LSU might have thought they could make this whole lawsuit disappear, but the SEC fired back, hard, making it clear this legal battle is far from over, and yeah, it’s getting personal. On Tuesday, October 13, the conference filed a brutal response opposing LSU’s motion to dismiss its federal lawsuit, according to court documents obtained by The Tuscaloosa News, and the implications for LSU’s standing are no joke. The SEC isn’t just playing defense here; they’re pushing for something way bigger than anyone might have expected.
LSU Thought They Had An Exit Strategy? Nope.
So, LSU came out swinging, trying to get this whole mess tossed out. Their argument for dismissal? Two players at the center of the original dispute, Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, weren’t even on their football roster. Remember those guys? Both former Ole Miss players who spent time with NFL teams, their pursuit by LSU was central to the whole thing. LSU also pointed to a September 10 meeting of SEC presidents and chancellors, claiming it went off without a hitch, implying no interference happened. Basically, they’re saying, “See? Nothing to see here, move along.” But the SEC ain’t buying it. Not even close.
The SEC’s Real Beef: “Complete Lack of Institutional Control”
The SEC’s latest filing makes it crystal clear they think LSU is missing the point. They argue LSU is trying to dismiss a lawsuit the conference says “did not file,” which is a pretty wild claim right off the bat. The conference maintains those recent developments, like the players not making the roster or that September 10 meeting, don’t resolve the “broader dispute” at all. What’s that broader dispute? The SEC is calling out LSU for a “complete lack of institutional control over LSU’s athletic programs,” their “ongoing defiance of the Conference’s Professionalism Rules,” and a “very real threat” that LSU will “interfere with any effort to terminate LSU’s membership in the Conference.” Yeah, you read that right. *Terminate LSU’s membership*. This ain’t about a couple of players anymore.
This Isn’t Just About Players. This Is About Power.
The original lawsuit, filed back on September 3 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, accused LSU of violating conference rules by chasing former professional athletes. The SEC argues this threatened its First Amendment right of “expressive association,” a right they say includes disassociating from a member whose conduct clashes with its values. And that September 10 meeting? The SEC says it didn’t even scratch the surface of the legal protections they’re looking for. They’re dead set on establishing their constitutional right to pursue action against LSU, including kicking them out, without any interference from LSU officials or other defendants. It’s a full-on battle for the conference’s right to govern itself.
So what’s next in this legal slugfest? U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon still has to rule on the motion to dismiss, leaving the future of the lawsuit completely unresolved. LSU’s got until Tuesday, October 20, to submit a reply to the conference’s opposition, if they choose to do so. This saga is far from over, and we’re all watching to see what happens when the next legal volley gets launched.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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