This could put his job on the line.
Paul Finebaum Reveals What Would Brian Kelly on the Hot Seat originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 college football season brings significant pressure for prominent coaches. If these coaches do not perform well, it could be their final seasons in charge.
The LSU Tigers and Brian Kelly have not performed poorly during his tenure, but there is still pressure on him. Kelly is considered one of the top coaches in college football, with an overall record of 195-73, including a 29-11 record at LSU. However, his performance appears to be declining each year.
In his first season, the Tigers finished with a record of 10-4. They won the SEC West division and advanced to the SEC Championship Game. In his second year, the team achieved a record of 10-3, but they did not win the division.
Last season, LSU finished with a 9-4 record and did not win the conference again. Additionally, the Tigers have not qualified for the College Football Playoff during Kelly's tenure.
On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst discussed what could jeopardize Kelly's job in 2025.
"If Kelly loses that game, there will be an overreaction," Finebaum said. "But the real problem will come a couple of weeks later because that's when they have Florida at home. I believe that's going to be a primetime game. That's when the pressure starts because LSU has to navigate that September schedule."
Finebaum stated that if Kelly were to lose against the Gators, his job would be at risk during the road game against the Ole Miss Rebels two games later.
Deciding to part ways with Kelly will be a challenging choice. Not only is he an elite coach, but doing so would also involve a substantial buyout fee. His buyout stands at $51.7 million. This amount will decrease each year: it will drop to $42.5 million in 2026, $33.1 million in 2027, $23.4 million in 2028 and finally to $13.5 million in 2029.
Last season, LSU lost to Florida 27-16 late in the season. The Tigers have not won an opening game since 2019. However, they did beat the Rebels in overtime, 29-26.
LSU will start the season with an important road game against Clemson on August 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names Prominent SEC Program Whose Fans Won't be Patient
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
