Georgia attorney general Chris Carr has put the SEC on notice over LSU’s roster situation, urging commissioner Greg Sankey to be ready to hit the Tigers with every penalty available if the school ends up fielding former NFL players.
In a letter obtained by CBS Sports’ Richard Johnson, Carr went as far as suggesting suspension or even removal from the conference if LSU goes against league rules. His message was aimed at the possibility that the Tigers could roster players who have already appeared in NFL preseason games, a question that will be taken up Thursday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
A state court judge, William Jorden, is scheduled to hear the preliminary injunction case involving several athletes, including Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. The SEC and LSU will present their arguments at that hearing after Jorden ruled Friday that the conference could not enforce its new rule blocking eligibility until a final decision is made.
Carr made clear where he stands if LSU proceeds with the players in question. "If LSU does in fact roster one or more pro athletes or demonstrates concrete plans to do so, we would strongly encourage the SEC to take all measures available to address this conduct, up to and including suspending and/or removing LSU from the Conference," Carr wrote.
"Conference members have the freedom to associate with institutions committed to following NCAA and conference rules. No institution should be allowed to ignore the obligations of conference membership while continuing to receive the benefits of membership."
He doubled down later in the letter as well: "College sports are for college athletes only, and we are grateful that the SEC has taken swift action to maintain that standard," Carr wrote. "However, the rules cannot be ignored or twisted to benefit one coach, one institution, or one program, and we refuse to stand by while that happens."
The legal stakes are straightforward: if Judge Jorden rules in favor of the players, they would be eligible. The situation also echoes the case of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who stepped away from the program after pressure from state attorneys general and the Big 12 Conference.
Wright and Harris both played at Ole Miss under coach Lane Kiffin in 2025 and entered the NFL Draft process. After being cut from NFL rosters, both joined the lawsuit seeking eligibility. Jack Pyburn also became part of the petition, but he ended his bid to return after the Kansas City Chiefs claimed him on the waiver wire.
LSU opens the 2026 season at home against Clemson on Saturday. The Tigers are viewed as one of the sport’s biggest offseason spenders, landing the No. 1 overall transfer class with 44 transfers.
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