Brian Kelly's Future Reportedly Being Discussed by LSU Amid HC Contract Buyout Info

Brian Kelly's time in Death Valley could be nearing its end.

Per Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger, "LSU administrators and university executives have held and are holding high-level discussions over" Kelly's future, and those discussions involve the state's governor. Dellenger noted that there is "there is no immediate resolution."

ESPN's Pete Thamel noted that the conversations include "outreach to Kelly about his potential departure."

The Athletic's Bruce Feldman reported that Kelly and LSU athletic director Scott Woodward had a "very tense" meeting on Sunday. In the meeting, Woodward reportedly pushed for Kelly to fire offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, a move Kelly pushed back against.

"It went bad fast," a source told Feldman.

CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, Chris Hummer and John Talty reported that while no final decision has been made, it's "currently trending" toward the two sides going their separate ways.

Kelly is owed $54 million in buyout money if he is fired.

LSU dropped to 5-3 on the season with a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M, which followed a 31-24 loss to Vanderbilt in the week prior. Kelly addressed his job security after the loss.

"That's out of my hands," Kelly told reporters. "It's impossible for the head coach that's been here for four years and 35 years of doing this to think anything else, but this is my responsibility, and we've got to get it turned around."

Kelly's tenure in Baton Rouge started with back-to-back 10-win seasons, but the Tigers couldn't take the next step and finished 9-4 last year. Now, they could be on their way to taking another step in the wrong direction.

Kelly's fourth season at LSU started with a win over Clemson, which understandably set high expectations for what was to come. The Tigers have done little to impress since that win.

LSU's hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff are technically shot just yet. But with No. 4 Alabama and No. 18 Oklahoma still on the schedule, it's hard to imagine the Tigers will win out, which is necessary to even have a chance at making the CFP.

Assuming Kelly and LSU fail to make the Playoff, it will be another year of disappointment after a season that started with championship hopes.

Paying Kelly's $54 million buyout would be a tough pill for LSU to swallow, but it could be necessary to find the coach who can get the Tigers back to a championship level.