"Most bizarre coach/program fit ever": CFB analyst urges LSU to fire Brian Kelly & pay $53,293,333 buyout after devastating loss vs. Canderbilt

On Saturday, Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers suffered a disappointing 31-24 loss at the hands of the Vanderbilt Commodores. This was their first loss in this series since 1990. Following the result, the LSU coach found himself on the hot seat, raising questions about his fit with the program.

College football analyst Brandon Walker believes that LSU should move on from Brian Kelly and bring in a suitable replacement. In a tweet on X, he stated that he never saw him as a good fit to lead the team on the gridiron.

"LSU should pay the buyout. They never should've hired Kelly. Most bizarre coach/program fit I can ever remember."

Brian Kelly is the eighth-highest-paid collegiate football coach this season. He had signed a 10-year deal when he joined the program back in 2021. If the LSU Tigers decide to part ways with him without cause as of December 1, 2025, then they will have to pay a buyout of $53,293,333.

Kelly spent 12 seasons with Notre Dame before joining LSU in 2021. So far in four seasons, he has won three bowl games, but has yet to make a playoff appearance with the team. He started year four with a 17-10 victory over the Clemson Tigers on Aug. 30.

The team's first loss came last month at the hands of the Ole Miss Rebels after a four-game winning streak. Before their Saturday showdown against Vanderbilt, LSU secured a 20-10 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Brian Kelly opens up after disappointing loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores

In the post-game press conference, the LSU coach expressed his disappointment with the outcome of Saturday's showdown. He also praised the Commodores for their performance on the field.

Kelly also said that he expects his players to bounce back from this loss and continue to make an effort to compete for the SEC championship and a spot in the 12-team playoffs.

"It's a competitive group," Kelly said as per 247Sports. "They're going to play hard. We just have to play smarter and cleaner. I'm not worried about guys not wanting to play at their very best. They're going to play at their very best. They're still in it. They got Texas A&M at home, then they get a week off.

"Then it's a four-game race to the SEC championship. It's a disappointing loss. There's no doubt about it. But they've got to bounce back right to reality and know that they've got to play mistake-free against their outstanding A&M team."

Brian Kelly and his team will take on the Texas A&M Aggies on Oct.25 at 7:30 pm ET.

About the author

Priyam is a College Sports content executive at Sportskeeda with a master's in Advertising and Marketing Management and over two years of experience as a writer. When it comes to reporting, Priyam believes doing a technical deep dive is one of his biggest strengths and he loves to dissect plays on the field and factor out the strengths/weaknesses of players.

A fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Priyam sees Nick Saban as the greatest coach of all time. He is also rooting for Alabama quarterback Jalen Milore after following his progress over the years. The Michigan Wolverines football team is another of his favorite programs and it will be interesting to see how both these teams perform in new coaching eras.

When he’s not reporting, Priyam is usually at the gym or indulging in music. He has been a guitarist and a drummer for the past 17 years and finds his time of peace when playing music.

Know More

LSU Tigers Fan? Check out the latest LSU Tigers depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.

Edited by Priyam Hazarika