LSU fires offensive coordinator Joe Sloan

LSU has fired offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, the school announced on Monday. The move comes on the heels of the Tigers’ 49-25 loss to Texas A&M during Week 9.

Of course, the decision follows LSU firing head coach Brian Kelly on Sunday evening. The Tigers are set to owe Kelly more than $53 million, per the terms of his buyout.

Sloan was brought on as the team’s quarterbacks coach in 2022. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2024.

LSU finished Week 9 ranked 12th in the SEC points per game (25.5). They’re also 14th in total offense (355.50) following the loss. That ranks behind teams like Arkansas, Mississippi State and Kentucky, who are still seeking their first win against SEC competition.

Additionally, the Tigers have struggled to run the football throughout the season — ranking last in the conference with 850 yards to their credit this season. They’re one of four teams in the conference under 1,000 yards rushing this season.

QB Garrett Nussmeier ranks eighth in the SEC in passing yards with 1,806 passing yards after Week 9. However, given the numbers he produced last season and the Heisman expectations he had entering 2025 — he’s falled well under expectation as well. LSU has 1,994 passing yards as a team as well, good for sixth most in the conference.

Against Texas A&M on Saturday Nussmeier threw for 168 yards on 35 attempts to go along with a touchdown. He was relieved by Michael Van Buren Jr. late in the fourth quarter, who went 3-of-4 passing for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Nussmeier was sacked five times, finishing the game with -44 sack-adjusted rushing yards. This led to LSU finishing with 60 total yards on the ground against the Aggies.

Now, the Tigers will have a new play-caller for the rest of the 2025 season. With four games left on LSU’s season schedule, there’s still a chance that the Tigers could make a decent bowl game.

However, they were ranked in the top 10 during Week 8 and felt just a short while ago that the College Football Playoff was going to be obtainable this season. Dropping to 5-3 after the loss, it’s unlikely that will be the case anymore. Still, they need just one more win to become bowl eligible this season.

Next up for LSU is a road trip to a red-hot Alabama Crimson Tide squad in Tuscaloosa. That comes after a bye week, though, as the Tigers are off during Week 10. They’ll wrap up the season against Arkansas and Western Kentucky at home before rounding out the regular season on the road against Oklahoma.