Brian Kelly is looking to get back on the sidelines.
Where will the veteran coach land? On.3 com’s Pete Nakos reported Saturday that Kelly interviewed for the Maryland job, which opened when Mike Locksley on Oct. 21.
Kelly, 65, was fired at LSU last season. He had a 34-14 record with the Tigers. He compiled a 197-76 record through stints with Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Notre Dame and LSU. Kelly has served as an analyst for CBS Sports this season, but the appeal for one more job is there.
Kelly made two CFP appearances and a BCS championship game appearance during his time with Notre Dame, and he had 11 seasons with 10 or more victories in his career.
Memes aside – Kelly can win football games. Here are some options for what might be next for Kelly.
MORE: Is Michigan one-and-done with Kyle Whittingham?
Maryland
What would be the expectations if Kelly took the Maryland job? The Terps are 11-22 since the Big Ten expanded to 18 teams, and Maryland hasn’t had a 10-win season since 2003.
Kelly would be an upgrade given his track record of success, and he has yet to coach on the Big Ten stage. How would Kelly shift recruiting in Maryland? Only one of the top 10 recruits in the class of 2027 is committed to the Terps, and Kelly might have an impact on the nearby talent in the D.C. area.
It comes down to Kelly’s expectations. It would take time to flip Maryland into a Big Ten contender – even in a 24-team era. Kelly would without a doubt be a splash hire, but there are better jobs that could pop open in this cycle.
MORE: Coaching carousel tracker for 2026
Florida State
Florida State fired Mike Norvell on Nov. 1, and Kelly could be the latest veteran coach to take a job in the ACC. The Seminoles also have huge names like Jimbo Fisher on their radar, but Kelly would be an interesting fit at a school that improved to 5-5 in Week 11.
How would Kelly adapt at a school that has fallen off the national radar since a playoff snub in 2023? Kelly was 45-11 against ACC opponents while coaching the Fighting Irish – an impressive .804 winning percentage that shows he could have the Seminoles in the 24-team playoff hunt on a regular basis.
What would the contract look like? Kelly signed a 10-year, $95-million deal when he took over at LSU, and Norvell had a massive buyout at Florida State. The Seminoles also will have a new athletic director. It does not seem like a long-term hire, but Kelly is worth a look.
MORE: Where Florida State may turn for next hire
Michigan
The Kyle Whittingham era is on fumes at Michigan, and the Wolverines could be looking for a new coach for the third time in four years. Bob Chesney is the leading candidate, but the UCLA coach is reportedly working toward an extension.
Michigan would offer a few opportunities. It’s a chance to come full circle for Kelly, who had success at Grand Valley State and Central Michigan before launching his career at Cincinnati. Kelly was 3-4 against the Wolverines at Notre Dame, but it’s a blue-blood program in the Big Ten and a much better chance to get to the CFP quickly. It’s less of a remodel than Maryland. But if the Wolverines were going to do this, then they would not have hired Whittingham in the first place.
MORE: Top candidates should Michigan go in another direction
Cincinnati
The Bearcats have lost five of their last six games and have slipped out of contention in the Big 12 under Scott Satterfield. There are other potential openings in the conference, including Baylor, which fired Dave Aranda. TCU and Colorado also are potential vacancies depending on the last three weeks.
Cincinnati, however, would be a homecoming of sorts if they fire Satterfield. Kelly had a 34-6 record in four seasons with the Bearcats and had the school in the conversation for a BCS championship game appearance at one point. He could restore the program – especially through recruiting – and that could be the draw should this job pop open after the season. Reunions don’t always work out, but this would be a low-risk call on the Bearcats’ part.
