Very Interesting Article on LSU Athletics

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November 2025. Brian Kelly is out. Lane Kiffin is in. The headlines scream chaos, but the real explosion happens quietly, in budget projections. LSU is staring at a deficit projected between $25 million and $35 million for Fiscal Year 2026 — the worst in modern program history.

“It felt like someone pulled the plug on our bathtub,” a department insider says, shaking his head in a dimly lit hallway lined with championship trophies. “One minute we’re counting surplus; the next, we’re staring at red ink deeper than anyone expected.”

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2. The Kelly Buyout

The $54 million obligation is real and ongoing. After a brief legal skirmish, LSU agreed to pay the full amount in monthly installments through 2031. No single anonymous donor is covering it, despite early rumors. The money comes from self-generated athletics revenue. That’s roughly $800,000–$900,000 leaving the budget every month unless Kelly mitigates by taking another job.

“People thought some oil tycoon was writing a check,” a Baton Rouge booster laughs bitterly over po’boys at a downtown dive. “My phone blew up with texts—‘Who’s the hero?’ Reality hit hard when the monthly bills started coming.” Ausberry is unequivocal: “No, that’s not true at all. Not true at all. That’s our buyout. You have the head coach’s buyout That’s about a $800K-$900K.” He adds, “If we didn’t have that buyout with coach Kelly, we’d be in great shape. But right now, with the buyout, yeah that’s going to strain us a little bit.”

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