Event
LSU has left former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris off its official roster ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Clemson. The decision aims to avoid an immediate conflict with the SEC, which recently passed a rule barring former professional players from college rosters, although a Louisiana court had granted the duo a preliminary injunction allowing them to pursue a fifth year of eligibility. Both players, who previously played under LSU head coach Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, remain enrolled at the university and could be added to the roster later in the season.
3 published stories · lsu · source reliability 67%
Despite a favourable court ruling, LSU has excluded Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris from its roster to avoid an immediate institutional clash with the Southeastern Conference.
Tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris are not on the active list for Saturday's match against Clemson, despite a recent court ruling clearing their path back to college football.
A Louisiana judge has cleared two former NFL players to return to LSU, creating a direct legal conflict with the Southeastern Conference ahead of the season opener.
Background
LSU has excluded former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris from its official roster for the season opener against Clemson. This decision follows a preliminary injunction granted by a Louisiana federal court, which allows the duo to pursue a fifth year of eligibility despite a new SEC rule barring former professional athletes from college rosters. Both players previously competed for Ole Miss under current LSU head coach Lane Kiffin. While LSU stated it is reviewing the court order, the omission appears designed to avoid an immediate legal conflict with the SEC and NCAA. The players remain enrolled at the university and may be added to the roster later in the season.
LSU has excluded former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris from its official roster for the season opener against Clemson. This decision follows a preliminary injunction granted by a Louisiana federal court, which allows the duo to pursue a fifth year of eligibility d
Fact cards
Key entities: LSU, Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris, Clemson, SEC, NCAA, Lane Kiffin, Dabo Swinney.
Why are Wright and Harris not on the roster for the opener? LSU has left them off the active list while reviewing the court order, partly due to limited practice time and to avoid an immediate conflict with the SEC. What legal ruling allows them to return? A federal judge approve
Fox Sports | https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/lsu-leaves-former-nfl-players-daequan-wright-zxavian-harris-off-roster-ahead-clemson-game | published 2026-09-05T05:22:56.000Z | primary source | ESPN | https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49831993/lsu-l
2026-09-03: A Louisiana federal judge grants a preliminary injunction allowing Wright and Harris to pursue a fifth year of eligibility. 2026-09-04: LSU states it is reviewing the court order and working constructively with the SEC and NCAA. 2026-09-05: LSU submits its official ro
Timeline
A Louisiana federal judge grants a preliminary injunction allowing Wright and Harris to pursue a fifth year of eligibility.
LSU states it is reviewing the court order and working constructively with the SEC and NCAA.
LSU submits its official roster for the Clemson match, omitting Wright and Harris.
FAQ
LSU has left them off the active list while reviewing the court order, partly due to limited practice time and to avoid an immediate conflict with the SEC.
A federal judge approved a preliminary injunction prohibiting the NCAA and SEC from punishing schools that field these specific named athletes.
Yes, both players remain enrolled at the university and could be added to the roster later in the season.
Tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, both former Ole Miss players who had brief stints in the NFL.
The SEC and most member schools are adamantly opposed to the players' return and have threatened punitive punishments for teams rostering ex-pros.
Former NFL players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris.
It prohibits the NCAA and SEC from punishing LSU for adding the athletes.
Saturday, against Clemson.
The SEC plans to appeal the decision and filed a separate federal lawsuit in Alabama.