LSU football ends quest to add ex-NFL players to roster this season

Key Points:

• LSU has decided not to add tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive end Zxavian Harris, both of whom had signed NFL contracts, to its football roster, instead adding defensive end Gabriel Reliford and cornerback Aidan Anding to fill its 105-player limit.
• The SEC announced it would consider a vote on September 10, 2026, to potentially expel LSU from the conference, citing concerns over LSU’s handling of players who signed professional contracts and broader issues with the football program’s control.
• Wright and Harris were part of a Louisiana state court ruling allowing roughly 40 former college athletes immediate eligibility to return to college, creating a legal challenge to NCAA and SEC rules barring players with professional contracts from college play.
• LSU’s head coach, Lane Kiffin, faced criticism from SEC member schools for collaborating with the players’ legal counsel and Louisiana state officials, raising concerns about the administration’s control over the football program.
• The SEC’s potential disciplinary actions, including suspensions and fines, may be avoided following LSU’s decision, marking a significant moment in the conference’s efforts to enforce self-governance and adherence to NCAA professionalism rules.