Oct 11, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly looks on against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

A brewing legal battle between LSU and former football coach Brian Kelly took another turn on Monday evening as Kelly filed a suit seeking a declaratory judgment against the university.

According to Kelly's filing, which was obtained by ESPN's Dan Wetzel, LSU has taken the position that it never "formally terminated" Kelly and is now seeking to fire him for cause. Kelly's petition, which seeks a declaratory judgment that the university owes him his full buyout of roughly $54 million, was filed hours after LSU missed a 6 p.m. ET deadline set by his representation to provide written assurance that it will pay him his full buyout.

Per the lawsuit, LSU officials told Kelly on Monday night that former athletics director Scott Woodward, who himself was fired four days after Kelly, did not have the authority to fire Kelly when he opted to do so late last month. It was also the first time Kelly was informed that the university was attempting to fire him for cause.

Kelly's representatives argue that LSU missed the seven-day window to inform him of a decision to fire him for cause, as is stipulated in his contract, after publicly taking the stance repeatedly that Kelly was being fired for on-field performance, not for violating the terms of his contract.

Per Wetzel, Kelly's contract contained several examples of actions that would constitute a firing for cause.

Kelly's contract with LSU includes a "for-cause" termination clause that allows for his firing due to "material and substantial [NCAA] rule violations"; being convicted of a felony or "any crime involving gambling, drugs, or alcohol"; or "engaging in serious misconduct which either displays a continual, serious disrespect ... for the mission of LSU" or "constitutes moral turpitude."

Currently, it's unclear on what basis LSU intends to fire Kelly for cause.

Things seem to be getting ugly in Baton Rouge, and we could be in for a protracted legal battle between the two sides if the court doesn't grant Kelly the declaratory judgment he seeks.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: LSU seeking to fire Brian Kelly for cause amid brewing legal battle

Reporting by Tyler Nettuno, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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