The final question hanging over Clemson’s Week 1 trip to LSU is no longer quite so murky.
With kickoff against the No. 11 Tigers set for Sept. 5 in Baton Rouge, a Louisiana judge granted a temporary injunction to Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris and other plaintiffs, clearing the way for the former NFL preseason players to be eligible while the case plays out.
That doesn’t quite close the book yet. SEC rosters aren’t finalized until Friday, which means LSU still has the option not to roster Wright and Harris. But the timing matters: both players have been in practice this week, so if LSU does add them, they could meet the NCAA’s seven-day acclimation requirement.
The court’s ruling also said the NCAA, SEC and LSU are barred from taking action that would keep the players off the field. In practical terms, LSU could be forced to include Wright and Harris on the roster, even with legal risk attached.
Wright said after the ruling that he plans to play Saturday. Harris said he expects to be rostered on Friday.
The SEC, for its part, isn’t backing off. Attorneys for the league said they intend to appeal as soon as possible.
The case has already moved fast. LSU brought in Wright and Harris, former Ole Miss players, after they were waived by the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints. A Louisiana court had already granted them eligibility on Aug. 19, and the SEC responded by putting a ban in place on pro players with strict penalties.
Wright, Harris and the other plaintiffs then added the SEC to the lawsuit, pushing for the ban to be lifted at least temporarily so the two could be available for Week 1 against Clemson. Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill filed an amicus brief in support of LSU’s plaintiffs, and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was reportedly questioned on the stand for more than three hours.
The fight isn’t limited to Louisiana, either. On Thursday morning, the SEC filed suit against LSU in an Alabama federal court, accusing the university of knowingly violating league rules by recruiting former professional players.
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There is still plenty of friction around the ruling, though, because the SEC has already filed a lawsuit against LSU and Lane Kiffin and says it intends to appeal. LSU is also working to add Blake Cotton, which leaves the Tigers still navigating a fast-moving roster situation even as the calendar turns toward one of the seasons biggest early tests. [Read more 🡒]