LSU football has officially closed the book on the Brian Kelly era in Baton Rouge… Again.
According to multiple outlets, including ESPN’s Pete Thamel, LSU put in writing on Wednesday, Nov. 26 to Kelly that the university terminated his contract without cause, which means he’ll receive his full buyout pay of approximately $54 million as long as he continues to search for a new job.
The 64-year-old coach was dismissed by the Tigers Sunday, Oct. 26.
The decision by the Tigers to solidify that Kelly was fired without cause comes after Kelly filed a lawsuit against LSU on Nov. 11, claiming the school was trying to fire him for cause to avoid paying him his approximate $54 million buyout fee, which is according to his contract obtained by the USA TODAY Network.
Kelly’s approximate $54 million buyout is second second-most-expensive buyout in college football history, only behind Jimbo Fisher’s $76.8 million at Texas A&M in 2023.
He was relieved from his duties by former LSU athletic director Scott Woodward on Oct. 26, one day after the Tigers dropped their third-straight top-25 ranked game of the season, a lopsided 49-25 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M at home.
It marked the first time that Kelly had been fired in his coaching career, which has included stops at Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Notre Dame.
There are currently seven Power Four conference jobs other than LSU still open for Kelly this coaching carousel in Florida, Arkansas, Penn State, Auburn, UCLA, Stanford and Cal. Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State have already filled their openings with James Franklin and Eric Morris, respectively.
‘Moving to Baton Rouge four years ago, my family and I were clear. There would be no halfway. We would be all-in for LSU and for Louisiana. This journey began with great expectations with my own vision of how to get there. Sometimes the journey does not end the way we hope,’ Kelly said in his first public statement since his firing on Nov. 6. ‘… The losses will always hurt, but I will always remember all of the wins.’
In four seasons at LSU, Kelly finished with a 34-14 overall record and missed out on the College Football Playoffs in each season. He led the Tigers to one SEC championship game appearance, which came in his first season.
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