LSU fires Kelly after blowout loss to Texas A&M

LSU fired fourth-year head coach Brian Kelly, the program announced Sunday.

School officials began discussing the sideline boss' future after the Tigers suffered a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M in Baton Rouge on Saturday night. The defeat dropped Kelly's outfit to 5-3 in 2025.

Kelly and LSU are still negotiating the terms of the separation, the school said. His contract buyout is almost $54 million, according to USA Today.

"When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU four years ago, we had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge," athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement. "Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night's game."

Kelly and Woodward had a tense meeting Sunday about potential staff changes, sources told Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. Woodward reportedly wanted to fire offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, while Kelly apparently said he wanted to make other personnel changes that Woodward didn't support.

The Tigers dismissed Sloan on Monday, sources told Pete Thamel of ESPN.

The Tigers have struggled offensively in 2025, ranking 84th in the nation with 25.6 points per game.

With a 34-14 record across three-plus seasons, Kelly fell short of the lofty expectations that accompanied him from Notre Dame when he succeeded Ed Orgeron. The Tigers lost at least three games each year under Kelly's watch.

LSU entered the 2025 campaign as a top-10 preseason team and gave fans hope after taking down Clemson in the season opener. However, Kelly and Co. once again failed to win their biggest games. Saturday marked LSU's second consecutive loss and its third defeat in its past four outings.

Kelly's Tigers went 5-11 against ranked opponents.

The Tigers have an upcoming bye before traveling to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama.

Running backs coach Frank Wilson will serve as the Tigers' interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Kelly's dismissal adds to what will presumably be one of the most eventful college football coaching cycles in recent memory.

The Tigers won their last national championship in 2019 under Orgeron.