LSU coach Brian Kelly fired: These are the biggest college football buyouts in history

LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Tigers’ 49–25 loss to No. 4 Texas A&M dropped them to 5–3 on the season. The shocking decision also comes with a staggering cost: a $54 million buyout, the second-largest in college football history.

If that number makes your head spin, you’re not alone. College football programs have already committed roughly $170 million to coaching buyouts this year, according to multiple reports, easily surpassing the previous record of $118 million with three months still left in the season.

LSU’s $54 million gamble

LSU’s bold decision highlights a growing trend in college football today. Even the biggest contracts don’t guarantee job security. Kelly, who signed a 10-year, $95 million deal in 2021 after leaving Notre Dame, went 34–14 in Baton Rouge with two 10-win seasons.

But for a program where all three of his predecessors - Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Ed Orgeron - won national championships, “good” wasn’t good enough.

“When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU four years ago, we had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships,” athletic director Scott Woodward said. “Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize.”

Woodward also hinted that LSU may try to negotiate a smaller settlement: “We will continue to negotiate his separation and work toward a path that is better for both parties.”

Under Kelly’s contract, LSU owes 90% of his remaining salary, roughly $54 million. That figure could be reduced if he takes another coaching job.

The buyout boom: why it’s happening

In what’s being dubbed the “buyout boom,” deep-pocketed boosters and anxious athletic directors are paying record sums to fire underperforming coaches. With name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, media-rights windfalls, and the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, the financial and competitive stakes have never been higher.

Paradoxically, that expansion, which is designed to give more teams playoff access, has made elite programs less patient than ever. Finishing 10–2 and missing the playoff used to be acceptable. In 2025, it’s a firing offense.

Just two weeks before LSU pulled the plug on Kelly, Penn State fired James Franklin despite a recent playoff appearance and a $49 million buyout. Days later, Florida cut ties with Billy Napier, paying more than $21 million to send him packing.

So far in 2025, seven FBS head coaches have been fired before November, tied for the most in college football history.

The 10 Biggest Buyouts in College Football History

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