SEC Files Federal Lawsuit Against LSU, Kiffin Over Former NFL Players (September 3, 2026)

The Southeastern Conference filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday against LSU, Athletic Director Verge Ausberry, and head football coach Lane Kiffin, seeking a judicial declaration that the SEC has legal authority to enforce conference rules against the Tigers if they roster players who participated in NFL preseason activities. The filing marks the SEC's escalation in a brewing legal conflict and comes as a separate state court in Baton Rouge was hearing arguments in a related eligibility challenge on the same day.

The lawsuit is the latest step in a conflict that has raised an existential question for the conference: whether it can enforce any rules at all without legal challenges. The complaint argues that the SEC has First Amendment rights allowing it to prevent LSU from playing these athletes. Per Front Office Sports' reporting, the complaint states: "Defendants have forced the SEC to associate its athletic competitions and the conduct of the Conference with professional athletes over the express and unanimous objection of every member institution aside from LSU. Such forced association undermines the SEC's identity and purpose and impairs the Conference's ability to express the values it has publicly espoused."

The SEC is requesting the court "enter a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting Defendants from violating the Conference's First Amendment rights by compelling the Conference to associate with conduct that is contrary to the Conference's purpose and mission." The conflict began two weeks ago when a group of players sued the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility, part of ongoing challenges to the NCAA's age-based eligibility model and how it excluded athletes who started college in 2022 but exhausted their four years. Some of the players had already participated in NFL preseason activities. A judge granted a temporary restraining order allowing the players eligibility, and LSU recruited two of these players from the NFL's preseason: tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive lineman Xzavian Harris. LSU recruited players who had signed NFL contracts with the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In response, the SEC passed a rule banning players who signed NFL contracts, including preseason, and appeared on NFL rosters from playing, promising to assign schools harsh penalties. But LSU said it still intended to sign the former professionals, and the players' attorneys added the SEC to the lawsuit. The complaint accuses LSU of engaging in "a deliberate and coordinated campaign to recruit professional athletes to play football for LSU during the 2026-27 season, including players who had signed NFL contracts with the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers," and adds that LSU saw the challenges to the NCAA eligibility policy "as an opportunity to be exploited." However, the conference attempted to distance itself from allegations it was targeting players. Per Front Office Sports: "The SEC does not bring this action to declare any student-athlete ineligible or to prevent any student-athlete from participating in any athletic competition. This action is directed solely at the member institution and athletic department personnel that have violated the SEC's rights under the First Amendment."

The Big 12 filed a similar lawsuit against Texas Tech when the school considered playing former quarterback Brendan Sorsby after he violated the NCAA's gambling policy, but the Big 12 dropped the suit after Texas Tech and Sorsby parted ways. A hearing in Baton Rouge could determine whether Dae'Quan Wright, Xzavian Harris, and Junior Tuihalamaka are eligible to play against Clemson on Saturday night. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said earlier this week, per CBS Sports: "Rarely am I at a loss for words. But I'm at kind of a loss of words. I would just say it's kind of embarrassing. I mean, honestly, it's just embarrassing that that's where we are. I don't blame the kids and people trying to take advantage of the system. I just think it's embarrassing where we are with college football." LSU has landed a No. 1 overall transfer class with 44 transfers and is believed to be one of the highest spenders in the sport over the offseason.