SEC sues LSU over pro-athlete eligibility fight

SEC to vote on removing LSU from league The Southeastern Conference has scheduled a meeting Thursday to see if it has the right to expel LSU from one of the most prestigious sports leagues in the NCAA. This action comes after the Southeastern Conference filed a lawsuit last week against Louisiana State University, head football coach Lane Kiffin, and LSU's Athletic Director Verge Ausberry over what the conference calls a deliberate recruitment of pro football athletes. Advertisement In an amendment to the filing on Tuesday, the SEC accuses LSU of a "lack of institutional control" for keeping open the possibility of adding pro players to the roster and speaking about it publicly, including Lane Kiffin's halftime and postgame comments. The SEC has scheduled a meeting Thursday to "decide whether to terminate Louisiana State University ('LSU') as an SEC member." The amendment gives the SEC authority to expel LSU from the league. As part of the filing by the SEC, it states the conference needs a two-thirds majority vote to terminate membership. According to the original lawsuit filed by the SEC, the conference accused LSU, Kiffin and Ausberry of deliberately recruiting former college players who had already signed NFL contracts, including players connected to the Browns, Saints, and Buccaneers. The lawsuit argues that this violates its rule that athletes who turn professional cannot return to college football. LSU recently voted in favor of confirming that rule, but the SEC says they continued to recruit professional players anyway. The SEC says LSU is breaking a rule it previously supported, damaging the conference, and forcing other SEC schools to be associated with conduct they unanimously oppose. The SEC is asking a court to declare that the conference can distance itself from LSU's alleged conduct in connection with the recruitment of pro athletes, and protect the conference of any legal ramifications tied to LSU's actions without fear of retaliation. Governor Jeff Landry weighing in on the eligibility controversy. He said in part "Calling them 'NFL players' is at best disingenuous, and at worst intentionally deceptive... They are not professional football players circling back after years in the NFL. They are college players who were told, by the NCAA, that they were done. So they took the only door that was open—only to watch the NCAA change the lock behind them." This content is imported from x. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Calling them 'NFL players' is at best disingenuous, and at worst intentionally deceptive @AGAlanWilson & @Georgia_AG. They are not professional football players circling back after years in the NFL. They are college players who were told, by the NCAA, that they were done. So… — Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) September 3, 2026 Meanwhile in Baton Rouge, a court has ruled in favor of the SEC as the hearing unfolds regarding athletes' college football eligibility. The judge's first ruling is that of the 43 athletes named as plaintiffs in the case; only seven have direct claims against the SEC. The remaining athletes will have to make their claims against the NCAA. The judge cited his reasoning as "improper cumulation" because the other athletes have no connection to the SEC conference. This means the judge will rule separately on SEC athletes and other NCAA athletes regarding whether they will be permitted to return to college sports. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey was the first witness called during the hearing, and there was contentious back-and-forth between him and the plaintiff's attorney Tony Clayton. Clayton pressed Sankey on why overseas professional athletes could play but not United States students. Sankey said 91 pro athletes currently play college football, and testified that he is not aware of their situations. LSU is at the center of the controversy, but reports indicate that several teams across the country are considering adding former NFL players to their rosters.