 90% of his salary through the remainder of his contract if fired.