Brian Kelly will get entire $54 million buyout from LSU, but under one condition

LSU has formally terminated Brian Kelly, granting him a $54 million buyout as he was dismissed without cause. Kelly is required to actively seek new employment to mitigate the buyout, with LSU expecting documentation of his job search efforts. The termination follows a contentious period in which Kelly filed a lawsuit over the buyout, claiming LSU's attempts to negotiate were invalid and that the school missed the opportunity to fire him for cause. Kelly was let go after a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M, concluding a tenure at LSU where he achieved a 34-14 record but never ranked higher than 18th nationally. Interim coach Frank Wilson has led the Tigers to a 2-1 record since Kelly's departure, with recent victories over Arkansas and Western Kentucky, improving LSU's season standing to 7-4 ahead of a game against No. 8 Oklahoma.