The LSU Athletics Director announced Sunday that the school would be parting ways with football head coach Brian Kelly following a disappointing home loss to Texas A&M. LSU had higher expectations when hiring Kelly as head coach four years ago, but he fell short, ultimately leading to his termination.[1]
Kelly’s dismissal comes with a staggering financial cost. Kelly’s buyout exceeds Penn State’s Coach Franklin by almost $4 million, becoming the largest active buyout in college football and the second highest ever paid to a college football head coach.[2] Kelly’s buyout states that he must receive 90% of his remaining salary, which totals roughly $54 million.[3]
This buyout will be offset if Kelly takes a new coaching job next season.[4] His contract includes a duty to mitigate clause, requiring him to seek new employment. Should he accept another coaching position, LSU would only be required to pay the difference in salary between the buyout and his salary. As of right now, Kelly will receive roughly $740,000 a month until 2031. His contract also contained several lucrative perks—including an interest-free mortgage loan with relocation costs up to $1.2 million, an annual car allowance, private air travel funds, and a country club membership—all of which will be considered in his post-termination financial package.[5] The terms of the separation are still being negotiated.[6]
When hiring football head coaches, athletic directors typically look at the potential success a candidate can bring to their football program. The LSU athletic director saw Kelly as a coach who could help LSU win a national title. While Kelly had the potential to do this, his shift to LSU head coach coincided with the evolution of the transfer portal.[7] The new transfer portal allows athletes to transfer schools without having to sit out a season, and they could also earn money from their name, image, and likeness. These changes have reshaped college football, making it far more challenging for a new coach to have success because an athlete is quick to jump ship after one off season.[8]
This eagerness to fire head coaches after a bad game or one bad season will only prompt more athletes to enter the transfer portal, amplifying this instability. A good coach is only half the battle. Coaches need consistency to have success, and with their rosters being far from consistent from year to year, it makes their ability to have success very challenging.
LSU players will be given a 15-day transfer portal window, opening five days after the hiring of the next head coach.[9] Whoever takes over as the LSU head coach will not only face the challenge of a program rebuild, but of doing so in an era where roster continuity is as short-lived as coaching tenure itself.
[1] LSU Athletics Announces Leadership Change in Football
[2] Pete Thamel and Max Olson, Fired Brian Kelly failed to live up to LSU’s ‘high hopes,’ ESPN (October 26, 2025)
3 Carter Bahns and Matt Zenitz, LSU fires Brian Kelly as football coach despite enormous buyout, 34-14 record in four seasons, CBS Sports (October 26, 2025)
[4] Pete Nakos, Brian Kelly buyout: Details of LSU head coach’s contract, On3 (October 26, 2025)
[5] Id.
[6] Id. Supra note 1.
[7] Id. Supra note 2.
[8] Id.
[9] Id. Supra note 3.
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