Brian Kelly really needs to have an intervention at this point. LSU isn’t supposed to sit at 5-2 with two road losses. The Tigers legit lost to No. 17 Vanderbilt the first time since 1990. With that going on, the Tigers stand on the brink of missing the playoffs. Beyond the numbers and the offensive struggles, Kelly hasn’t found a perfect match with this LSU identity, with signs of a poor fit culturally and on the field. It’s not just blank talk; former LSU center T-Bob Hebert echoes the same emotion.

“I gotta sell all my Brian Kelly stock, I held on to it longer than anybody. I’m taking a loss. Going to tax me. I’m accepting it’s a lost cause at this point.” Hebert said on the Wake Up Barstool podcast. Kelly arrived with a solid reputation from Notre Dame and was a bona fide winner there. But LSU’s vibe is a whole different beast. Louisiana’s unique culture weaves deeply through Cajun dialects, fiery tailgate gumbo scenes, and the loud, passionate Baton Rouge atmosphere.

Herbert continued, “The culture at LSU is so broken. It’s so soft. I’ve never seen anything like it. LSU has truly forgotten the face of its father. And the worst part is, I don’t even think you can fire him. $50 million is just too much. So you’re going to have to continue to pay for these things.”

On the other hand, Kelly is a Northerner without prior experience in South Cincinnati. That’s why Hebert called LSU “broken” and “soft.” As a highly rated 2007 recruit, Herbert entered ranked as the No. 2 center in the nation.

However, some off-field issues popped up in 2010. Despite that hiccup, Hebert bounced back. He played all 13 games that season and showed versatility by shifting between right guard and center. His 2011 season had him play in 12 games with eight starts, cementing him as a steady contributor. So, Hebert knows what it means to be a Tiger. The passionate Tigers fan base wants success and remains determined to fight for its cause. They love their offensive game, and LSU’s offense spits out none of those traits.

The LSU offense averages 366.6 yards per game. It’s a stark contrast to what it was two years back in 2023. Back then, LSU boasted total offense (543.5 yards a game) and scoring offense (45.5 points a game). Likewise, QB Garrett Nussmeier is facing a lot of inconsistencies because of his injuries and has averaged 234 yards per game. With all this going on and the comparisons being made loudly, Kelly’s seat got hotter after LSU’s painful 31-24 loss to Vanderbilt.

Sure, the Tigers are 5-2 overall, but only 2-2 in SEC play. And losing to a team like Vanderbilt is a tough pill to swallow. Social media exploded with fans demanding that LSU find the buyout money and show Kelly the door. Spoiler Alert: it’s not just possible right now.

When everyone panics, Brian Kelly chills

Brian Kelly may be facing a lot of backlash after that Vanderbilt defeat. But he is just calm as a cucumber at this point. It’s because a gigantic financial curtain hangs over the program in the form of his massive buyout. The guy is rocking a salary north of $10 million this year, ranking as the eighth highest-paid coach in college football.

In addition, he’s eligible for performance bonuses of up to $1.3 million, making him an extremely costly figure in the coaching landscape.​ So if LSU decides to cut ties with Kelly without cause, the university has to cough up north of $50 million in buyout money as of December 1, 2025. That’s one of the largest buyouts in the entire college football world.

James Franklin went out with 50, and Mike Norvell, if he gets the firing call, will be handed 54. So Kelly is just hanging in the middle. A figure like that puts LSU in a real financial bind if fans and boosters demand a change.

The amount is a massive roadblock for the authorities who wish for a change but can’t. With LSU’s playoff hopes wobbling and critics growing louder, the financial reality of Kelly’s buyout looms larger by the week.