If you thought Brian Kelly’s $95 million contract made him untouchable, think again. LSU may be ready to eat one of college football’s most expensive meals of a $54 million buyout just to be done with him. When Pete Nakos dropped a post saying, “Staff shakeup is expected at LSU, sources tell @Sheadixon and me,” the writing was officially on the wall. And after Saturday night’s 49-25 humiliation against No. 3 Texas A&M, who can blame them?

By Sunday morning, tension filled the halls of the LSU football complex. Staffers walked in expecting turbulence and they got it. In a new X report by Pete Nakos on October 26, “Sources have told @On3sports that LSU position coaches have been sent home from the facility, with Brian Kelly’s future with the Tigers an unknown.” That single post set Baton Rouge ablaze signaling that the program might be preparing for something far bigger than a staff reshuffle. Officially, the team’s on a bye week, but the optics scream otherwise. 

This was supposed to be a dynasty in the making. When Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU in November 2021, AD Scott Woodward’s 10-year, $95 million deal for the HC was hailed as a coup. Ninety percent of that was guaranteed because what could possibly go wrong with a sure-thing coach in the SEC? Turns out, everything and then some. Now, LSU ranks No. 82 in scoring offense, No. 96 in total offense, and an abysmal No. 122 in passing offense. Those numbers might fly in the MAC, but not in Death Valley. Meanwhile, the defense has disintegrated over the past two weeks, surrendering chunk plays and confidence in equal measure. 

The program’s higher-ups convened for an emergency meeting to discuss how to end the Brian Kelly era without detonating their financial future. According to multiple outlets, the school has begun internal discussions about moving on from Kelly and the $54 million buyout he’s owed. The goal is to negotiate a compromise. Brian Kelly, who turned 64 on Saturday, may prefer a quiet settlement. LSU, meanwhile, would rather not pay the full price of disappointment. And that brings us to the juiciest part. The replacements.

Brian Kelly’s potential replacement short list

Fire Brian Kelly, they said. But who will replace him? Leave it to Paul Finebaum to throw gasoline on a smoldering fire. On The Matt Barrie Show, the SEC analyst floated Lane Kiffin as the frontrunner if LSU pulls the trigger. “I’ll just make it simple,” Finebaum said. “LSU is a better job than Florida… Kiffin’s quirky, and would he fit LSU? Probably would. He maybe fits that mindset a little better. Florida is a collection of a lot of different interests and politics, where LSU, if you win, you’re going to be OK at LSU.” The man who once said he enjoys being hated might just thrive in Baton Rouge’s madness. But he’s not the only name in circulation.

In a Yahoo Sports segment, Steven Godfrey threw another curveball at Mike Elko. The Texas A&M hero-turned-Duke miracle worker has deep SEC roots and, more importantly, major boosters in his corner. The issue is that LSU can’t just “go get their Elko.” The politics, timing, and money make it complicated and Baton Rouge doesn’t do complicated very well. Still, the wildest name yet might be the one that hits closest to home. Andy Staples teased an NFL candidate. “I got one. And I realize the job’s not open. I’m just going to throw this name out here. Kelvin Sheppard,” he said. Kelvin Sheppard, the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator and former LSU linebacker. Sheppard started his coaching journey in Baton Rouge in 2020 before moving to the NFL, where he’s now commanding one of the most physical defenses in the league.

For now, the Tigers’ den is quiet but not peaceful. Whether LSU turns to a rebel like Lane Kiffin, a fixer like Mike Elko, or a homegrown star like Kelvin Sheppard, one thing’s clear. Death Valley is bracing for a resurrection or another expensive rebuild.