Ole Miss and LSU may be headed for more than a September meeting at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, the Rebels are expected to file suit against LSU - or possibly against Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper directly - with a case potentially coming "within the next two weeks." The dispute centers on the transfers of EDGE Princewill Umanmielen and offensive tackle Devin Harper to Baton Rouge, and the money they received from Ole Miss may have to be paid back.
"The question will be if Ole Miss files suit against the players specifically or LSU, arguing Tigers are on hook because of rev-share cap," Nakos said of the issue. Smart money is on Keith Carter and Co. taking on LSU directly. Players might be given pause about negotiating with the University of Mississippi if Umanmielen and Harper end up as the defendants.
The legal fight is part of a broader SEC and Big Ten push around the Protect College Sports Act, and LSU has already taken a public stand against it. Per Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, "LSU joins a growing list of SEC schools in sending a letter to lawmakers in opposition of the Protect College Sports Act as written in its current form. Similar messages have been sent from Alabama, Auburn, Texas and Texas A&M."
Louisiana U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy backed LSU’s position and made his own concerns clear: "LSU is right to oppose the Protect College Sports Act as written.
Issues such as insufficient Title IX protections and letting student-athletes become employees need to be addressed. ... Schools cannot afford that model without cutting Olympic and women’s sports, putting hundreds of thousands of college opportunities at risk!"
The Big Ten’s involvement has been less direct, at least publicly, but Dellenger reported Tuesday that "Four Big Ten university presidents - Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and USC - visited today with Sens. Maria Cantwell and Ted Cruz as part of dialogue around the Protect College Sports Act, per a statement from the schools. ... The meetings, described as "productive," are notable."
The bill itself was introduced by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), with Chris Coons (D-DE) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) as co-sponsors.
In the House, Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) introduced a companion measure.
Texas Tech Board of Regents Chair Cody Campbell is the most prominent supporter of the proposal from the college football side.
What happens next is anybody’s guess. The whole thing could amount to little more than another round of political theater, but if there is real movement, LSU and the SEC schools from Texas and Alabama are clearly among those most likely to push back.
In Other News...
Auburn Just Revealed The First Faces Of Its Nike Era
Auburns new Nike chapter is starting with a familiar mix of newcomers and returning pieces, and the school made that clear by putting quarterback Byrum Brown, linebacker Xavier Atkins and receivers Keshaun Singleton and Chas Nimrod on its NIL roster for the season. Brown, Singleton and Nimrod all followed coach Alex Golesh from South Florida to Auburn, while Atkins gives the Tigers a proven defensive anchor as the program leans into a fresh look under the swoosh.
The timing matters, too, because Auburn is already looking ahead to a 2026 opener that should bring early national attention. The Tigers will start the season Sept. 5 against Baylor in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta, a stage that should give these new Nike faces an immediate chance to be part of the programs next big introduction. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Awaits A Massive In-State Decision On The Defensive Line
Auburns weekend recruiting watch has turned into a real test of patience on the defensive line, with in-state four-star Karlos May set to make his college choice Saturday. The Tigers were once viewed as the team to beat, and even now they remain firmly in the mix for one of the states top prospects, a player whose decision has drawn national attention because of the kind of program-shaping impact he could have up front.
The final stretch has become more complicated, with NIL opportunities and rev share factors weighing heavily as the race tightens. Auburn is still pushing, and even if the announcement does not go its way at first, the door is not necessarily closed for the Tigers down the line, which is why this one feels like more than a single-day recruiting result. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Future Backfield Looks Even Scarier After Latest RB Ranking
Auburns 2027 recruiting picture at running back keeps looking stronger, and Myson Johnson-Cook is a big reason why. The committed prospect has already drawn major attention from national services, and the buzz is backed up by what he did on the field last season against top competition, where he piled up more than 1,300 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.
For Auburn, the appeal goes beyond one standout recruit. Johnson-Cook is part of a backfield class that is shaping up to be loaded, giving the Tigers a chance to stockpile talent at a position that can change the direction of an offense fast. If the early rankings are any indication, Auburn may not just be adding depth in 2027, but building a group that could make the backfield one of the programs most intriguing strengths. [Read more 🡒]