The Tigers are looking to avoid a “for cause” buyout of Brian Kelly.

LSU football it is the fourth defeat in the last five games, this time under a temporary coach. After a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M, LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly. Now, LSU tries to claim that the termination it was “for reasons,” which would affect the $54 million buyout due to Kelly, according to ESPN’s Dan Wetzel.

“LSU representatives had a conversation with Coach Kelly’s representatives, where LSU took the position that Coach Kelly was not formally terminated and advised Coach Kelly’s representatives, for the first time, that LSU believed there were grounds for termination for cause,” according to the legal filing got ESPN.

The lawsuit, filed by Brian Kelly, was filed Monday in Louisiana after talks between LSU and Brian Kelly’s representatives. LSU has been working with Kelly on buyout terms since his Oct. 26 release. The lawsuit does not say what the “cause” was and why there was a basis for the move outside of the team’s performance.

LSU released more new information. The first was that Kelly was fired for reasons other than team performance. Further, the filing includes the notion that the coach has not yet been officially fired and that athletics director Scott Woodward was not acting within his authority when the move was made.

“Representatives of Coach Kelly informed LSU that Coach Kelly disagreed with each of LSU’s new positions, including (i) the notion that he was not somehow fired, (ii) that then-Athletic Director Woodward did not act with authority (in a meeting attended by several LSU athletics officials, including the current athletic field), that there was any cause by either Athletics Director and Director Auiber (or that LSU could produce any such reasons after his termination), which requires this action,” Kelly’s officials claim in the lawsuit.

LSU tried to negotiate with Kelly’s team to lower the buyout from $54 million, offering $25 million and then $30 million paid in installments. With this move, the Tigers are now trying to reduce the amount owed by justifying the termination differently.

In the meantime, Kelly will look for a new job while the legal process plays out. LSU is 5-4 on the yearand will look to secure bowl eligibility with a win over Arkansas in Week 12.