Brian Kelly sues LSU over $54M buyout after school allegedly changes termination story: report

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Brian Kelly filed a lawsuit against LSU, claiming the school is attempting to avoid its $54 million buyout for the coach after allegedly telling Kelly's representatives it has not officially terminated him.

Kelly coached his final game with the Tigers on Oct. 25 — a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M — and running backs coach Frank Wilson is currently listed as the interim head coach on LSU's website.

However, the suit claimed that Kelly's attorneys were notified Monday by the school that the university is aiming to fire him "for cause" to avoid paying him the buyout.

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LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly looks on during warmups before the game against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions at Tiger Stadium.  (Stephen Lew/Imagn Images)

"LSU's representatives had a call with Coach Kelly's representatives, where LSU took the position that Coach Kelly had not been formally terminated and informed Coach Kelly's representatives, for the very first time, that LSU believed grounds for termination for cause existed," the suit says, according to ESPN.

"LSU has never claimed that Coach Kelly was terminated for cause and, prior to November 10, 2025, never asserted that he engaged in any conduct that would warrant such a termination," the lawsuit continues. "To the contrary, LSU repeatedly confirmed, both publicly and to Coach Kelly, that the termination was due to the Team's performance, not for cause."

When formally announcing Kelly's departure, then-athletic director Scott Woodward said, "We had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge.