Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

SEC votes 15-0 to penalize schools over former NFL players

9/1/2026

39 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Judge Blocks SEC

SEC presidents voted 15-0 to suspend coaches and levy fines on schools that roster former NFL players.
LSU abstained from the vote and a Louisiana judge blocked the SEC from enforcing the penalties.
A show-cause hearing set for Thursday will decide if the SEC rule violates the court order.
LSU has used the same court order to field 33 fifth-year athletes in soccer, basketball and football.

Summary

Kiffin Joins LSU

Lane Kiffin signed a $91 million contract to become LSU’s head football coach.
He left Ole Miss weeks before the 12-team playoff, igniting fan and official controversy.
He brought the nation’s top transfer class and kept eight assistants, including Charlie Weis Jr.
LSU hired him after firing Brian Kelly following a 7-6 season, demanding immediate success.

History

Historical Context

After the NCAA’s 1987 death-penalty shutdown of SMU’s football program—costing roughly $1.5 million in revenue and forcing a two-year hiatus—the association grew wary of repeat bans. That caution underpins today’s SEC move to suspend coaches and fine schools over NFL-player violations in college, a enforcement step that echoes the SMU precedent.

1 of 3

Judge Blocks SEC

SEC presidents voted 15-0 to suspend coaches and levy fines on schools that roster former NFL players.
LSU abstained from the vote and a Louisiana judge blocked the SEC from enforcing the penalties.
A show-cause hearing set for Thursday will decide if the SEC rule violates the court order.
LSU has used the same court order to field 33 fifth-year athletes in soccer, basketball and football.

1 / 3