Booger McFarland reveals how hot Brian Kelly's seat is in Year 4 at LSU

LSU is off to a 4-0 start for the first time under head coach Brian Kelly. Entering year four, the pressure is mounting for Kelly to make the College Football Playoffs in 2025.

Despite the high expectations, ESPN’s Booger McFarland — an LSU alum — believes Kelly’s job is “very secure.” He explained why on Wednesday during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show.

“I know what the buyout is and it is substantially large,” McFarland said. “Unless you’re Texas A&M who wants to spend $75 million buying out a coach. I think BK realizes, and I think everybody in college football realizes that there’s a difference between the heat being turned up because the natives are restless, and then there’s also a difference to heat being turned up and you may get fired.

“I think BK feels the heat because every coach who preceded him has won a national championship, Nick Saban, Les Miles, Ed Orgeron — they all won national championships in the first three or four years, and this is year four for BK.”

Texas A&M’s $75 million buyout to move on from Jimbo Fisher in 2023 was unprecedented. LSU previously paid out Orgeron nearly $17 million in 2021 to buy out his contract. Kelly would take over that offseason.

Orgeron notably led LSU to an undefeated national championship season with quarterback Joe Burrow under center in 2019. Two seasons later, the Tigers decided it was time to move on. Kelly can’t claim a national title yet, which makes the 2025 season that more important.

Already 4-0, the Tigers travel to Oxford to take on Ole Miss in a ranked SEC matchup. LSU’s toughest test yet, the outcome of Week 5’s matchup could be a strong indicator of where Kelly’s group stacks up this season.

“He feels the heat,” McFarland said. “And regardless whether LSU wins this game or loses this game, the heat is still going to be there until the ring has been secured. He understands that.

“He knows that. He’s heard it from me, he’s heard from a lot of people what the expectations are.”

LSU still has matchups against Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Alabama and Oklahoma left on their schedule. Ahead of Week 5, all four of those SEC programs are ranked in the AP Top 25 poll. For now, the Tigers will focus on their upcoming matchup against the Rebels. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET live on ABC.