Next LSU Football Coach Odds – Top Candidates to Replace Brian Kelly

• After four seasons in Baton Rouge, Brian Kelly is out at LSU
• Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is the favorite to replace Kelly
• Continue reading to see the top candidates to be LSU’s next head coach

---

Brian Kelly went 34-14 in his tenure at LSU. While LSU was ranked inside the top-10 at some point in all four seasons, Kelly’s Tigers lost at least three games in each season. LSU failed to make a major bowl game under Kelly’s watch.

This season was no different as the Tigers collapsed after a 4-0 start that had them as high as No.3 in the AP Poll. LSU quickly lost to Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M, which, surrounding a win over South Carolina, sent the Tigers plummeting out of the polls. In turn, Kelly was relieved of his coaching duties.

Here are the nine prospective head coaches with at least a 5% chance to replace Kelly, according to Kalshi.

Next LSU Football Coach Odds

Odds converted from Kalshi trading prices on Oct. 28, 2025. Use this Kalshi promo code to get a $10 sign-up bonus!

LSU’s Hiring History

Since 2000, LSU has hired four new coaches: Nick Saban (2000), Les Miles (2005), Ed Orgeron (2016*), and Brian Kelly (2022). All four were hired from the Power-4 college ranks, with Saban coming from Michigan State, Miles coming from Oklahoma State, Orgeron stepping up from being LSU’s defensive line coach, and Kelly coming from Notre Dame. Orgeron had previously been the head coach at Ole Miss and USC (as an interim).

Based on previous hiring history, LSU will likely scour the lower-prestige Power-4 schools to poach its next head coach.

*Orgeron initially was an interim head coach in 2016 before the interim tag was removed.

Best LSU Next Coach Bets

Jon Sumrall (+376)

The head man at Tulane, Jon Sumrall, would be a break from LSU’s run of power hires. He has four years of Group of Six head coach experience, but he was a player and a multi-stop position coach in the SEC. Sumrall played at Kentucky and coached at both Ole Miss and Kentucky before taking the Troy job for the 2022 season.

LSU last hired from the non-Power-4 level in 1991 with Curley Hallman. Hallman had a less-than-ideal tenure in Baton Rouge, compiling a 16-28 record with four losing seasons. Hallman is a scary precedent, but the Tigers could look to adapt to the new NIL and transfer portal era and capitalize on Sumrall’s success.

Whatever happens…

Tulane football has proven they can compete/win and is an excellent job in this new NIL/CFP landscape.

AND… Jon Sumrall is deserving of whatever job he wants.

We ALL called him an SEC caliber coach from day one.

— Patty Cakes (@ThePattyV) October 27, 2025

Sumrall has had top-three recruiting and transfer classes (in the American, according to 247 Sports) in both of his seasons at Tulane. Sumrall is 15-6 at Tulane, including an impressive 10-1 conference record. Despite being pillaged for stars such as Darian Mensah (now Duke’s quarterback) and Makhi Hughes (now at Oregon), Sumrall has the 2025 Green Wave threatening for a CFP berth as the Group of Six representative.

Eliah Drinkwitz (+1011)

If LSU stays on brand with its previous hires, Drinkwitz is the best bet. Drinkwitz previously coached at Auburn, Arkansas State, Boise State, and NC State before becoming the head coach at Appalachian State. After one season, Drinkwitz jumped to Missouri.

In six seasons at Missouri, Drinkwitz is 44-26 (24-22 in SEC play). Missouri made a bowl game in each of Drinkwitz’s first five seasons, and they have secured bowl eligibility this season already. Drinkwitz led the 2023 Tigers to a Cotton Bowl win, and Missouri has been ranked in the top 15 at times in each of the last three seasons.

LSU Next Coach Bets to Fade

Marcus Freeman (+733)

Not only did LSU’s most recent poach job from Notre Dame not work out long-term (Brian Kelly), but Marcus Freeman also seems to be entrenched at Notre Dame. In the 12-team playoff era, Notre Dame is likely guaranteed a CFP spot with a 10-win season.

Marcus Freeman reportedly turned down interest from Florida and Penn State, per @TheAthletic pic.twitter.com/fl3rE3rPFN

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 27, 2025

At best, moving to LSU would be a lateral move for Freeman’s career, given that he is coming off coaching Notre Dame to the National Championship Game in 2024. He has no ties to LSU. Perhaps the only FBS spot that would be considered an upward move for Freeman is Ohio State – especially considering Freeman played for the Buckeyes.

Joe Brady (+1011)

A hot name because he was on the coaching staff for the 2019 National Champion LSU team, I have my doubts that Joe Brady would return to college football. Complicating his return to LSU is the likely suitors he has at the NFL level, a list that already includes the Titans.

Brady has spent eight of the last nine seasons in the NFL and has had two separate jobs as offensive coordinator. His likely next step is to become an NFL head coach. The Bills have had a spotty start to the season offensively, so he could also return as the Bills’ offensive coordinator in 2026.