Fire Brian Kelly: LSU Fans Ask For Contract Buyout After Bryce Underwood Flips To Michigan

As the 2024 season progresses, LSU fans are becoming increasingly vocal about their frustration with head coach Brian Kelly. Hired in 2021 to bring the Tigers back to championship form, Kelly has faced growing criticism due to recurring losses in pivotal games, ongoing defensive struggles, and a general lack of visible progress on the recruiting trail. This discontent reached new heights earlier this season following a blowout loss to Alabama, leaving fans questioning if Kelly is the right person to lead LSU. Now, with consensus No. 1 recruit Bryce Underwood decommitting from LSU and flipping to Michigan, fans are demanding that administration fire its head coach. However, his significant buyout complicates any potential coaching change.

Why Are LSU Fans Frustrated with Brian Kelly?

29-Point Blowout Loss to Alabama

LSU’s crushing 42-13 defeat at the hands of Alabama this past weekend has been a tipping point for fans. This lopsided loss, coming during a critical stretch of the season, highlighted persistent issues with the team’s defense and general preparedness in high-stakes games. For many, it underscored LSU’s failure to compete with elite SEC programs under Kelly’s leadership.

Embarrassing loss at home. Brian Kelly needs to be let go I don’t care. Absolutely pathetic and ridiculous!!!!!

— ℝ𝕪 🐅⚜️🕸 (@RyNeverLies) November 10, 2024

Please fire Brian Kelly.

He is a disaster. I can’t recognize my team and for as long as I can remember, he has severely underperformed. pic.twitter.com/RZZrovjggL

— Genuinrisk (33.3%) (@Genuinrisk) November 10, 2024

Underwhelming Performance in Key Games

In addition to the Alabama game, Kelly’s tenure has been marked by underwhelming performances in other high-profile matchups. LSU has lost its season opener for three consecutive years, including a 27-20 defeat to USC earlier in the 2024 season. Additional losses, such as the recent 38-23 defeat to Texas A&M, have only fueled fans’ frustrations with the direction of the program.

Defensive Struggles

Defense has been a recurring weak point for LSU, leading to significant changes within the coaching staff. In January 2024, Kelly dismissed the entire defensive coaching staff in an attempt to address these issues. However, despite the overhaul, the Tigers’ defense continues to struggle, leaving fans questioning whether any real progress is being made.

Public Outbursts and Accountability Concerns

Brian Kelly’s tenure has been marked not only by inconsistent performance but also by public expressions of frustration following losses. After pivotal defeats, Kelly has sometimes directed critical comments toward his team, calling out their lack of execution and effort.

While some fans appreciate his willingness to hold players accountable, others view these outbursts as deflecting responsibility from his own coaching strategies. These moments have added to the perception that Kelly may not be fully shouldering the blame, fueling further frustration among fans already disillusioned by the team’s struggles.

LSU HC Brian Kelly was HEATED after their loss vs. USC pounding the table 🤯

“We’re sitting here AGAIN and talking about the same things.”
pic.twitter.com/yiiJAsiGTk

— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) September 2, 2024

Lack of Progress Toward Championship Contention

With Kelly’s appointment came high hopes for a return to national prominence, but the results have fallen short of expectations. Consecutive setbacks and a perceived lack of progress have left a segment of the fanbase wondering if the program is actually moving backward.

Losing Bryce Underwood Is A Huge Loss To LSU’s Football Program

Perhaps Kelly’s biggest loss during the 2024 season came off of the football field. LSU had secured a commitment from Bryce Underwood, a generational talent and the consensus No. 1 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class. Underwood had developed a strong relationship with Kelly and his staff but appears to have lost faith in the Tigers’ program following a lackluster season.

Last week, Underwood announced that he would be taking his talents to Ann Arbor to join the Michigan Wolverines, which shocked football fans around the country, including Underwood’s high school football coach. “I really thought he was going to stay at LSU. I was shocked at the flip,” Calvin Norman, Underwood’s coach at Belleville, said.

Brian Kelly Contract & Salary

Kelly’s 10-year contract, which runs through 2031, guarantees him $95 million, making it one of the most significant contracts in college football. His annual base salary started at $9 million in 2022 and increases incrementally each year, reaching $10 million in 2031. It can be broken down as follows:

• 2024: $9.2 million
• 2025: $9.4 million
• 2026: $9.4 million
• 2027: $9.6 million
• 2028: $9.6 million
• 2029: $9.8 million
• 2030: $9.8 million
• 2031: $10 million

Contract Incentives

Kelly’s contract includes multiple performance-based incentives:

• Annual Longevity Bonus: $500,000 for each year he remains head coach
• Bowl Eligibility Bonus: $500,000 for achieving bowl eligibility
• SEC Championship Appearance: $75,000
• SEC Championship Victory: $150,000
• New Year’s Six Bowl Appearance: $100,000
• College Football Playoff (CFP) Semifinal Appearance: $200,000
• CFP National Championship Game Appearance: $300,000
• CFP National Championship Victory: $500,000
• SEC Coach of the Year: $50,000
• National Coach of the Year: $75,000

Brian Kelly’s Buyout Complicates Matters

Kelly’s contract specifies that LSU would owe him 90% of his remaining contract value if terminated without cause. This means his buyout — if fired without cause — would be as follows:

• November 2024: $60.8 million
• November 2025: $51.7 million
• November 2026: $42.5 million
• November 2027: $33.1 million
• November 2028: $23.4 million
• November 2029: $13.5 million

The high cost of this buyout reflects LSU’s significant investment in Kelly, intended to secure stability for the program. However, it also makes any decision to part ways financially complex.

Can LSU Really Fire Brian Kelly?

The combination of mounting on-field struggles and a substantial buyout puts LSU’s leadership in a difficult position. While many fans are ready for a change, the financial implications of Kelly’s contract mean that LSU would need to make a hefty payout if they were to let him go. As the season continues, the question remains whether LSU will stay the course with Kelly or consider paying the price for a fresh start in their pursuit of championship contention.