SEC files lawsuit threatening to expel LSU from league

The SEC is seeking the authority to expel LSU from the league as part of a new amendment to its federal lawsuit against the school. In a filing, the SEC said it was seeking a temporary restraining order to 'protect the right of the Conference and its member institutions to govern themselves.' The league confirmed that member CEOs will meet Thursday in order to decide whether to expel LSU from the conference. SEC statement on its amended complaint in its federal lawsuit against LSU, in which it reveals the conference CEOs will meet Thursday to decide whether to expel LSU from the conference. pic.twitter.com/MsH9isKGxq — Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) September 8, 2026 ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that the SEC is not actually expected to go as far as to expel the Tigers. However, it underlines how serious the league's efforts are to secure the authority to enforce their rules and keep member institutions in line. LSU is at odds with the SEC over the school's efforts to use players who previously signed NFL contracts. The conference is adamantly opposed to such efforts, but courts have so far ruled against that stance. The league has opted to sue LSU in an effort to secure the necessary authority to enforce rules against such players taking part in games. So far, LSU has been defiant, though they did take one cautious move by holding two of the players in question out of Saturday's season opener against Clemson out of an abundance of caution. LSU has leaned on the court order as evidence that they are not breaking any rules, betting that it supersedes any of the SEC's guidance. That stance has not been popular, but Lane Kiffin has made it abundantly clear that that is of no concern to him.