The LSU Tigers fell to the Vanderbilt Commodores by a score of 31-24 on Saturday afternoon in Nashville. The Tigers are now 5-2 with a pair of SEC losses before the end of October.
It was a frustrating game to watch for Tiger fans for many reasons, as LSU failed to play complimentary football once again. Kelly and his staff were thoroughly out-coached from start to finish, which only adds to the frustration. After such a poor performance, Tiger fans are wondering about Kelly's buyout, but the answer may not be what they want to hear.
What is Brian Kelly's buyout at LSU?
When Kelly came to Baton Rouge in 2021, he signed a 10-year contract worth $95 million. In the fourth season of his deal, his buyout at this time would be approximately $53.3 million if he is dismissed without cause. That figure makes his buyout one of the highest totals in all of college football. For reference, James Franklin's buyout at Penn State was just north of $45 million.
The total cost to the school would be even higher, as LSU would also need to pay for a new coaching staff, including assistant coaches and coordinators. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker is one of the three highest-paid coordinators in all of college football, which is something to keep in mind as top talent among coordinators will demand similar salaries to Baker's.
Kelly now has an overall record of 34-13 at LSU, including a 19-9 mark in SEC play. He's lost 13 regular season games through 3.5 seasons, which includes multiple SEC losses in each season. The Tigers have yet to appear in the College Football Playoff under Kelly, a goal which seems to have eluded them once again this season. There's still a lot of football left to play, but Kelly hasn't done himself any favors with today's result.
The road ahead this season doesn't get any easier, as LSU faces No. 4 Texas A&M next week before heading to Tuscaloosa to battle No. 6 Alabama on Nov. 8. Kelly's team has some serious soul searching to do over the next week before taking on the Aggies.