Brian Kelly Battles LSU in High-Stakes Lawsuit Over Shocking $54 Million Buyout Clash

LSU finds itself in quite the bind, as it appears they’re hell-bent on dodging the colossal $54 million payout owed to former head coach Brian Kelly. The drama took a sharp turn Monday when Kelly hit back with a lawsuit, accusing the school of muddying the waters by insisting they haven’t officially terminated him. According to ESPN’s Dan Wetzel, LSU dropped this bombshell on Kelly’s people, now arguing they’re firing him “for cause” — a move that would conveniently nix their obligation to pay out the full buyout. The lawsuit reveals a phone call where LSU representatives asserted, for the first time, that they believe there’s enough ground to justify termination “for cause.” Kelly ain’t having any of it, pushing for a court judgment to affirm that his firing had nothing to do with cause and that he’s entitled to the full contractual payout. This tangled saga follows LSU’s decision to part ways with Kelly back in October, after a disappointing skid that left the Tigers struggling and out of the national rankings. Meanwhile, the fallout continues behind the scenes, with former LSU AD Scott Woodward’s authority questioned and offers to settle buyouts reportedly rejected by Kelly. It’s a classic high-stakes standoff — and the college football world is watching closely as this legal tussle unfolds. LEARN MORE

LSU is apparently trying to get out of paying Brian Kelly his nearly $54 million buyout altogether.

The former Tigers football coach filed a lawsuit on Monday, alleging that the school has taken the position that it has not “formally terminated” him. The school reportedly informed Kelly’s representatives of this position on Monday, according to ESPN’s Dan Wetzel. They are now trying to fire him “for cause.”

“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 lawsuit said.

Kelly is seeking “a declaratory judgment confirming that” LSU’s move to fire him was without cause, and that he “is entitled to receive the full liquidated damages” listed in his contract. If he is fired “for cause,” LSU wouldn’t be obligated to pay him the full amount in his buyout.

The Tigers initially split with Kelly on Oct. 26 after the team fell to Texas A&M 49-25 at home. That dropped the Tigers to 5-3 on the season. Frank Wilson has since taken over as the team’s interim head coach. Kelly went 34-14 in his time at LSU. He landed there after 12 seasons at Notre Dame, where he went 113-40.

LSU athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement at the time that the firing was performance-related, and that the “high hopes that [Kelly] would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships” never materialized. Woodward, however, was also fired by LSU just days later. He drew criticism from Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who insisted that Woodward wouldn’t be involved in the hiring of Kelly’s replacement.

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According to the lawsuit, LSU told Kelly’s lawyers that Woodward didn’t have the authority to terminate him or make settlement offers to him. The suit also says claims LSU attempted to settle with Kelly multiple times, first for $25 million and then for $30 million, but he declined both offers. He’s since requested that the school pay the full $54 million buyout. If it’s paid in full, Kelly’s buyout would be the second-biggest ever paid to a college football coach.

According to ESPN, Kelly’s contract includes a “for cause” termination clause that allows for him to be fired due to NCAA rule violations, felony convictions or crimes involving gambling, drugs or alcohol and sexual misconduct, among other things.

“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 reads. “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.”

The Tigers, who have now lost three straight and fallen out of the national rankings completely, will host Arkansas next on Saturday.