Louisiana judge allows LSU to sign players from NFL preseason; SEC files separate federal lawsuit

Judge William Jorden issued a ruling Thursday evening, September 4, in Baton Rouge that extends legal protections for football players transitioning from NFL preseason rosters to college. The ruling allows Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, both of whom signed NFL contracts and have since agreed to join LSU, to sign with the university despite SEC and NCAA eligibility restrictions. The ruling challenges the implementation of the NCAA's new age-based eligibility rule, which allows players five seasons of eligibility. However, the NCAA declined to extend the five-season policy to players who started college in 2022 and had already exhausted four years of eligibility. Jorden's order applied to players in that cohort. The ruling does not address players starting college after 2022, for whom the NCAA's new policy applies. Jorden entered a specification protecting LSU from sanctions coming from the NCAA or SEC. LSU president Wade Rousse said in a statement Friday morning that the school "respects the judicial process and the court's decision" and called on Congress to pass "a version of the Protect College Sports Act" to develop uniform eligibility rules. Dae'Quan Wright told reporters after the hearing he looked forward to "just putting on a college uniform again." Wright previously played for Ole Miss. Darren Heitner, outside counsel for Wright's agent, said the school was waiting to hear from "multiple people involved at the institution on determining next steps." Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill attended the proceedings and filed a brief in support of the players. During testimony, Murrill said, "Dae'Quan Wright, who played for Ole Miss, says he lost out on seven-figure NIL money in a fifth year. Mississippi didn't fight for him, but Louisiana will." The SEC released a policy banning players with NFL preseason experience, as did other conferences. The SEC subsequently filed a separate federal lawsuit against LSU, coach Lane Kiffin, and athletic director Verge Ausberry in Alabama federal court. The SEC argued that it would be harmed if LSU rosters players with NFL preseason experience and sought a preliminary and permanent injunction preventing the university from doing so, citing what the SEC characterized as a violation of the Conference's First Amendment rights by "compelling the Conference to associate with conduct that is contrary to the Conference." Oral arguments before Jorden lasted several hours, including three hours of questioning for SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. The SEC case echoes a similar dispute between the Big 12 and Texas Tech over quarterback Brendan Sorsby.