In a stunning midseason move, LSU has officially parted ways with head coach Brian Kelly, ending a tenure that began with national championship hopes but closed amid mounting frustration in Baton Rouge. The Tigers’ 5-3 start to the 2025 season — capped by a blowout loss to Texas A&M — proved to be the final straw for both the fan base and administration. Subscribe to our Newsletter by using the popup or the form below!
Kelly leaves LSU with a 34-14 overall record and a 19-10 mark in SEC play. Despite two 10-win seasons, the Tigers failed to make the College Football Playoff during his time in charge. LSU had invested heavily in Kelly, whose buyout reportedly exceeds $50 million, making this one of the most expensive coaching separations in college football history after not being able to deliver on what Ed Orgeron and Joe Burrow did.
High Expectations, Short Results
When LSU hired Kelly away from Notre Dame in late 2021, the program envisioned a seasoned leader who could restore the national dominance once established under Nick Saban and Ed Orgeron. His first season showed promise — an SEC West title and a Citrus Bowl victory — but subsequent years fell short of those lofty expectations.
Fan frustration boiled over after a string of inconsistent performances and defensive lapses, culminating in visible “Fire Kelly” chants in Tiger Stadium this past weekend. By mid-October, reports indicated university leadership had lost confidence that Kelly could deliver LSU back to national contention.
The Cincinnati Foundation
Long before the bright lights of the SEC, Kelly’s coaching rise began with the Cincinnati Bearcats, where he transformed the program into a powerhouse during his three-year run from 2007-2009.
- 2007: Kelly’s first full season ended with a 10-3 record and a top-25 finish — a major milestone for Cincinnati football in the Big East.
- 2008: He led the Bearcats to their first-ever Big East championship, earning Big East Coach of the Year honors.
- 2009: Cincinnati went an undefeated 12-0 in the regular season, climbed to No. 3 in the BCS standings, and secured a Sugar Bowl berth — though Kelly departed for Notre Dame before the game, like the scum that he turned out to be.
In just three seasons, Kelly posted a 34-6 record at Cincinnati, cementing his reputation as one of the brightest coaching minds in college football at the time. That success served as the springboard to Notre Dame and ultimately LSU.
What’s Next For Brian Kelly?
Well, as Cincinnati fans, we hope the dude is done. A lot of us still haven’t forgiven him for leaving the city before the program’s biggest game in its long history. And sure, he built the program, so maybe he should have some lenience, but you know what – nah. F that guy. Always F that guy.
What sucks is, he’ll get back on his feet somewhere, and he’ll likely pull a team from the dumps again. There’s a TON of openings happening this year, and even more will end up opening. One place to watch out for is Kentucky. He’s not going to accept another mid major school’s bid, but a place where there won’t be much pressure to succeed will be perfect for him. Enter Kentucky. LSU is now $54,000,000 less rich.
