Brian Kelly out as LSU football coach after Texas A&M loss, the school announced

LSU has fired coach Brian Kelly during the fourth season of a 10-year contract worth about $100 million, the school announced on Sunday night.

BY AP

Oct 26, 2025, 7:17 PM Updated: Oct 27, 2025, 12:19 pm

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — LSU has fired coach Brian Kelly during the fourth season of a 10-year contract worth about $100 million, the school announced on Sunday night.

LSU Athletics in a press release said running backs coach Frank Wilson will be the interim head coach for the rest of the 2025 season.

“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,” LSU athletic director Woodward said in the release. “Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize.”

The move comes on the heels of Saturday night’s 49-25 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium — a second straight loss, and third in four games for LSU (5-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference).

Kelly was hired away from Notre Dame when his predecessor, Ed Orgeron, stepped down following the 2021 regular season.

LSU could have to pay Kelly tens of millions not to coach, but the precise figure was unclear. The football program’s press release said “terms of the separation are still being negotiated.”

Woodward added in his statement the program “will not compromise in our pursuit of excellence.”

Kelly was 34-14 with the Tigers, even taking LSU to the 2022 SEC title game. But LSU did not qualify for the College Football Playoff in his first three seasons, and was virtually eliminated from contention with its loss to the Aggies.

The playoff was expanded from four to 12 teams for the 2024 season.