The LSU Tigers, coached by Brian Kelly, recently suffered arguably their most heartbreaking loss of the 2025 college football season.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, coach Kelly’s Tigers lost to coach Clark Lea’s Vanderbilt Commodores by seven points, 31-24, in away territory, FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, in their Week 7 matchup. Several onlookers were surprised by the outcome of the game, given LSU’s stature.
Collegiate football fans online were quick to create memes of Kelly. Several of the jokes alluded to the narrative that his time with the Tigers may be coming to an end.
LSU boosters cleaning out Brian Kelly’s office pic.twitter.com/O4RwEOjm6U
— Underdog (@Underdog) October 18, 2025
Breaking: Brian Kelly on the phone with his agent asking for lessons on how to speak in a Central PA accent. pic.twitter.com/gdHjtBt1Vn
— Real_Dave_La_Torre 🍿 (@David_LaTorre) October 18, 2025
Are there For Sale signs in Brian Kelly’s yard yet? #LSU pic.twitter.com/LDGBILdwq9
— Chris Landry (@chris_m_landry) October 18, 2025
Other users drew comparisons to Penn State Nittany Lions’ James Franklin.
How I want Brian Kelly to be if this score holds up pic.twitter.com/C1kh3Ok1NX
— Jono Barnes (@JonoBarnes) October 18, 2025
brian kelly deserves to get fired more the james franklin did pic.twitter.com/o7axyo8qfZ
— jayhawk lasso (@jaylassoku) October 18, 2025
There was even a mention of his program before LSU, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame fans watching the LSU fanbase turn on Brian Kelly: https://t.co/s8CfQcgqvJ pic.twitter.com/jYC9ryLqYl
— College Sports Only (@CSOonX) October 18, 2025
Several onlookers also poked fun at Kelly’s alleged inability to coach his team to win intense games.
There are three things guaranteed in life:
Death, taxes, Brian Kelly losing a big game.
pic.twitter.com/RTSZKSwBBF— Caleb Conrad (@CalebConrad23) October 18, 2025
Win a big game one time or get blackout drunk
Brian Kelly: pic.twitter.com/VVa1yYq89U
— Chuck Bass (@ChuckFBass) October 18, 2025
Brian Kelly when the seasons on the line for LSU: pic.twitter.com/pIpMyPkZkw
— Tiger Dye (@Leizer____) October 18, 2025
Me liking every Brian Kelly hate tweet #BKKAK pic.twitter.com/Qq1G79Uluu
— Capt. Whitaker (@capt_whitaker) October 18, 2025
Coach Kelly and the Tigers now hold a 5-2 overall record (2-2 SEC) as the 2025 season moves on from its halfway point. LSU is set to take on the Texas A&M Aggies next for their Week 8 matchup on Oct. 25, at their home stadium, the Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the hopes of getting their win No. 6.
Read More: “Lane Kiffin’s Daughter Going Crazy”: Fans Draw Up Theories as Whit Weeks Injury Becomes Roadblock for Brian Kelly

LSU Tigers Buyout For Coach Brian Kelly Is Around $52 Million
Should the LSU Tigers program decide to let go of coach Brian Kelly and relieve him of his coaching duties at any point in the 2025 campaign, it will cost them around $52,380,000, as per CBS Sports‘ latest report.
This is because the Tigers will have to compensate around 90% of what’s left in Kelly’s current contract, which runs through 2031. Kelly signed a 10-year contract with LSU in 2021 and is set to receive $9.4 million from it this year.
Also Read: Brian Kelly Gives LSU Fans Unique Advice on Drinking Ahead of Vanderbilt Showdown in Week 8
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