Paul Finebaum debates whether Brian Kelly is on the hot seat, could be fired this week

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum debated where Brian Kelly is on the hot seat or coaching for his job this week. It’s not quite there yet, but LSU could be facing a breaking point soon.

The No. 20 Tigers host No. 3 Texas A&M this weekend and LSU is already facing a possibility that they are out of the playoff with a third loss postgame. Kelly is in Year 4 and there was a notion that it would be playoff or bust for the long time head coach.

Finebaum alluded to a late season stretch of games that could ultimately determine Kelly’s fate. He left Notre Dame for what was referred to as greener pastures, but the landscaping is still a work in progress.

“If the callers to our show yesterday had a vote he would be coaching for his job, but they do not yet,” Finebaum said on Get Up. “This is not the most critical Game of the Year. Now, this game could knock him out of the playoffs. And remember, eight weeks ago, we were talking about CFP or bust for Brian Kelly. This would be loss number three, but it’s also an opportunity to beat a top three team at home in front of those very, very disgruntled fans.

“But the problem for Brian Kelly, after this weekend, is two weeks from now at Alabama and then later in the season at Oklahoma. Should he lose this game and lose those two I don’t see he has a path for coming back next year.”

Kelly is 34-13 at LSU since 2022. He led the Tigers to the SEC Championship Game during his first season, but has won 10 and nine games over the previous two years.

Kelly went 92-39 at Notre Dame from 2010-21, leading the Fighting Irish to the BCS National Championship in 2012 and the College Football Playoff in 2018 and ‘20 before leaving for LSU after 2021.

College football analyst Josh Pate had an interesting take on Kelly, saying it’s not that easy to just get rid of them. LSU is in a bit of a unique situation.

“The LSU situation is very unique,” Pate explained. “They don’t have a president right now, so, even if you wanted to fire Brian Kelly, who in the world is going to fire him? Who’s going to sign off on it? I think they’ll have one in there by, like, mid-November. But, are we really saying, ‘Welcome, New President! Pull this lever and get rid of our head coach’. That stuff is easier said than done.”