Sources: Brian Kelly informed of LSU’s intention to dismiss him

LSU coach Brian Kelly was informed of the school’s intention to fire him on Sunday, and the program is expected to inform the team of the development in a meeting later this evening, sources told ESPN.

Discussions over the terms of his departure are expected to continue and the situation remains in flux following the Tigers’ 49-25 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday night in Baton Rouge. Kelly owes just over $54 million in buyout money, and that’s emerging as one of the issues in the discussions.

Kelly left the office early Sunday afternoon and did not return, sources told ESPN. The Tigers are on a bye week, so the presence of some staff members was optional.

LSU associate head coach and running backs coach Frank Wilson will take over as the team’s interim head coach, sources told ESPN, confirming the reports. The Tigers next play on Nov. 8, taking on No. 4 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Kelly, 64, compiled a 34-14 record over four seasons at LSU, winning just under 71 percent of his games. But the Tigers have lost three of their last four games, all in the SEC, and Saturday’s loss to the Aggies was one in which the road team scored 35 straight points to open the second half, as chants of “Fire Kelly” echoed inside Tiger Stadium.

Kelly won an SEC West Division title in his first year with the Tigers and coached Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels in 2023, but an 8-4 regular season last year that included three straight double-digit losses to Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida led to some discontent heading into year four.

LSU made significant improvements in the gate during the offseason at wide receiver and defensive line, and took every opportunity to promote its quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, to the Heisman Trophy. But the Tigers faded in the SEC spotlight in a year when they were among the favorites to win the league.

Sunday started with the LSU staff bracing for personnel changes, as they entered the week ranked No. 82 in scoring offense, No. 96 in total offense and No. 122 in passing attack. The program’s defense has wilted over the past two games with a loss at Vanderbilt and a home loss to the Aggies.

But the day passed and by early evening it became clear to LSU members that the discussions were taking place on a larger scale, sources told ESPN. The centerpiece of discussions about Kelly’s departure is his buyout, which amounts to nearly $54 million. This money could be offset if Kelly accepts a new coaching position.

Kelly signed a 10-year contract when he made the seismic decision to come to LSU from Notre Dame in November 2021, a move at the time seen as a victory for athletic director Scott Woodward. This agreement included $95 million in salary, 90% of which is guaranteed.

His listed salary is just under $10.2 million, according to USA Today’s coaches database. The contract runs until the end of the 2031 season, as he has six years remaining.