LSU’s roster plans put SEC membership at stake
LSU is at the center of a growing dispute that could have major consequences for the Tigers and the SEC. Coach Lane Kiffin has become closely connected to a roster decision involving players with professional football experience, while a court ruling has added another layer to the situation.
With conference rules, player eligibility, and legal challenges colliding, LSU’s next moves are drawing attention across college football. What happens next could depend on decisions being made both on the field and in court.
Expulsion has emerged as a reported option
Some SEC university officials have discussed possible sanctions if LSU uses former professional players despite the conference’s policy. Reported options include competition boycotts, probation, and potentially the removal of LSU from the SEC.
No expulsion decision has been announced by the conference. The reported discussions remain tied to the ongoing legal dispute over professional athletes returning to college competition.
The SEC approved its policy unanimously
SEC presidents and chancellors approved new eligibility restrictions on Aug. 25 that bar certain athletes with professional ties from returning to SEC competition. The rule covers athletes who declared for specified professional drafts and failed to withdraw by applicable deadlines.
It also covers athletes who signed contracts with NFL, NBA or WNBA teams or appeared on professional rosters. The SEC’s restrictions are broader than football alone because they also address professional basketball affiliations.
LSU had already targeted former NFL players
LSU has added or pursued several players amid the dispute over former professionals returning to college. They include former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright, former Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, and former Notre Dame defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka.
Wright spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns before returning to college, while Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints before being waived. Tuihalamaka did not sign with an NFL team and instead became eligible for a fifth college season after the Louisiana court ruling.
Wright became a major part of the dispute
Dae’Quan Wright signed with Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent following the NFL draft. The Eagles waived him, Cleveland claimed him off waivers, and the Browns later waived him before he cleared waivers and joined LSU.
Wright previously played for Kiffin at Ole Miss before entering the NFL. He participated in LSU’s Monday walkthrough, but NCAA acclimatization requirements prevent him from playing in the season opener against Clemson.
Harris also returned after an NFL stint
Zxavian Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in May. The defensive tackle was recovering from foot surgery and was placed on the active/non-football injury list before the Saints waived him on Aug. 8.
Harris cleared the NFL waiver process and entered the NCAA transfer portal. He later joined LSU after a Louisiana court ruling provided a path for him to seek another season of college eligibility.
Jack Pyburn became another possibility
Former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn became part of the roster controversy after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived him. Pyburn had previously played for LSU before signing with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent.
Pyburn was claimed by the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 31, ending the immediate possibility of his returning to LSU through the waiver process. His situation added to attention surrounding LSU’s efforts to bring former professional players back to college football.
The court temporarily changed the situation
Baton Rouge judge issued an amended temporary restraining order on Aug. 29 involving athletes seeking to return from professional sports. The order named the SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey and temporarily blocked the conference from enforcing certain penalties against qualifying athletes and schools.
The ruling did not represent a final decision on the underlying legal questions. Judge William Jorden held the scheduled hearing on the dispute in Baton Rouge on Sept. 3, and the SEC continued to defend its eligibility rules there.
The SEC says the legal fight continues
The SEC has argued that the temporary restraining order is not a final ruling on the merits of the case. Conference officials said they intend to defend the SEC’s ability to enforce its rules and protect its member institutions.
At Thursday’s Louisiana court hearing, Judge William Jorden ruled that most of the 44 athletes suing over eligibility, including the majority without SEC ties, could only pursue claims against the NCAA, not the conference. The same day, the SEC filed a federal lawsuit against LSU in Alabama, accusing the school of waging a coordinated campaign to recruit professional athletes in defiance of league rules.
Interesting fact: LSU has won 12 SEC football championships, with its titles spanning from 1935 through 2019. The Tigers also have five recognized national championships.
Kiffin says LSU will follow SEC orders
Kiffin said Monday that LSU does not intend to defy SEC orders concerning former professional players. He also said he has been communicating with the conference to ensure the program complies with applicable rules.
Kiffin explained that LSU’s player leadership group supported the addition of eligible former NFL players. He said the decision was discussed with current players before the program continued pursuing the additions.
Interesting fact: LSU’s Tiger Stadium can hold 102,321 fans, making it the fifth largest on-campus stadiums in college football.
The NFL has its own eligibility position
The NFL has said players who leave the league to return to college will not be allowed to play in the NFL during the 2026 season. NFL executive Troy Vincent said those players would instead become free agents for the 2027 season.
The NFL position applies separately from the college eligibility dispute. It means former NFL players choosing a college return face restrictions on participating in professional football during the same season.
NCAA eligibility rules add another layer
The NCAA approved an age-based Division I eligibility model in June 2026. For athletes entering college during the 2026-27 academic year, schools can apply either the previous eligibility rules or the new model, whichever yields the more favorable result.
The new framework generally allows up to five years for qualifying athletes. However, it does not automatically restore eligibility to every athlete who previously exhausted their college eligibility.
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Case remain unresolved even after Thursday’s hearing
The SEC’s dispute with LSU remains unresolved even after Thursday’s court hearing, which narrowed which athletes can pursue claims directly against the conference. LSU is still awaiting further guidance on whether it can roster Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris under the SEC’s professional-athlete policy.
LSU is preparing for its Sept. 5 season opener against Clemson while managing the roster controversy, and Kiffin has said the program intends to follow applicable SEC orders as the legal process continues. The dispute escalated further on Thursday when the SEC filed its own federal lawsuit against LSU in Alabama.
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What do you think about LSU’s decision to pursue former NFL players while the SEC eligibility dispute continues? Like this slideshow if you found the update useful, and comment with your take.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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