LSU has three games remaining in the regular season as the program conducts a national coaching search for 2026.
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The Tigers are set to host Arkansas on Saturday. Both teams are looking for a new leader for next season.
LSU’s situation is a little messier than what the Razorbacks are dealing with in Week 12.
The Tigers are in a dispute with Brian Kelly over the former head coach’s estimated $54 million buyout. The situation appears to be headed to court, and that’s throwing a wrinkle in the head coaching search.
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College football analyst Josh Pate thinks LSU’s battle with Kelly will keep top college football coaching candidates like Lane Kiffin from even considering moving to Baton Rouge, fearing that the school could try and do the same thing to them in the future.
During an episode of “Josh Pate’s College Football Show” on Tuesday, the host claimed that LSU’s coaching search hasn’t really started because of the fight with Kelly.
“The thinking now, I mean, I just, I flat out asked people today who would be involved and who would know about the search,” Pate said. “And I said, ‘Is this hurting things like I think it is?’ And they said, ‘Yeah, multiple people, not just one person.’ So I have no idea how to tell you the LSU search is going because it’s not going. How can it go right now?”
LSU doesn’t appear too troubled by the delayed start.
“I’ve kind of been in contact with people about the whole structure of LSU throughout this whole thing,” Pate said, “And the general sentiment had been, ‘Yeah, it’s a little messy, but don’t worry. They don’t have to make a hire this week.’ So they’ve got a little runway.”
The reported lack of urgency is a little confusing. One would have thought LSU fired Kelly on Oct. 26 so they could get a jumpstart on the coaching search. However, that appears not to be the case.
In the meantime, fellow SEC programs Florida, Auburn and Arkansas are gaining momentum in the coaching carousel.
For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.