Brian Kelly is out at LSU. 

The university made the decision official on Sunday night after multiple reports were published indicating the school was planning on parting ways with Kelly.

The decision came less than 24 hours after LSU suffered a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M for their third defeat in the Tigers’ last four games. 

Associate head coach Frank Wilson will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. 

The terms of the separation are still being negotiated, the school said as part of its announcement.

“When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU four years ago, we had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge,” LSU athletic director Scott Woodward said as part of a statement. “Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night’s game.”

He added: “As a proud alum, and as the current caretaker of our athletics programs, I will not compromise in our pursuit of excellence and we will not lower our standards.” 

Woodward also said that the search for Kelly’s successor would begin “immediately.”

The decision came after a reportedly tense meeting on Sunday morning between Kelly and Woodward. 

Woodward had called on Kelly to make changes to his coaching staff, which included getting rid of offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, and Kelly pushed back, wanting to make other moves with his staff, according to The Athletic. 

The topic of reaching a settlement on Kelly’s buyout, which is around $54 million, did come up during the Sunday meeting.  

At 5-3, and a 2-3 record in SEC play, the season has not gone the way that was expected in Kelly’s fourth year at the helm. 

The Tigers took a step back in 2024, going 9-4, which included losses in the double digits to Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida, and this season, three straight losses had put the entire program in a position bracing for changes. 

Chants of “Fire Kelly” reverberated inside Tiger Stadium on Saturday night during the loss to the Aggies. 

“It’s impossible for the head coach that’s been here for four years and 35 years of doing this, to think anything [but keep coaching],” Kelly told reporters after the loss. “That’s not my decision in terms of whether I’m here or not, but that’s what I will do.”

With Kelly now being shown the door, his buyout has become a topic of conversation and the money LSU will owe. 

ESPN reported that the money is subject to whether he takes a new coaching job down the line and the 10-year deal he signed when he left Notre Dame to come to LSU included $95 million in salary, with 90 percent of that being guaranteed. 

LSU leadership was having ongoing conversations as of Sunday night over the football program’s path forward and where Kelly’s future fits within that, The Athletic reported. 

The outlet reported that Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry had met with the LSU Board of Supervisors about the situation on Sunday night. 

During his four seasons at the helm of the football program, Kelly went 34-14 and won the SEC West Division title in his first season in 2022.