In a coaching career spanning decades in college football, Brian Kelly never had been fired.

On the heels of a disgraceful, home loss to Texas A&M, Brian Kelly is out at LSU, several sources told FootballScoop Sunday night.

Meetings had been ongoing throughout the day Sunday, as Kelly both sought to salvage what remains of a tattered 2025 season and also, per sources, came to grips with an unexpected end to one of the signature moments of Kelly’s decorated coaching career.

The Tigers couldn’t score on offense, showed remarkable sideline dysfunction — particularly in the midst of Saturday night’s 49-25 loss to undefeated and visiting Texas A&M in a game that was not as close as the final score.

LSU led, 18-14, at halftime before it found itself trailing 49-18 with less than seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in LSU’s vaunted Death Valley — and with what loyal home fans who did remain chanting for the end of the Kelly era.

The epitaph will read Brian Kelly, LSU Football Coach, Nov. 29, 2021, through October 26, 2025.

Not four years, but four seasons of too many losses, too many wasted opportunities and, frankly, too much wasted talent.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is widely viewed as one of the top NFL Draft prospects at his position for the 2026 NFL talent sweepstakes, but Nessmeier has been either injured — he’s refused to say — or ineffective amidst the Tigers’ disappointing 5-3 start.

Since Kelly’s arrival to replace Ed Orgeron after the 2021 season, Kelly has lost at least three games in each of his seasons atop the LSU program; after a berth in the 2022 SEC Championship Game, LSU has not sniffed the College Football Playoff.

Throughout Sunday afternoon and into the evening, multiple current LSU assistant coaches expressed to those within their inner cirlce:

“It’s over. Just waiting on the official word.”

Another top-level college football assistant coach told FootballScoop Sunday evening that, “It seems over for poor ole B.K., man. He was texting me and saying he wished I could have helped him fix it.”

Only left to discuss for Kelly, his agent Trace Armstrong and LSU people will be the finer details of Kelly’s hefty buyout, which once was a college football record after Kelly’s current boss, Scott Woodward had earlier pried Jimbo Fisher away from Florida State to coach at Texas A&M several years ago. After Woodward departed for LSU, Fisher was later fired at Texas A&M and received a fully guaranteed buyout of approximately $76 million — with no offset.

Kelly now is owed more than $50 million by LSU, which has a unique setup in which the state’s legislature — particularly Gov. Jeff Landry who has to be involved in this process.

LSU, 5-3, has called a team meeting for this evening to discuss the direction of the program. Sources indicated Frank Wilson, a former UTSA head coach and multi-time LSU assistant coach, could be targeted for the interim head coaching role.

The Tigers next play Nov. 8 at Alabama, which improved to 7-1 Saturday in Year 2 under Kalen DeBoer with a 29-22 win at South Carolina.  

Update> LSU has made the following announcement: 

LSU Athletics has made the decision to separate with football head coach Brian Kelly effective immediately, Director of Athletics Scott Woodward announced Sunday.

Terms of the separation are still being negotiated.

“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,” Woodward said. “Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night’s game. I am grateful for the ongoing consultations and support of the LSU Board of Supervisors and Interim President Matt Lee in this decision. We wish Coach Kelly and his family the very best in their future endeavors. We will continue to negotiate his separation and will work toward a path that is better for both parties.”

The Tigers fell to 5-3 this season and 2-3 in SEC play following a home loss to No. 3 Texas A&M on Saturday night.

LSU was 34-14 across four seasons with Kelly at the helm, including a 19-10 mark against SEC competition, and won three straight bowl games. The Tigers made their lone SEC Championship game appearance under Kelly in his first season in 2022. In 2023, they were led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick.

Kelly is the winningest active coach in NCAA Football with 323 career victories. He amassed a 23-3 record in Tiger Stadium, including a 20-2 mark in night games in Death Valley.

Associate head coach/running backs coach Frank Wilson will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season.

“As a proud alum, and as the current caretaker of our athletics programs, I will not compromise in our pursuit of excellence and we will not lower our standards,” Woodward said. “I continue to believe that LSU is the best football program in America and that our head coach position is among the best considering our investment, our ability to attract and retain talent, our unbelievable fans, and our institutional and statewide commitment to – and love for – LSU Football. We will immediately begin a national search for a new head football coach, and I am confident in our ability to bring to Baton Rouge an outstanding leader, teacher and coach, who fits our culture and community and who embraces the excellence that we demand.

“While there will certainly be speculation and reports on candidates and the process, together we will celebrate and welcome a new coach at the appropriate time. I urge all in the LSU community to continue to support our student-athletes and coaches as they compete the rest of the season.”