The Tigers are unlikely to secure a national championship during Brian Kelly’s tenure.
The university accelerated the coaching changes for 2025 when sources informed Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger that Kelly was dismissed on Sunday, following the team’s underwhelming second-half showing, resulting in a 49-25 defeat against Texas A&M.
Kelly and the institution are still finalizing the terms of the separation agreement, but athletic director Scott Woodward officially announced the decision later on Sunday evening.
“Upon Coach Kelly’s arrival at LSU four years prior, expectations were set high for him to guide us towards numerous SEC and national titles during his leadership in Baton Rouge,” Woodward stated. “However, the level of achievement expected at LSU did not come to fruition.”
Kelly, who agreed to a 10-year, $100 million agreement upon his hiring prior to the 2022 season, holds a separation clause exceeding $50 million, potentially surpassing the amount Penn State will provide to James Franklin after his termination earlier in the season, contingent on negotiations.
Only former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher has been granted a more substantial payout than Franklin thus far. LSU athletic director Scott Woodward was responsible for hiring Fisher during his tenure as athletic director at Texas A&M.
Assistant coach Frank Wilson is slated to take over as LSU’s interim coach. Wilson, previously a head coach at UTSA and McNeese State, is currently in his second term as an assistant at LSU, serving as the team’s running backs coach and associate head coach.
“Fire Kelly” chants echoed from the diminishing crowd of LSU supporters as the Tigers concluded their defeat to the Aggies. LSU maintained an 18-14 advantage at halftime, marked by a blocked punt resulting in a safety, with the offense demonstrating improved performance compared to much of the season.
A significant shift occurred abruptly in the third quarter. Texas A&M initiated the second half with a score, followed by KC Concepcion’s 79-yard punt return for a TD after an LSU punt. The initial four-point lead transformed into a ten-point deficit, signaling the beginning of a dominant performance.
The loss pushed the Tigers’ record to 5-3 overall for the season, with a 2-3 standing in the SEC. LSU has now suffered at least three defeats in each of Kelly’s four seasons with the team, resulting in a 34-14 record during his time there.
Following the game, Kelly acknowledged his understanding of the fans’ potential disappointment.
“Tonight is exceptionally disappointing, correct? And our fans, like any fan base, are understandably disappointed,” Kelly remarked. “Be it here at LSU or any other institution. The responsibility ultimately lies with the head coach. I bear that responsibility. LSU boasts a proud legacy, a proud football team represented by dedicated individuals. They prepared diligently this week with the expectation of winning, as evidenced by their actions in the first half. However, this was not reflected in the second half, prompting me to investigate the underlying reasons.”
Kelly famously expressed that his move to LSU from Notre Dame was motivated by the pursuit of a national title-winning environment. During his tenure at Notre Dame, Kelly guided the Fighting Irish to a BCS title game and two College Football Playoff appearances. However, none of these games were closely contested, with Notre Dame incurring a 0-3 record and a combined point deficit of 72.
His achievements at Notre Dame still surpass his accomplishments at LSU. The Tigers have only reached the SEC title game once in the past three seasons, which occurred in 2022 when LSU clinched the SEC West title with a 6-2 conference record before falling to Georgia by 20 points in the conference championship game.
Kelly’s departure signifies LSU’s renewed search for a coach capable of replicating the success of the team’s 2019 national title season. Six years prior, the Tigers showcased one of college football’s most exceptional teams, achieving a 15-0 record, outscoring opponents by an average of four touchdowns per game, and producing an NFL-record number of draft picks in 2020.
However, the team’s performance rapidly declined under coach Ed Orgeron after that season. With the departure of numerous talented players to the NFL, Orgeron’s teams managed only an 11-11 record over the subsequent two seasons before his exit from the school.
Orgeron concluded his tenure with the same number of three-loss seasons (four) as Kelly’s teams, albeit with a national championship to his credit.
Mirroring the situation after Orgeron’s departure, LSU is expected to engage in discussions with nearly every available coach until the conclusion of the season. The institution’s three national titles in the 2000s, along with its commitment to allocate financial resources to the football program, position it as one of college football’s most appealing opportunities.
Nonetheless, LSU’s performance has frequently oscillated between good and exceptional over the past 15 seasons. The 2019 season increasingly appears to be an exception as time progresses.
The Tigers have reached 10 or more victories in eight of the 18 seasons since their BCS title win at the end of 2007. However, only three of these seasons involved two or fewer losses, with 2019 being the sole occurrence in the past 14 years.
As Alabama emerged as the nation’s premier program under former LSU coach Nick Saban, and Georgia rose as the Tide’s primary competitor under former Alabama assistant Kirby Smart, LSU has consistently positioned itself a tier below the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs after Les Miles’ program suffered defeat in the 2011 BCS title game against Saban’s Alabama.
Since that victory for Alabama, the Tide secured another BCS championship and made eight playoff appearances. Georgia has advanced to the playoff three times and contended for the national championship in each of those instances.
Meanwhile, LSU’s achievements are primarily anchored in the memorable 2019 season.
