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LSU apparently has a very wealthy donor willing to pay up after Brian Kelly’s firing.
On Sunday, LSU decided to fire Kelly even though he has a massive $53 million left on his contract.
Via Yahoo Sports
Some of the school’s most prominent donors, key university board members and athletic officials — even political figures — met over the course of several hours Sunday about the issue and are still haggling over the coaches’ $53 million buyout with his representatives (they haven’t reached a resolution).
It’s a whopping figure for a state and school devoid of the resources of, say, Texas or Texas A&M. But it’s not an impossible price tag.
Initial reports claimed LSU was able to settle Kelly’s buyout for a lower amount, but those rumors were shot down.
Multiple sources have confirmed to me today that LSU and Brian Kelly have not agreed on a buyout settlement, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
As @RossDellenger reported, LSU will continue paying Kelly per his contract with a buyout resolution to be determined at a later…
— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) October 27, 2025
According to WDSU’s Travers Mackel, a private donor will pay a majority of Kelly’s buyout.
UPDATE: Multiple sources confirm to @wdsu that 1 private donor is expected to pay the lion’s share ofBrian Kelly’s buyout.
Also, @LSU Board Of Supervisors Chairman Scott Ballard says ZERO public money set aside for education, salaries or scholarships will be used.
— Travers Mackel (@TraversWDSU) October 27, 2025
Scott Ballard, chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, revealed that funds to pay Brian Kelly’s buyout will come from private donors and the athletic fund.
Via WDSU
“We are not taking anything here from education or academics or the educational side,” Ballard said. “This is purely for athletics, meaning it’s not coming from the English department or the French department or the business school or money that would go to scholarships that we are diverting here, no.”