Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry just threw gasoline on an already burning rivalry this week, absolutely torching Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter. The governor called out Carter directly after reports confirmed LSU defender Princewill Umanmielen got served with court papers right outside the Tigers’ team facility in Baton Rouge.
Legal Drama Explodes Before Kiffin’s Return
This whole mess stems from Ole Miss filing a breach of contract lawsuit back in July against Umanmielen and LSU offensive lineman Devin Harper. The Rebels claim they are owed roughly $1 million in unpaid buyouts from the players’ NIL contracts. Governor Landry didn’t mince words on X, confirming the process server found Umanmielen in the LSU Football Ops parking lot. He then took a shot at Carter, saying, “Keith Carter could have saved Ole Miss some money and waited until Saturday. He’ll be easy to find in the Ole Miss backfield often!” This legal escalation, coming just days before former Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin’s much-anticipated return to Oxford after leaving for LSU in January, adds incredible heat to an already explosive matchup.
The Governor’s Unofficial Role
Landry’s involvement in LSU athletics isn’t new; it’s been notable since last year. Many have speculated if he’s actually running things as LSU’s shell athletic director, especially after Brian Kelly was fired last year. Landry made it clear then athletic director Scott Woodward would not be picking the next coach. Woodward resigned days later, with Verge Ausberry stepping into the role. So, when the governor starts publicly knocking other schools’ ADs, you know this rivalry is on another level.
Saturday Night Showdown: No. 7 LSU vs. No. 8 Ole Miss
This whole drama sets the stage for a massive Saturday night showdown. No. 7 LSU, sitting at a perfect 2-0, faces off against eighth-ranked Ole Miss, also 2-0. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET at Vaught-Heminghway Stadium. With Kiffin’s return and all this legal back-and-forth, both teams are getting ready for enhanced security measures. You can catch all the action, and likely some fireworks, nationally televised on ABC. Get ready, this one is going to be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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