LSU’s run-in with the SEC has taken a sharp turn, and now the conference is weighing a move that would push the Tigers out entirely.
The latest escalation came Tuesday, when the SEC filed an amended complaint against LSU that would allow the conference to expel the school. A two-thirds vote from SEC presidents would be required, and that vote is expected Thursday.
The dispute traces back to a Louisiana court ruling last week that went LSU’s way, allowing former NFL players to return to college football. LSU ultimately chose not to add those players, at least for now, but the conference clearly did not let the issue go.
What seems to have poured fuel on the fire was Lane Kiffin’s public reaction during LSU’s win over Clemson this weekend. Before halftime, he said on live TV, “Imagine if we had pro players” and kept discussing the matter in his postgame press conference.
Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that the SEC says Kiffin’s remarks “stand in sharp contrast to the silence by the President and Athletic Director of LSU” and that “they confirm the lack of institutional control over the athletics program at LSU that is required by Article 6 of the SEC Constitution and by the remaining provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws,”
LSU had been warned from several corners before things reached this point. Georgia, the rest of the SEC and the wider college football world had already pushed back on the idea of former NFL players returning to college. Even Kirby Smart made it clear he disagreed with Kiffin and LSU, though that still did not move the Tigers.
The conference’s stance is now unmistakable: it is drawing a line against what it sees as LSU’s disregard for the system. Whether that leads to actual expulsion is another matter, and it still feels unlikely that LSU will be removed. But for now, the SEC is making its strongest statement yet.
In Other News...
Georgia Just Turned A Routine Hype Video Into A Fan Debate
Georgia footballs week-one hype video has become a lot more than a simple cut-up of highlights. What used to be a free social-media perk is now being kept behind a paywall on the schools Glory Glory Georgia platform, where fans have to subscribe and also help the NIL collective to get access. For a program that has built one of the loudest online followings in the sport, the move was always going to get noticed.
The reaction has already spilled onto social media, where some Georgia fans have pushed back on the idea of charging a minimum monthly payment just to watch a video that used to be shared openly. It is a small piece of content in the grand scheme of a season, but it also reflects how quickly the business of college football keeps creeping into the everyday fan experience, even for something as routine as a hype video. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Is Already Raving About One Georgia Freshman Receiver
Craig Dandridge wasted little time making an impression in his first college game for Georgia, popping up in multiple spots during the Bulldogs season opener against Tennessee State. The freshman wide receiver finished with two catches for 36 yards and also handled a 30-yard punt return, a small but noteworthy glimpse of the versatility that has already made him stand out in the receiver room.
Kirby Smart has been quick to notice more than just the box-score production. The Georgia coach praised Dandridges intelligence, versatility and quickness, even while noting the freshman had missed part of camp. With other receivers also contributing in the opener, Dandridges debut did not have to carry the entire passing game, but it did offer an early sign that he may have a larger role ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smarts First Injury Update Leaves Georgia With Early Questions
Kirby Smarts first injury update after Georgias season-opening win offered a clearer picture of the Bulldogs health, even if it did not answer every question. Center Drew Bobo was back from a foot injury and took part in the first five series, giving Georgia a familiar presence in the middle of the line as the team moved through the opener and into the grind of a new season.
Elsewhere, the early concern centered on linebacker Linton, who is expected to be week-to-week, while running back Dante Dowdell remains sidelined after a serious offseason ATV accident. Smart said the medical staff is staying in close contact with Dowdell, but his timeline remains one of the lingering unknowns as Georgia sorts through its first real injury test of the year. [Read more 🡒]