If you’re not aware of how gridiron coaches are as much a financial investment as they are strategists, you must be a caveman. But what happens when the ROI doesn’t match the fanbase’s sky-high expectations? At LSU, the patience for mediocrity is thinner than the Louisiana humidity, and Brian Kelly is finding himself smack dab in the middle of a swampy debate about contracts, buyouts, and performance—or lack thereof.

Adam Breneman brought the heat on Instagram, calling out Kelly as a potential $26 million “liability.” Well, he warmed us up by calling a spade a spade when he mentioned Billy Napier, who, after a 4-5 season, became a major liability for Florida. After that, Breneman broke down the cold, hard numbers behind Kelly’s massive 10-year, $95 million guaranteed deal, one of the heftiest in college football history. The LSU HC’s 6-3 record this season isn’t terrible by most standards, the keyword being ‘most’. However, Breneman didn’t need to remind us that “average” doesn’t fly in Death Valley. LSU fans demand more, and if Kelly doesn’t deliver, they’re already eyeing his parachute-like buyout clause.

The stakes get even higher with LSU’s upcoming showdown against the Florida Gators. A loss in this game will guarantee the Tigers’ exit and will be the death of their playoff hopes. It will also turn up the heat under the proverbial hot seats of their respective coaches. For Kelly, a win might solidify his position—for now—but Breneman suggests next year could be the true test. “They don’t tolerate average performances in Baton Rouge,” he said. LSU fans would likely echo that sentiment.

For comparison, the Gators coach sits in a similarly precarious position, though with a slightly less generous buyout at $25 million. Napier’s 4-5 season so far isn’t helping his case, especially with the Gators stumbling toward mediocrity. Although Florida natives have been singing the song ‘Billy Out’ for quite a while now. He’s going nowhere till 2025. Neither of them is expected to be axed tomorrow. The writing on the wall is clear: perform or pack your bags.

Calls mount for the LSU Tigers head coach

Looks like we almost spoke it into existence. The Tigers’ on-field performance didn’t live up to the hype, especially after their pre-game live tiger show in Week 11. The Crimson Tide won by a final score of 42-13 in Baton Rouge. The calls for Brian Kelly’s head started immediately after the loss. It was just another setback in his LSU resume.

The Tigers have had a rollercoaster of a season against Top 25 teams in 2024, sitting at 1-3 in those matchups. Their lone bright spot? A nail-biter overtime win at home against Ole Miss—a game that had fans on the edge of their seats. Coach Kelly is now 26-10 overall with LSU, including a solid 15-6 record in SEC play. So voices like “Brian Kelly should be relieved of his coaching duties tonight” started to rise from the corner of the Tiger Stadium soon after.