After an upsetting loss to Texas A&M, 49-25, Brian Kelly was fired. As the head coach search began, multiple names were thrown into the carousel. Lane Kiffin, Nick Saban, and Joe Sumrall, to name a few. However, the Tigers’ faithful wouldn’t have expected Connor Stalions to be one of the trending faces.

It was in 2020 that Baton Rouge celebrated the national championship trophy. When Brian Kelly arrived at the Tigers’ campus, there was a similar excitement that the former Notre Dame head coach would lead the program to another celebrated feat. Initially, the buzz was there. For the first two seasons, Kelly led the team to consecutive 10-win seasons, with fans keeping their fingers crossed. However, with a sluggish 5-4 record in 2025, frustration boiled over, and the HC was let go.

Now, Wunderfanapp has predicted Connor Stalions, the most likely to replace Brian Kelly. To those who haven’t been paying attention, the 30-year-old reportedly was the mastermind behind Michigan’s infamous sign scandal. Back in September 2023, he was spotted on Central Michigan’s sidelines, wearing the Chippewas’ gear and Meta glasses, recording the game against the Michigan State Spartans. An investigation soon followed, and a year later, Stalions was found guilty.

Along with suspension, the court ordered him to an eight-year show-cause order, restricting him from all athletically related activities till August 2033. So, will Stalions be back to coaching? Before the investigation concluded in 2024, he had taken up a coaching gig in the high school circuit. In September 2024, he took up the role of an acting coach at Detroit Mumford and was around Belleville High School. Although Wunderfanapp has predicted him to be the HC replacement, those chances appear slim.

His role in the scandal raised questions regarding ethics and sportsmanship. After which, the NCAA approved helmet communication in college football. Moreover, LSU fans still haven’t forgotten his alleged role in flipping the then-LSU commit Bryce Underwood to Michigan. But does he want to return to college football?

In a conversation with J.D. Pickell, he said as much so. “Of course,” Stalions said. “I’ll out-wait anyone. Whenever it’s time.” Although his dream job is the Michigan job, he won’t turn down any offers if they help him boost his resume, ultimately positioning him to pursue the Michigan gig. However, two exceptions are Ohio State and Michigan State. Well, one wouldn’t expect less from a Michigan fan, would they?

Presently, the Connor Stalion-LSU angle seems unlikely. Not just for the former Michigan staff, but any coach who might be looking at Baton Rouge with interest.

Brian Kelly sues LSU

According to reports, LSU is allegedly avoiding a $54 million buyout. After the loss against the Aggies, Kelly was relieved of his duties, stating, ‘performance-based issues,’ by the then-Athletic Director Scott Woodward. However, Kelly wasn’t the only individual relieved of his duties at LSU. Four days later, Governor Jeff Landry also dismissed AD Woodson. Since then, Baton Rouge has been in a legal mess.

LSU officials told Brian Kelly that Woodward did not have “the authority to terminate Coach Kelly and/or make settlement offers to him”, and so, he was never officially terminated, according to the copy of the suit obtained by ESPN. According to the petition for declaratory judgment, LSU is now attempting to fire Kelly ‘for cause.’ If the program is successful in proving Kelly’s termination based on the ‘for-clause’, they won’t be required to pay $54 million in total.

However, Kelly’s suit argues that LSU has “never claimed that Coach Kelly was terminated for cause and, prior to November 10, 2025,” stating that the firing was performance-based. LSU’s legal battle with Brian Kelly might affect the efforts made to appoint a new head coach.