Tigers head football coach Brian Kelly has lost the locker room, buyout from LSU ‘may save him’

College Football Network’s Oliver Hodgkinson relayed the dire situation for Tigers head football coach Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge: he’s lost the locker room. Hodgkinson believes Kelly’s LSU buyout “may save him” from facing a media conglomerate, social media mandate, and angry Tiger fanbase as the team’s failures continue adding up.

“LSU had already lost three games coming into Week 12, falling to the USC Trojans in Week 1 before succumbing to the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas A&M Aggies over the last two games. Those defeats to ranked teams have raised questions about Kelly’s ability to win the big game, concerns that followed him to Baton Rouge from his time with the Fighting Irish,” Hodkinson prefaced before saying, “But on Saturday night, the Tigers tumbled to a new low in ‘The Swamp.’ Florida head coach Billy Napier has been on the college football hot seat this season (and last) due to his team’s poor performances. Yet, LSU made the Gators look like world-beaters in front of a national audience, allowing 7.7 yards per play while conjuring up nothing from their dominant time of possession.

“More troubling for the program was Kelly’s interactions with his players on the sideline. Kyren Lacy was seen screaming at his head coach as he left the field, while cameras appeared to catch Kelly berating and belittling Chris Hilton Jr. Kelly appears to have lost the locker room, and judging by social media, doesn’t have the support of the fanbase. His behemoth buyout may save him.”

2025 LSU QB commit Bryce Underwood keeping Tigers head football coach Brian Kelly employed

2025 5-star QB Bryce Underwood’s commitment to LSU is the only thing keeping Kelly employed at this point.

“If Bryce Underwood decommits (which he probably won’t), Brian Kelly will get fired instantly. Underwood’s commitment is the only reason he has another year or two at LSU,” College Football Report tweeted.

Kelly has recruited well and owns the No. 6 recruiting class in 2025, but he lost 4-star Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport) OL Devin Harper moments after the Tigers’ 27-16 loss to Florida. Kelly’s grasp of the Creole State is not where it needs to be. If Underwood de-commits and flips to his home-state Michigan Wolverines, the structural integrity of Kelly’s program immediately collapses.

Perhaps Tulane head football coach Jon Sumrall is worth a call considering his work at Tulane and Troy over the past several seasons.