One of the most shocking stories of the 2025 college football season involved theLSU Tigers.

LSU started the season in the top 10 in the Associated Press poll, then moved up to number three in the country after beating theClemson Tigerson the road. Just a few weeks later, they'd lost four out of five games, they fell out of the SEC and national contention, and head coachBrian Kellywas fired.

Somehow, it got more dramatic afterward, with LSU's administration trying to avoid paying for Kelly's buyout. The state's governor got involved, and a months-long effort to getLane Kiffinover from Ole Miss ensued. Kiffin came over, signed the number one transfer portal recruiting class in the country, and expectations are now for LSU to immediately return to the top of theSECalong with Georgia and Alabama.

But Kelly's now speaking out about the stunning, rapid turn of events in Baton Rouge, while revealing some new information on just how much LSU's spending on their roster this year.

Former head coach of the LSU Tigers Brian Kelly. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Speaking on"Dusty and Danny in the Morning,"Kelly said he's open to returning to coaching, if and when the right situation comes along. "If the right situation comes about, and I’m ready, I’m certainly going to entertain that," he said.

When asked about Kiffin getting $91 million over seven years to join LSU, Kelly added, "That shouldn’t happen, but it is because the money is out there."

So the Tigers have to spend $53 million on Kelly's buyout and have committed to $91 million for Kiffin over the next seven years. How much money could possibly be left to spend on their actual roster? A whole lot, apparently.

As the show hosts brought up rumors of a $40 million roster this season, Kelly interrupted by confirming it: "Over $40 (million), I’ll tell you that."

Over $40 million on a college football roster, when just a few years ago, players were getting nothing. That's how quickly the landscape in college football has shifted, and how much money has been pouring in and around programs, particularly in the SEC and Big Ten Conferences. It also explains why Kiffin took the job; few other programs are willing or capable of spending that much on talent. And that's how you win in the modern era.

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