Two former NFL players who were attempting to play for Louisiana State University this fall are not part of the Tigers' final 105-man roster after all.
As reported by CBS Sports, confirming initial reporting by ESPN, the LSU roster will be locked for the 2026 season after a late addition of two players Tuesday, but not Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris — ending speculation the Tigers would defy the Southeastern Conference's rule prohibiting former professional players by allowing Wright and Harris to join the team.
LSU's decision not to add the two ex-NFL players comes in the wake of the SEC's move this week to seek legal authority to expel LSU from the conference after head football coach Lane Kiffin attempted to sign multiple players to the team who had previously signed professional contracts.
A separate report Tuesday indicated that the SEC was seeking legal authority to expel LSU, according to an updated court filing obtained by CBS Sports. The language is part of a federal suit first filed last week as the conference seeks legal coverage to enforce its rules.
"Forced association with a member whose conduct is antithetical to the SEC's mission and core values violates the Conference's fundamental First Amendment rights," reads the SEC's updated filing. "LSU has rejected those core values repeatedly and publicly. An injunction is necessary to prevent the irreparable harm that the SEC will suffer if it cannot remove a member to avoid association of the Conference's name, brand, championships, and media properties with the conduct and views that the Conference and its member institutions have condemned for decades."
Last week, LSU won a court battle in Louisiana when a judge ruled in favor of the Tigers potentially adding two former professional athletes. On the same day, the SEC filed its own lawsuit against Kiffin and LSU in Alabama. The conference is still fighting to enforce its own penalties on teams that place former professional athletes on their rosters.
Prior to LSU's season-opening game Sept. 5, Harris and Wright were not added to the Tigers' roster at the deadline for them to play. Kiffin had previously said he consulted his team's leadership committee and said every player was on board with the possible addition of the two former college players who signed NFL contracts as undrafted free agents and participated in preseason training camp.
LSU defeated Clemson handily, 51-10.
During an appearance on ESPN's College GameDay, Kiffin cited "uncertainties" on why neither Harris nor Wright were suiting up for the Tigers against Clemson.
"That wasn't easy, as much as I feel for the players," Kiffin said, as reported by CBS Sports. "And I believe that you fight for what you believe in. And I believe these kids have an opportunity to play, just like all the other kids around the country that are winning court cases and being put on rosters.
"But at the same time, I'm the head coach of LSU, and I had to make a decision that is for the big picture of LSU and the LSU football program-- with the uncertainties of what potentially could have come by adding them to the roster. We couldn't get exact reasons or... what that would mean if we added them, so with that, I made the decision which is in the best interests of the team and the university."
