SEC Football Week: Brian Kelly Hired, Texas Lands 4-Star Recruit

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The first full week of June? It’s been a whirlwind in SEC football. Coaching changes, big recruiting wins, and stadium news—honestly, the Southeastern Conference just keeps finding ways to stay in the college football spotlight.

This week, there’s been plenty to talk about: Brian Kelly’s new gig, Texas Longhorns landing a major recruit, and the Florida Gators dropping serious cash on their stadium.

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Brian Kelly’s New Role with Memphis Tigers

Here’s a twist: Brian Kelly, who was let go by LSU last November, has picked up an unpaid consultant role with the Memphis Tigers. Why unpaid? Well, it lets him keep collecting his full severance from LSU, which seems like a pretty savvy move on his part.

Shrewd Move by Kelly

Kelly’s buyout deal said he had to look for new work, but he managed to dodge the salary part. This way, he checks the box for “actively seeking employment” and stays in the football loop. Is he plotting a return to head coaching or just biding his time? Hard to say.

Opinions from Notre Dame Alums

Not everyone agrees on what’s next for Kelly. Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, a Notre Dame legend, thinks Kelly will coach again. Joe Theismann, on the other hand, isn’t so sure, given how wild the college football scene has gotten.

Kelly’s role at Memphis is vague, so his future’s still pretty much up in the air.

Texas Longhorns’ Recruiting Victory

The Texas Longhorns pulled off a big one, snagging a commitment from 4-star defensive tackle Kasi Currie out of Sierra Canyon Trailblazers. Beating out Ohio State for Currie? That’s no small feat, and it speaks to Texas’ ability to make strong offers.

Currie and Fakatou: A Package Deal

Currie’s commitment is a win, but there might be more coming. His teammate, Marcus Fakatou—also a defensive tackle—may join him at Texas. The two are rumored to be a package deal, which could give the Longhorns’ defensive line a real boost soon.

Florida Gators’ Stadium Renovation

The Florida Gators are going all in, investing $1.45 billion to overhaul Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The plan wraps up in 2030 and includes 50 new luxury boxes—so, yeah, fans are in for an upgrade, and the school’s hoping for a nice bump in revenue too.

Funding the Renovation

They’re piecing together the funding from private donations, capital reserves, project revenues, and long-term debt. The Board of Governors has signed off on the plan, so Florida Athletics should be on solid financial ground while the work is underway.

Impact on Florida Athletics

This renovation comes with a hefty price tag. Still, folks expect it to bring some real, long-term benefits to Florida Athletics.

But honestly, who knows how it’ll shake up the department’s spending elsewhere down the road? It’s a bit of a wait-and-see situation.

For more detailed insights into these stories, visit the SEC Football News Roundup.

Joe Hughes is the founder of CollegeNetWorth.com, a comprehensive resource on college athletes' earnings potential in the NIL era. Combining his passion for sports with expertise in collegiate athletics, Joe provides valuable insights for athletes, fans, and institutions navigating this new landscape.

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