Ole Miss Just Got A New Twist In Its LSU Lawsuit Fight

With a high-stakes lawsuit looming over the upcoming LSU-Ole Miss game, defensive end Princewell Umanmielen faces legal challenges off the field.

LSU defensive end Princewell Umanmielen was served court papers on Tuesday outside the Tigers’ football facility, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, in a development tied to Ole Miss’ lawsuit against its former player.

Thamel reported that Umanmielen received the papers in the parking lot outside the LSU football facility. He also said LSU officials “were generally aware” that Ole Miss officials had been trying to serve him before this week.

Court records in the Circuit Court of Lafayette County in Oxford, MS show Umanmielen was served “with the plaintiff’s first set of interrogatories, requests for production of documents and requests for admission,” per ESPN.

The legal fight began back on July 27, when Ole Miss sued Umanmielen and offensive lineman Devin Harper in a breach of contract complaint. In that filing, the Rebels are seeking “$550,000 from Umanmielen and $400,000 from Harper, plus attorneys’ fees and court costs,” according to the report.

That day, a university spokesperson gave ESPN this statement on the lawsuits:

The University of Mississippi values its student-athletes and is committed to honoring all obligations made to them. In return, the university expects that same commitment from its student-athletes and their representatives in upholding their contracts.

Thamel also reported that sources told ESPN the lawsuit is “more about Ole Miss forcing LSU to account for the $950,000 on its revenue sharing cap, rather than recouping money from its former players.”

Ole Miss and LSU are set to meet Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. E.T. on ABC.

In Other News...

Ole Miss Fan Just Delivered A Viral Pregame Flex At LSU's Expense

A day before Ole Miss and LSU renewed one of the SECs louder rivalries, an Oxford commercial pilot found a fresh way to needle the Tigers. Joshua Gregory took to the sky and, over Louisiana, used his flight path to spell out Come to the Sip, turning a pregame jab into something far bigger than a message board post.

The stunt quickly caught fire on social media and even drew notice from aviation enthusiasts around the world, which is about as wide a stage as a college football flex can get. It also prompted reaction from Louisiana pilot Brian Trascher, who weighed in on the challenge of pulling off the route and the rivalry flavor behind it, leaving the whole episode with a little more air time than anyone probably expected. [Read more 🡒]

Ole Miss Just Got Another Reason To Circle LSU Saturday

A routine September trip to Baton Rouge already had enough edge, but Ole Miss has picked up another layer of intrigue ahead of Saturdays matchup with LSU. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry jumped onto social media to criticize the Rebels after they filed a breach of contract lawsuit against LSU defensive player Princewill Umanmielen, a former Ole Miss player who transferred after last season.

The legal fight has only sharpened the mood around a game that was already set up to carry real weight for both programs. With Umanmielen now on the LSU side of the rivalry and the lawsuit still hanging over the story line, this is the kind of off-field wrinkle that can make an SEC meeting feel even bigger before a single snap is played. [Read more 🡒]

Lane Kiffin Family Venture Lands In The Middle Of LSU Week

Lane Kiffins family has found a new way to stay in the college football conversation this week. His daughter, Landry Kiffin, has launched Fifth Year, a clothing brand built around activewear and gameday apparel inspired by college school colors, giving fans a fresh option for game week style while tying neatly into the rhythms of the sport.

The timing is impossible to ignore, with LSU set to visit Ole Miss in a matchup that puts the Kiffin family squarely in the middle of the moment. What makes the brand especially interesting is the way it lets Landry represent both schools without having to pick one over the other, a small but fitting twist for a family that has a connection to each program. [Read more 🡒]