College football’s head coaching carousel is in full swing.
Brian Kelly, who has been Notre Dame’s head football coach for the last 12 years, is expected to take over the head coaching job at LSU, according to Yahoo Sports.
The move comes just days after Lincoln Riley, who coached Oklahoma for the past five years — including three trips to the College Football Playoff and four Big 12 titles — bolted to take USC’s head coach opening.
Ed Orgeron, who led the Tigers to the 2019-20 national championship, agreed to a separation deal with LSU in October, but finished the season in charge.
LSU reportedly offered Kelly a 10-year deal that would exceed $100 million with incentives, according to The Athletic.
Kelly messaged his current players late Monday night, according to an image obtained by The Athletic, and promised a full explanation in a 7 a.m. meeting Tuesday.
“Men… Let me first apologize for the late night text and, more importantly, for not being able to share the news with you in person that I will be leaving Notre Dame,” the message read. “I am flying back to South Bend tonight to be able to meet with you in the morning but the news broke late today and I am sorry you found out through social media or news reports.”
Kelly’s Fighting Irish finished the regular season with an 11-1 record and are currently No. 6 in both the College Football Playoff and AP rankings. Notre Dame could be invited to the CFP if conference title games go in its favor. Since it is not a part of a football conference, Notre Dame will not play a conference championship game.
Kelly recorded a 113-40 record in South Bend and a 5-5 record in bowl games, including a 42-14 loss to Alabama in the 2012-13 BCS Championship game and a 31-14 loss to Alabama in last January’s Rose Bowl.
Notre Dame reached the College Football Playoff twice under Kelly’s stewardship, but lost in the semifinal both times — in 2018-19 against Clemson and last season’s loss to Alabama. Kelly leaves the program as its winningest coach of all time, surpassing the legendary Knute Rockne this season.
This marks the first time Notre Dame’s head coaching position is vacant since Kelly took over in 2010. The program could reportedly be interested in promoting defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to the role. The 35-year-old was a standout at Ohio State, but was unable to stick in the NFL. He held assistant roles at Ohio State, Kent State, Purdue and Cincinnati before taking over as defensive coordinator in South Bend.
If they opt for an outsider, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell is likely a top candidate. Campbell became a hot coaching target throughout the country last year due to his work turning around the Cyclones’ program, producing a 9-3 record a season ago. His name is not as hot this year as last, in part due to his 7-5 record, but he remains one of the top candidates in the nation. He has recorded a 42-33 record in six years at Iowa State.
Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell could present an option for the Fighting Irish as well. Unlike Campbell, Fickell’s squad could potentially receive a CFP bid, complicating his possible courtship and willingness to abandon his post, a decision Kelly opted to make. The Bearcats finished the regular season 12-0 including a win over Notre Dame in South Bend, and Fickell accumulated a 47-14 record throughout five years with the program. He coached Ohio State for one season in place of Jim Tressel, who was suspended and then resigned, before joining Cincinnati.
Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald, Oklahoma’s interim coach Bob Stoops could emerge as options as well.
The draw for Kelly is clear — the last three LSU head coaches have won national championships. Orgeron, however, was unable to replicate the success he enjoyed in 2019, going just 11-11 the last two seasons.
When asked if he’d consider leaving Notre Dame recently, Kelly doubled down his allegiance to the Fighting Irish.
“No. I mean, look, I think Mike Tomlin had the best line, right? Unless that fairy godmother comes by with that $250 million check, my wife would want to take a look at it first,” Kelly told reporters. “I’d have to run it by her.”
It appears LSU played the role of fairy godmother.