Lane Kiffin found a way to move fast on one of the strangest NCAA rulings in recent memory.
After a Louisiana ruling earlier in the week opened the door for several players - including some who were in NFL camps - to regain eligibility for the 2026 season, Kiffin moved quickly to bring back a familiar face. By Sunday, the Browns had waived tight end Dae’Quan Wright, and if he clears waivers, he is set to play for LSU in 2026.
That development came after Browns head coach Todd Monken described the situation as bizarre and said Kiffin had reached out to him earlier in the week.
“Man, that shit is crazy…I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out a week ago. Now I know.
Shit, I didn’t know, now I know. I didn’t call him back, guess I should’ve”
The reporting around the situation had already pointed toward a possibility like this. Earlier in the week, it was said that players in NFL training camps were hoping to get cut so they could jump back into college football under the new ruling.
Wright’s path makes some sense on the football side. He just played for Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. at Ole Miss, so LSU would be getting a tight end who already knows the system.
Last season, Wright caught 39 passes for 635 yards and 5 touchdowns, and he should have a big role if this move sticks. LSU already has a first-round caliber tight end in Trey’Dez Green, though this addition could mean Green spends plenty of time split out wide.
History: the Browns are waiving tight end Dae’Quan Wright and, if he clears waivers, he has an agreement in place for the 2026 season to play for LSU, per agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln.
Wright is believed to be the first player who could play for an NFL team, and then return to college football under the ruling.
The larger picture is where things get messy. The NCAA has already been forced into repeated legal fights over eligibility, and the move to a 5-for-5 model has only made the whole thing more complicated. With NIL, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal all changing the incentive structure, college football keeps finding new ways to blur the line between amateur and pro.
This also isn’t the first time Kiffin and LSU have landed in the middle of a headline-grabbing situation. But this one stands out even in a sport that has gotten used to chaos. The Tigers are moving to capitalize on the ruling, and Kiffin’s role in it is hard to miss.
There’s still more to sort out. The NCAA is expected to try to get the ruling revoked, and the SEC’s interconference transfer rules could also complicate Wright’s move from Ole Miss to LSU. So while the agreement is in place, this story is almost certainly not done.
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LSU Just Got A Huge RJ Luis Ruling Before 2026-27
RJ Luis is now cleared for another college season, and the timing matters for LSU as it looks ahead to 2026-27. Judge Ronald Johnson granted the former St. Johns standout a preliminary injunction, allowing him to suit up for the Tigers after Luis challenged the NCAAs decision that had blocked his return to college basketball. The ruling is a notable one for a player who once won Big East Player of the Year honors and briefly signed a professional contract before trying to make his way back into the college game.
For LSU, the decision removes the eligibility barrier that had hovered over one of the most interesting roster possibilities on the horizon. The case drew opposition from the SEC commissioner, but the injunction restores Luis path to compete in Baton Rouge unless something changes down the line. It is a significant development for a program that could use every bit of high-end talent it can secure, even if the final shape of that future still has a ways to go. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Just Got A Wild New Lane Kiffin Exit Story
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Jones also made clear he remains skeptical about how Kiffins exit went down and what it ultimately meant for Ole Miss. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes detail that keeps the old storyline alive long after the coach is gone, and it adds another layer of intrigue as LSU prepares to see the Rebels in a game that already had plenty riding on it. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Now Faces A Difficult Kate Koval Situation Off The Court
Kate Kovals time at LSU is ending for reasons that go far beyond basketball, adding an unexpectedly personal layer to the Tigers offseason roster shuffle. The womens program had signed Russian player Anna Minaeva, and Koval is now leaving the team after what has been described as a difficult decision tied to her family situation, with her father serving in the Ukrainian army during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Kim Mulkey has acknowledged the circumstances and supported Kovals choice, underscoring how complicated roster-building can become when global politics and personal history intersect. For LSU, the move leaves a notable gap in the frontcourt conversation, but the bigger story is the human one, and the one detail tying this all together is enough to make the situation feel far more fragile than a normal transfer decision. [Read more 🡒]