Brian Kelly Joins CBS Sports as College Football Analyst for 2026 Season

Brian Kelly is trading the sideline for the broadcast booth. On Monday, CBS Sports announced that the former LSU and Notre Dame head coach will join the network as a college football analyst for the 2026 season. Kelly, 64, will serve as a game analyst on select broadcasts and as a studio analyst on CBS Sports Network's Tuesday show Inside College Football, while also contributing to CBS Sports HQ.

Kelly's transition to television was widely expected after his October 2025 firing from LSU. The move keeps him connected to the sport he has coached for decades, even as he steps away from the day-to-day demands of a head coaching role. For CBS, the hire adds a veteran coach with a 34-14 record at LSU and a long track record at Notre Dame, bringing insider perspective to its college football coverage.

Brian Kelly's New Role at CBS

Kelly will make his booth debut on Week 0, calling the Jacksonville State vs. North Dakota State game on Saturday, Aug. 29, on CBS Sports Network from Fargo, N.D. He is also scheduled to call Texas Tech at Oregon State in Week 2 and BYU at Colorado State the following week, both on CBS. Those assignments place him in front of a national audience early, covering a mix of Group of Five and Pac-12 matchups.

The schedule gives Kelly a chance to showcase his analytical skills without the pressure of a marquee SEC or Big Ten game right away. Week 0 and early-season non-conference games often provide more room for broadcasters to explain schemes, personnel, and coaching decisions — areas where Kelly's experience should translate well.

From LSU to the Studio

Kelly's LSU tenure ended abruptly in October 2025 after a blowout home loss to Texas A&M left the Tigers at 5-3 and out of playoff contention. He was fired after three-plus seasons in Baton Rouge, finishing with a 34-14 record. The highs were real: a win over Alabama in 2022 and Jayden Daniels' Heisman campaign in 2023. But the program failed to build sustained momentum, and LSU moved on, hiring Lane Kiffin as Kelly's replacement.

Since his firing, Kelly had been quiet publicly. He expressed interest in coaching again, but his name did not appear on the coaching carousel during the most recent hiring cycle. CBS Sports Network viewers got a preview of his broadcast skills this spring, when Kelly served as a studio analyst for the network's NFL Draft coverage. That audition apparently went well enough for CBS to bring him on for the full season.

What This Means for College Football Broadcasting

Kelly joins a CBS college football lineup that already includes a mix of former players and coaches. The network also announced the addition of former Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson, who will call 10 games on CBS Sports Network this fall. Pederson, a Super Bowl-winning head coach, brings NFL credibility, while Kelly offers deep college football knowledge from two of the sport's most visible programs.

For CBS, hiring a recently fired Power Five coach is a familiar strategy. Coaches who have been in the meeting room and on the sideline often provide sharper analysis than former players who never called plays or managed a roster. Kelly's ability to break down game plans, explain in-game adjustments, and speak to the pressures of recruiting and roster management could set him apart in a crowded analyst field.

There is also a financial angle worth noting. LSU is paying Kelly a significant buyout, and his CBS salary will offset a small portion of that. The buyout structure means Kelly is not under financial pressure to take any job, which may have allowed him to wait for a role that fits his interests and schedule.

Challenges Ahead

Not every successful coach makes a successful broadcaster. Kelly's on-camera persona at LSU and Notre Dame was often described as intense and sometimes combative with the media. The broadcast booth requires a different skill set: patience, humor, and the ability to explain complex concepts to a general audience without sounding condescending. Kelly's spring NFL Draft work suggests he can adapt, but the regular season will be a longer test.

He will also need to navigate the awkwardness of analyzing teams and coaches he knows personally. His first scheduled game, Jacksonville State vs. North Dakota State, is a low-stakes opener. But later assignments could include SEC teams or programs he recruited against. How Kelly handles those moments — offering honest critique without crossing into personal criticism — will define his early reputation as an analyst.

A New Chapter

Kelly's move to CBS marks a reset after a turbulent end to his LSU tenure. He joins a network that is investing in college football coverage, adding both him and Pederson in the same offseason. For viewers, the 2026 season offers a chance to see a coach who has won at Notre Dame and LSU, who has coached Heisman winners and playoff contenders, now explaining the game from a different vantage point.

Whether Kelly returns to coaching eventually remains an open question. For now, he has a booth, a studio seat, and a schedule that starts in Fargo on Aug. 29.