SEC-LSU standoff pauses; expulsion threat recedes, but sanctions remain possible

The Southeastern Conference and Louisiana State University stepped back from expulsion Thursday, but the conflict over former NFL players remained unresolved. LSU president Wade Rousse confirmed Wednesday in a letter to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey that the Tigers would not roster Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, both of whom had signed NFL preseason contracts and appeared on NFL rosters before LSU signed them. The SEC held a videoconference of university presidents Thursday that, per court documents obtained by Front Office Sports, included a vote on whether to expel LSU from the conference. At the conclusion of the call, the SEC released a statement that did not specify any penalties. The statement read, per Front Office Sports: "The presidents and chancellors of the Southeastern Conference met Thursday by videoconference to discuss recent matters involving conference expectations and responsibilities. Those discussions will continue as the conference and its member universities work toward an appropriate resolution." The dispute originated when Wright and Harris filed a lawsuit in Louisiana state court in August seeking a fifth year of NCAA eligibility. Per Front Office Sports, a Louisiana judge granted them an injunction protecting them from both SEC and NCAA enforcement. Coach Lane Kiffin chose not to roster Wright and Harris for the Week 1 matchup against Clemson. On Tuesday night, per Front Office Sports, LSU added two other players to its roster, meaning Harris and Wright would not make the cut for the season. Per Front Office Sports, the SEC filed an amended complaint Tuesday stating it would vote Thursday to expel LSU. The conference's presidents had previously authorized Commissioner Greg Sankey to impose a head coach suspension of 50 percent of the season, a fine of 50 percent of the sport's operating budget, and revocation of SEC voting rights, per Front Office Sports. LSU president Rousse joined Thursday's videoconference briefly, explaining to participants that, in light of pending federal litigation in which he and LSU are named defendants, he was advised by counsel not to participate fully, according to ESPN. SEC rules require at least two-thirds of all presidents to terminate a school's membership, per ESPN. LSU's compliance with the no-roster requirement may have satisfied the immediate expulsion threat, but the federal lawsuit remains active and a hearing in that case was postponed, per Front Office Sports. The SEC has not confirmed whether it will continue to pursue the suit.