LSU holds off on rostering ex-NFL players despite court win

LSU has excluded former NFL players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris from its roster for the season opener against Clemson, a decision that underscores the institutional caution surrounding the ongoing legal dispute with the Southeastern Conference. The exclusion comes just one day after a Louisiana judge granted a preliminary injunction that cleared the way for the athletes to compete, suggesting the university is prioritising legal certainty over immediate sporting advantage.

The move follows a 15-0 vote by SEC members to ban professional athletes from returning to college football. The conference filed its own lawsuit against LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin in federal court on Thursday, seeking the legal authority to enforce these new rules. The stakes are high, as the league is pursuing the power to impose penalties on member institutions that violate the ban, with game forfeitures among the potential punishments discussed.

Wright and Harris, both former Ole Miss players, had intended to join Kiffin during his debut season at LSU. They are part of a broader group of 42 athletes from various sports who have sued the National Collegiate Athletic Association in Louisiana to secure a fifth and final season of eligibility. While the court victory provided a clear path for their return, the Tigers appear to be taking a measured approach, leaving open the possibility of adding the players later in the season.

The legal backdrop has intensified scrutiny on the conference’s governance. Multiple state attorneys general have urged SEC member institutions to act independently if LSU allows former professional athletes to play. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr specifically called on the conference to use "all measures available," including suspension or expulsion, to maintain the integrity of the new eligibility framework.

The uncertainty has also rippled to rival programmes. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney described the return of NFL players to college football as "embarrassing," a sentiment that reflects the broader backlash within the SEC’s footprint. For the upcoming match, Swinney’s team will not face any former professionals, a reprieve that may be temporary depending on the outcome of the federal court battle.

As the lawsuit proceeds, the decision highlights the tension between individual player rights and collective conference governance. LSU’s choice to withhold the players for now suggests a strategy to avoid triggering the stiff penalties the SEC is seeking to enforce, setting the stage for a prolonged legal and administrative contest.