LSU President Wade Rousse just dropped a bombshell, telling SEC commissioner Greg Sankey that their big legal beef with the university? Yeah, it’s “moot.” Done. Kaput. Rousse fired off a letter to Sankey on Wednesday, September 9, basically saying, “Let’s clear up these allegations, because we played by the rules.” This came after LSU made the call not to add former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright or Zxavian Harris to their 105-man roster, despite threats of punishment from the conference.
No Path for Wright or Harris
The core of this whole drama centers on those two roster spots. Rousse confirmed in his letter that LSU wouldn’t put Wright or Harris on the football roster, giving Sankey a heads-up on September 4. By the evening of that day, LSU had submitted its roster, confirming it. Then, on September 8, the Tigers filled their two remaining roster spots with Aiden Anding and Gabriel Reliford, locking the roster for the season. LSU confirmed this move to USA TODAY, making it crystal clear there was no path for Wright or Harris to join later. “LSU complied with SEC rules. This issue is moot,” Rousse wrote. It’s a pretty strong stance, basically telling the SEC, “What are you even suing us for?”
Kiffin’s “Big Picture” Play
So, why did LSU make this move, especially after Wright and Harris had committed to them and coach Lane Kiffin? Kiffin himself spilled a bit of tea on “College GameDay” on Saturday, September 5, admitting it “wasn’t easy” not to add the players before Week 1. He said he had to make a decision “for the big picture for LSU and the LSU football program, with the uncertainties of what potentially could have come by adding them to the roster.” You gotta wonder what those “uncertainties” really meant behind the scenes. Wright and Harris were seniors last season, went to the NFL offseason, got waived, and then were part of a lawsuit after the NCAA’s five-for-five eligibility model that granted them a temporary restraining order. The SEC had sued LSU back on September 3, arguing their “First Amendment right of expressive association.” That hearing, originally set for September 9, got delayed.
What’s Next for LSU?
Even with the lawsuit drama up in the air, LSU’s President is trying to shut it down. Rousse also hit the SEC’s scheduled September 10 meeting, where they were supposed to consider LSU’s status, calling that “moot” too. He said LSU won’t “challenge, disrupt or seek to cancel or postpone” it, which is basically a mic drop. This whole situation is wild, but for now, LSU seems ready to move on. They’re set to host Louisiana Tech at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 12, for their Week 2 matchup. It’ll be interesting to see if the SEC actually takes the hint and backs off, or if this saga keeps dragging on, moot or not.
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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