Dude, you won’t believe what’s happening down in Baton Rouge. LSU decided to leave former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris off their roster for the season opener against Clemson. Seriously. This move comes just one day after a Louisiana judge granted LSU a preliminary injunction, which should have cleared the way for them to actually play these guys. Talk about a curveball nobody saw coming after a courtroom victory! CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello confirmed the whole thing, and it looks like the Tigers are playing some serious chess here.
The SEC Is NOT Backing Down, Not One Bit
This whole situation is a total mess, and the SEC is digging in its heels big time on the issue of former professional players returning to college. Even though LSU got a win in court, the SEC filed its own lawsuit against the Tigers and coach Lane Kiffin in federal court. That’s how deep this goes! The league wants legal authority to enforce its own rules because, get this, every single member institution, all 15 of them, voted to ban professional players from coming back to college football. A 15-0 vote? That’s a unified front. And the penalties? Stiff ones, including game forfeitures. Imagine losing a game because of this drama, man. LSU might still add these players later in the season, but they are clearly taking a super measured approach right now.
Ex-Pros, Coach Kiffin, and Widespread Backlash
So, who are these players causing all this drama? Zxavian Harris spent time with the Saints after he used up his eligibility at Ole Miss under the 2025-26 season rules. Dae’Quan Wright also played for the Rebels, exhausting his final season, and then spent time with the Eagles and Browns. Coach Kiffin was trying to capitalize on new NCAA eligibility rules that let some former four-year college players get a fifth season. He wanted Wright and Harris, and others from NFL franchises, on his roster. But that move sparked widespread backlash across the SEC’s footprint, with attorneys general from other states chiming in. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr even called for SEC members to take “all measures available,” including suspension or expulsion, if LSU let these guys play.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was not holding back this week either. As his team got ready to face LSU, with all this uncertainty swirling, Swinney blasted the idea of NFL players returning to college ball. He called the whole concept “embarrassing” on Tuesday. Well, thanks to LSU’s unexpected decision, Swinney won’t have to worry about seeing any former pros when they kick off Week 1. This whole legal battle is nowhere near over, and you know the SEC isn’t letting this go quietly. What a way to start the season, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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