Like the rest of the country and two SEC programs, LSU is awaiting Lane Kiffin’s decision for 2026.
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The Ole Miss head coach is getting the No. 7 Rebels prepared to play Mississippi State for the “Egg Bowl” on Friday. Kiffin is expected to reveal where he plans to coach next season on Saturday. He could stay in Oxford or leave for LSU or Florida.
The Tigers still had some unfinished business to take care of with former head coach Brian Kelly amid their national coaching search. LSU had not finalized Kelly’s nearly $54 million buyout after he was dismissed from his duties on Oct. 26.
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Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Kelly has now been informed in writing that he was terminated by LSU without cause. The Tigers are set to owe Kelly the remaining money on his contract.
Per the ESPN report, Kelly is expected to make “good faith” efforts to seek employment.
“On Wednesday night, new LSU president Wade Rousse sent a signed letter that reiterated what is clear in Kelly’s contract,” Thamel wrote.
“He’ll be owed the liquidated damages from his contract and there is an onus on Kelly for the six years remaining on the deal to make ‘good-faith, reasonable, and sustained efforts to obtain qualifying employment for as long as liquidated damages are due.'”
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Earlier this week, representation for Kelly suggested that the former LSU head coach was unable to seek a new job after the school claimed it never “formally terminated” Kelly.
In recent weeks, Kelly has been linked as a possible head coach replacement for Jonathan Smith at Michigan State. However, the Spartans have not fired Smith. MSU is 3-8 before getting set to finish the regular season at home against Maryland on Saturday.
Following the events of Wednesday, Kelly should be able to seek a new head coaching job. LSU has a plan for Kelly’s buyout and can go about finding a new head coach to announce to the public.
Which could be Kiffin.
For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.