LSU Board Approves Termination Notice for Brian Kelly Amid Lawsuit

Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The LSU Board of Supervisors has authorized new university president Wade Rousse to notify former football coach Brian Kelly of his termination. This decision, made during a closed-door meeting on Friday, marks LSU’s first official move since Kelly filed a lawsuit against the board on November 10.

Kelly’s lawsuit, filed in the 19th Judicial District Court in East Baton Rouge, claims the university is attempting to terminate him ‘for cause’ in order to avoid paying a nearly $54 million buyout. During the board’s meeting, member John Carmouche requested Rousse, in consultation with legal counsel, to send a written notice of termination to Kelly. The motion passed without objection.

In his lawsuit, Kelly argues that LSU never claimed he was terminated for cause prior to November 10, 2025, and that the dismissal resulted from the team’s poor performance. The suit emphasizes that LSU had confirmed to both Kelly and the public that the termination was performance-related.

Kelly’s legal team also asserts that Scott Woodward, the former athletic director, lacked the authority to fire Kelly. Woodward parted ways with the university just four days later, following comments from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry criticizing his agreement with Kelly.

Governor Landry has expressed concerns about Woodward’s deal with Kelly, labeling it one-sided and a ‘liability’ for the university. “We are not going down a failed path,” said Landry during a recent news conference.

As LSU searches for Kelly’s replacement, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has emerged as a key candidate. Kiffin was reportedly meeting with Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter about his future on Friday, further complicating LSU’s coaching search.

With only two weeks left in the season, LSU hopes to move forward from this tumultuous chapter, hosting Western Kentucky on Saturday.