Overview
- LSU announced Thursday night that it reached a separation with athletic director Scott Woodward, with reports citing a payout of about $6.4 million that is being finalized.
- Executive deputy AD Verge Ausberry was named interim AD with full authority and is chairing a search committee, alongside board leaders and major donors, to hire the next football coach.
- Board officials rejected Gov. Jeff Landry’s suggestion that taxpayers could fund buyouts, saying the state has never paid a coach and that athletics is funded by department revenues and donations.
- Brian Kelly was fired after a 49–25 loss to Texas A&M; his exit triggers an estimated $53–54 million buyout subject to mitigation, and private donor pledges have been cited as potential offsets.
- Landry said Woodward would not pick the next coach and even quipped that President Trump could, while LSU also moves to name a new university president as soon as Tuesday.