When head coach Brian Kelly walked off the field after losing 49-25 to Texas A&M, the majority of the college football world knew what was going to happen next.
On Sunday, LSU decided to part ways with Kelly, ending what many people saw as a disappointment in Baton Rouge.
A 34-14 record was solid for Kelly, but after the second-half disaster against the Aggies, the expectation to bounce back following the loss to Vanderbilt was not met, and a change needed to be made.
“Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night’s game,” LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodard said in a press release.
These past two losses for Kelly were the nail in the coffin, and ironic when you look at the history of the coaches that beat him.
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, who served as Kelly’s defensive coordinator in 2017 at Notre Dame, has gotten the best of LSU during his first two seasons with the Aggies, beating the Tigers by an average of 20 points.
The man who replaced Elko once he left for the A&M defensive coordinator job in 2018 was Clark Lea. Does the name sound familiar?
He’s the head coach for Vanderbilt.
Lea was originally the linebackers coach in 2017 before he took over as the defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2020. Some may argue that Lea started the downward spiral for Kelly’s job security after leading Vanderbilt to a 31-24 win over a few weeks ago.
While Kelly struggled with LSU, both Lea and Elko are thriving with their programs, and both have arguably put their schools at the best position in program history.
For LSU, it’s trying to find someone who can lead them to the type of success Lea and Elko have found. Stepping in as the interim head coach will be Frank Wilson, who was LSU’s running back coach.
With four games left, the Tigers are still focusing on what’s in front of them currently, but the real chaos begins during the offseason. Any time a coach is fired from a school, it creates a ripple effect that can delay progress within the program.
The search has already begun behind the scenes, and that creates a whirlpool of rumors until the Tigers announce who their new head coach will be.
Big names such as Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin and Oregon’s Dan Lanning have already been mentioned as potential replacements, alongside other coaches at smaller programs, including Tulane’s Jon Sumrall, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Georgia Tech’s Brent Keys.
“While there will certainly be speculation and reports on candidates and the process, together we will celebrate and welcome a new coach at the appropriate time,” Woodward said.
There are a select few who want some former legends to return to coaching, such as Nick Saban and Jon Gruden.
Whoever LSU hires, expectations are going to be high. The hostility resonating within the fanbase has been brewing for years. An SEC championship appearance and a Heisman winner wasn’t enough, and now they’re even hungrier after what has gone down this season.
When the Tigers secure their head coach, it could affect the staff as a whole. Many coaches bring in or replace coordinators, like Kelly did when he arrived with Mike Denbrock and Matt House. LSU is already in search of a new offensive coordinator too after Joe Sloan was fired on Monday, leaving former tight end coach Alex Atkins to take over the role for now.
Every staff member matters, and when LSU gets the coach it wants, there could be a lot of new faces.
Recruiting is also one of the factors that may see a drastic change.
For recruiting, the head coach is one of the spearheads in landing a prospect, as they often have the best status and relationships with the recruits. A lot of high school players make their decision based on the connection they have with the head coach.
Quarterback Colin Hurley went to X to express his feelings about the firing of Kelly and talked about the relationship they had.
“I don’t care what anyone has to say about this man,” Hurley wrote. “The impact he had on my life is something that can never be taken away from me. He loved me each and everyday. He cared for me endlessly through my best days and my worst. I love you, Coach, forever.”
Lamar Brown, the No. 5 player in the country and the No. 1 player in Louisiana, also went on X to express his love for Kelly as well.
“Thank You for being THE FIRST COACH to believe in me!!!” Brown wrote.
With powerful relationships like these, you can expect recruits to decommit or rethink their decision now that the head coach of the team that offered them is gone.
However, it’s not always the case, especially with a brand like LSU. A program that’s produced championships, Heisman winners and NFL draft picks still carries the weight of success.
2026 offensive lineman recruit Jalan Chapman expressed in an interview with Tiger Rag that he chose LSU because it’s LSU, not because of the coach.
“You don’t go to LSU for the coach. You go to LSU because it’s LSU. I’m a little Louisiana boy, I wouldn’t go nowhere else.”
And it’s not just for the future players, it’s also for the players who are there now. Just like how recruits commit or decommit because of the relationship they have with the head coach, current players on the team can stay or transfer.
When Oklahoma State’s head coach Mike Gundy was fired earlier in the season, there was almost an instant reaction among the current players.
According to 247 Sports, eleven players from Oklahoma State will enter the transfer portal even before the season ends.
While some players for LSU may potentially leave when the season is over, Wilson explained why the energy among his players isn’t down and why they have their focus on finishing the season.
“Because they love this place and what it stands for, what it has done for them in the lifetime of a relationship that endures to you,” Wilson said.
