LSU benches ex-NFL players amid SEC legal fight — SkimNews
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- LSU did not include Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris on its roster for the season opener against Clemson, despite a Louisiana judge granting a preliminary injunction clearing the way for them to play
- SEC filed a federal lawsuit against LSU and coach Lane Kiffin seeking authority to enforce its rule banning former professional players from college football, after members unanimously voted 15-0 for the ban
- Lane Kiffin pursued adding former NFL players to LSU's roster under new NCAA eligibility rules, sparking backlash across the SEC and drawing legal scrutiny from multiple state attorneys general
- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr called on SEC institutions to take 'all measures available' if LSU allowed former pros to play, including possible suspension or expulsion of the school
- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney criticized the idea of NFL players returning to college football as 'embarrassing,' though he avoided facing them in Week 1 due to LSU's decision
Why it matters: LSU’s choice to withhold Wright and Harris despite winning a court ruling gives the SEC leverage to enforce its ban without immediate on-field consequences. The standoff sets up a high-stakes legal and institutional clash over amateurism, with member schools and state officials directly challenging conference authority.
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