SEC Sues LSU Over Kiffin's Push To Sign Ex-NFL Players
LSU's season-opening showdown with No. 11 Clemson was billed as Lane Kiffin's debut showcase in Baton Rouge. Instead, the buildup has been dominated by a federal lawsuit the Southeastern Conference filed against LSU this week over Kiffin's recruitment of two former NFL players seeking a final year of college eligibility.
Kiffin signed defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and tight end Dae'Quan Wright, both of whom played for him previously at Ole Miss, after each spent time with NFL teams this offseason. Harris took part in the NFL Scouting Combine before signing with the New Orleans Saints and being waived in August. Wright had signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns. Their return to college football runs counter to SEC rules barring players who signed professional contracts, prompting the conference's legal action against its own member school. Matt Moscona, a radio host with 104.5 ESPN in Baton Rouge, said the controversy consumed most of his three-hour show on Thursday, with only one of twelve segments focused on the actual game against Clemson. utr pro tennis series women odds
All four Power Four conferences reaffirmed rules against pro players returning to college rosters last week, with some outlining fines and suspensions for violations. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has testified that "the line between professional sports and college sports needs to be maintained," even as top players earn substantial money through revenue sharing and NIL deals. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has publicly criticized the practice, calling the idea of former NFL players suiting up in college "embarrassing" for the sport. Moscona said the NCAA's failure to issue a blanket waiver for the 2022 high school class after changing its eligibility model in June left players like Harris and Wright without a clear path back to campus, fueling the legal disputes now playing out in court.
Kiffin has defended the signings, saying he consulted LSU team leaders who supported adding players regardless of their professional history. Moscona said fans are less concerned about Clemson than about potential consequences for LSU, including speculation about a possible suspension for Kiffin or discipline tied to the program's SEC membership, which dates to the 1930s. LSU says it has fielded more than 900 media and VIP credential requests for the opener, a level of attention Kiffin said reflects the program's national profile heading into a season now shaped as much by courtrooms as by the scoreboard.
