Full Breakdown
LSU Faces Legal and Eligibility Uncertainty Over Former NFL Players Ahead of Clemson Opener
9/1/2026, 8:31:15 AM
Core Event: Ex-NFL Players Practice with LSU Amid SEC Ban and Court Action
Former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright participated in a walk-through practice with the 11th-ranked LSU Tigers as the team prepared for its season-opening game against Clemson. Defensive lineman Zxavian Harris and defensive back Blake Cotton also spent time with the squad. Their ability to appear on LSU’s final roster is in doubt because the Southeastern Conference (SEC) adopted a rule prohibiting players who have signed NFL, NBA or WNBA contracts from being on final rosters, a rule that a Texas judge has temporarily blocked.
Background & Context
The SEC’s rule was adopted the week before a Louisiana judge issued a temporary restraining order covering 33 former college athletes seeking a fifth year of eligibility. The order also added the SEC and commissioner Greg Sankey to the plaintiffs’ complaint. The NCAA’s “5-in-5” eligibility rule, approved in June, excludes members of the high-school class of 2022, prompting nearly 400 athletes to file lawsuits alleging unfairness. More than 30 of those suits are pending in federal court.
Data & Statistics
- Nearly 400 athletes have sued the NCAA over eligibility rules (US News, ABC News).
- Over 30 lawsuits are in various stages of federal litigation.
- The SEC rule bars any player who has signed a professional contract from being listed on a team’s 105-player final roster.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Rule interpretation: Kiffin maintains that practicing former pros does not breach SEC policy, while the SEC’s public statements have not clarified whether the temporary injunction fully suspends the roster ban.
- Eligibility status: Some reports indicate that Wright’s waiver claim by the Kansas City Chiefs removes him from NCAA consideration, but the legal filings still list him among the plaintiffs seeking eligibility.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Every one of them was emphatic about, ‘If they can help us win, bring ’em,’” — Lane Kiffin, first-year LSU coach
- “This is how it works at the next level,” — Lane Kiffin, first-year LSU coach
- “This is how the real world works.” — Lane Kiffin, first-year LSU coach
- “I can tell you that Dae'Quan practiced and the SEC knows that,” — Lane Kiffin, first-year LSU coach
- “All we're waiting for is clarity this week from the SEC, which they can't give final clarity until Thursday's ruling,” — Lane Kiffin, first-year LSU coach
- “At the end of the day, because of these rulings, they’re either going to play for you or they’re going to play for someone else around the country,” — Lane Kiffin, first-year LSU coach
What’s Next
A preliminary injunction hearing is set for Thursday in Baton Rouge, where a judge will decide whether the SEC’s roster rule can be enforced before LSU’s opener. The outcome will determine whether former NFL players can officially join the Tigers for the 2026 season.
